Wireworms do most of their damage in the early spring when they are near the soil surface. During the summer months, the larvae move deeper into the soil where it is cooler and where moisture is plentiful. They may feed on the small roots of host plants, stunting and sometimes killing the plants. Tubers of potatoes may be burrowed into, rendering them unmarketable. The fact that wireworms prefer well-drained sandy soils may have something to do with their prevalence in these areas.
Mortality caused by bacterial diseases is especially high in soils of high moisture content.
Other natural enemies include fungi, parasitic nematodes, and birds.