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European Wireworm
Research Network
News
17/12/2025
Newly established European Wireworm Research Network opens membership
as crop damage escalates across Europe
Wireworm damage has intensified across European arable systems, with growers in both potatoes and cereals reporting higher losses and downgrading in recent years. While the pest was previously linked mainly with grassland in the rotation, high populations are now appearing even in long-term arable systems — a trend consistent with what is already seen in several other European countries.
The UK potato sector has suffered the most severe levels of damage for many years, and pressure is expected to keep rising without coordinated research and knowledge exchange. Elsewhere, the French potato sector, especially the seed sector has suffered significant economic loses during the past 5 years due to the resurgence of wireworms pests.
To support a faster and more joined-up response, the European Wireworm Research Network (EWRN) is now formally inviting researchers and industry partners to join the network.
17/12/2025
EUROPEAN EXPERTS MOBILIZE AGAINST WIREWORM THREAT
2nd EWRN Workshop highlights scientific advances and formalizes network via a visio conference, hosted by inov3PT, France – October 9, 2025
The 2nd European Wireworm Research Network (EWRN) Workshop convened over 100 researchers, agronomists, and stakeholders from across Europe and Canada to address the escalating challenge of wireworm infestations in agriculture. The event featured cutting-edge research, collaborative strategies, and the formal establishment of EWRN as a European association.
05/12/2024
ORGANISING COMMITTEE MEETING
The Organising Committee met on 05 December and discussed plans for the 2nd annual ENRW workshop to be held in the autumn of 2025, the financial situation of the group and need to develop a plan to respond to the COST Open Call 2025 amongst others.
12/11/2024
EUROPATAT MEETING
We were asked by Romans Vorss to give a presentation to the Europatat Technical and Regulatory Commission and this invitation was accepted. We had twenty minutes to explain the structure of the organisation and what we are intending to do in the near future. Europatat members highlighted the need for research to work hand in glove with the industry and are very keen to see progress made against this destructive pest and we look forward to reporting on progress soon.
17/10/2024
EWRN ONLINE MEETING
We held an online meeting which was hosted by inov3PT, Martyn Cox was chairperson and other members of the Organising Committee helped keep things running smoothly. We invited all the delegates who attended the Oslo workshop and others who were unable to attend that event.
The theme of the meeting was “The future direction of the EWRN” and we needed to involve everyone interested in the way the organisation operates in the future. We used the answers provided by delegates at Oslo to create a series of questions about subjects such as meeting frequency and links with other organisations. There were no technical presentations at this event as we needed to respond to points raised previously and also explain some things that were misunderstood.
Good progress was made and the main outcomes are listed below:
• Creation of four Working Groups.
• Explain how the organisers work and ask for extra members of the Organising Committee.
• Agreement on the frequency and types of meetings we hold.
• Discuss the reasons for working with all crop types in a rotation.
• Create a mission statement.
• Introduce the COST funding system and the need for the group to participate in COST Action.
• Explain why we are not a sub-group of the EAPR.
There was time allocated for discussion and as usual, the pest status of the Hemicrepidius species attracted lively discussion, the pest appears to be a problem in some areas of Austria, but in the UK, the two species, H. hirtus and H. niger are listed as synonyms. We hope that our network will help resolve some of the confusion surrounding this genus, particularly in the UK.
23/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE
Nations unite to combat costly insect pest
The first meeting of the European Wireworm Research Network (EWRN) was held in Oslo on the 7th July 2024. The format was an interactive workshop and was well attended by 46 delegates from 17 countries including most of the European potato producing nations, Canada and the U.S.A. The workshop started with three keynote speakers including one from Europatat which highlighted the importance of a close working relationship between the two organisations.
National presentations were given, indicating the range of species and crops damaged by this pest, in Austria 10% of the national potato crop is lost to this pest every year. Researchers showcased the approach taken in their respective countries. The group sessions allowed all the delegates to give their opinions on future direction, research topics and other important issues.
The success of the workshop, and feedback since the event has confirmed the value of the network and the organising committee is now working on the next event which will be an online meeting this autumn.
About EWRN
The organising committee includes members from Austria, France, Norway and the UK. It was formed in response to requests for such a group following the unprecedented level of interest in this pest at the EAPR pests and pathology section meeting in Arras, France in September 2023.
All presentations are now available !
Group photo
Left to right : Bruno Ngala (inov3PT, France), Annette Folkedal Schjøll (NIBIO, Norway), Arne Hermansen (NIBIO, President of EAPR, Norway), Vitore Shala-Mayrhofer (Chambers of Agriculture, Austria), Martyn Cox (Blackthorn Arable Ltd, UK)
Elisa Beitzen-Heineke (BIOCARE, GmbH, Germany) 'Development of ATTRACAP® : A novel biological control using attract-and-kill to target Agriotes spp.'
Group photo