Early-season damage occurs when larvae bore into the seed before or during germination and hollow it out. Death of seedling plants also can occur when wireworms tunnel into the seedling stalk. Sometimes wireworms bore into the stalks of larger plants and tunnel several inches above the soil surface. Seedcorn maggots are occasional pests of both germinating corn and soybean seed that cause reductions in yield because of stand loss. The greatest potential for injury to seeds is when animal manure is spread on the soil or when live, green plants are killed in the spring prior to planting.
Damage is more likely to occur during a cool, wet spring when germination is delayed.
Fields that only have last years crop residue on the soil surface or are no-till fields should not have problems from seedcorn maggots. Germinating seeds alone are not sufficient to attract large populations of seedcorn maggots. Seedcorn beetles and slender seedcorn beetles mostly feed on other insects and rarely attack seeds. They are occasionally found under the same conditions and in the same areas that are infested with wireworms. Apply a soil insecticide in furrow or t-banded.