Toxicity of allyl isothiocyanate-amended soil toLimonius californicus (Mann.) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) wireworms.

Acute toxicity of soil amended with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) to three size classes ofLimonius californicus (Mann.) wireworms was determined in the laboratory. Wireworms were exposed to AITC at initial concentrations of 120-300 nmol/g soil for one day. During this time, extractable AITC concentrations decreased by 66 to 93 %. Probit analysis estimated LC50 values of 238 and 226 nmol/g soil at one day posttreatment for medium and large wireworms, respectively. For small wireworms, LC50 values decreased from 211 to 157 nmol/g soil during 1-137 days posttreatment. Sublethal concentrations of AITC significantly reduced feeding activity of treated wireworms at three posttreatment times and over the entire 137 days. Wireworm weight was not significantly affected by AITC. The potential exists to use glucosinolate-containing plant tissue as an isothiocyanate (ITC) source to reduce crop damage caused byL. californicus wireworms.