How to fight elaterids or 'ferrets'

Elateridae: characteristics and how to recognise them

The Elaterids,also known as'ferrets', pose a threat to crops in many regions of the world. Their presence can cause significant damage to plants, compromising crop yields and health.
The most well-known characteristic of elaterids is their 'click' behaviour. When they are knocked to one side or feel threatened, they are able to quickly snap in the air, producing a characteristic sound. This movement is possible thanks to an anatomical structure called the 'propulsive organ' in the ventral part of the abdomen.

Elaterids go through several developmental stages,including larvae, pupae and adults. Thelarvae are often mainly responsible for damage to plant roots,while the adults may feed on the leaves.

Sustainable elaterid control strategies

We will explore different sustainable strategies for elaterid control, emphasising an integrated approach that aims to reduce negative impacts without harming the environment.

- The Crop rotation is an ancient agricultural practice that can be effective in combating elaterids. Changing the type of crop in a given area can interrupt the life cycle of the insects, thus reducing their proliferation.

- The Light traps are a non-invasive method for capturing elaterids during the night hours. By exploiting the attraction of these insects to light, traps can limit their presence without the use of harmful chemicals.

–Installing physical barriers around crops, such as nets or other materials, can prevent elaterids from reaching plants. This approach reduces the need for direct chemical interventions.

A Regular monitoring of crops is essential to detect the presence of elaterids. Early identification allows preventive or corrective measures to be taken, limiting the damaging effects on agricultural production.

Adopting an integrated approach to elaterid control in crops is crucial to preserving plant health and maintaining a sustainable agricultural environment. A balance between responsible agricultural practices, organic solutions and the judicious use of natural insecticides can help mitigate the negative impacts of elaterids without compromising the long-term sustainability of agricultural activities.

It is crucial to consider the environmental impact of control strategies. Sustainable and biological approaches should be preferred in order to preserve the surrounding ecosystem and maintain biodiversity. Combining different strategies, with an integrated and flexible approach, often offers the best results in controlling crop-damaging insects.

SOLVING THE ELATERID PROBLEM WITH OUR NATURAL PRODUCTS

As we have seen, elaterids can pose several difficulties for plants, so we have developed several products to defend against them.
One of these is ELATECHa product consisting of viable spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) of the genus Glomus spp., Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp.. in a microgranular formulation that not only ensures rapid development of the root system and improves the plant's efficiency in absorbing water and nutrients, but also reduces the development and spread of elaterid larvae.
The product is also available in liquid formulation as ELATECH LF optimal for fertigation applications. The presence of selected PGPRs, in synergy with the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium spp., creates a natural biostimulation and accentuated plant growth with favourable effects on yield quality and quantity.

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