The tobacco wireworm is widely scattered throughout the southern and eastern states. Its occurrence at Fontenelle Nature Center is unknown. This one was attracted to artificial lights in the wetlands. The adult beetles commonly feed on mullein. Although tobacco wireworm larvae prefer tobacco, they also attack corn, cotton, potato, bean, peanut, and various truck crops. The wireworm larvae hatch from eggs laid in the summer, feed on the roots of plants, and spend the winter in the soil.

These beetles can cause serious damage to potato, corn and vegetable crops.