[Yorkie]

Not a silly question at all, I'm not sure of the answer but my hunch is that you won't spot them until the damage to your crop has been done (i.e. they've burrowed into the tubers or eaten roots, and that there isn't a way to eradicate them during the season - only hoeing and the other remedies mentioned earlier in the thread.

Just looked it up in the 'Expert' little book on garden troubles and it confirms no chemical solution, just good soil prep and regular cultivation.

[CARROTTCRUNCHER]

thank you yorkie you have been most helpful CC.

[Salmo]

Push a few nice big carrots into the ground when it starts to warm up. Leave them for a week or so and then dig them up. If there is a wireworm problem they will have burrowed into the carrots. Pretty reliable but not infallable.

[string bean]

In my garden I find they seem to leave spuds with red skins alone.  They don't seem to touch Amorosa or Desiree, but King Edwards, Valor etc are ruined by wireworm slugs etc

[CARROTTCRUNCHER]

Hi string bean , may i ask how long you have been gardening, intresting to hear what you said wonder why they leave those spuds aloan have you been growing spuds long in your garden...

[string bean]

Hi Carrotcruncher
Been growing spuds in this garden for 8 years.  Haven't a clue as to why wireworms, slugs etc have left them alone.  Perhaps red skinned potatoes have tougher skins?  Might just be coincidence, weather etc.   Been growing vegetables since 1970

[paintedlady]

I might have to agree that the Desiree crop I planted last year did well compared to other maincrop varieties over the years when it came to wire worm & slug (& woodlice) damage.

I heard growing mustard before you plant spuds is supposed help, but never tried it (and I've got clubroot on the plot, so I don't want to! )