ID Please - Friend or Foe?

[bagpuss]

I have a bag of multi-purpose compost, which I have added well rotted horse manure into. I haven't used it as yet, but found these in there yesterday, and am not sure if they are friendly or not. The picture isn't that great I'm afraid. They don't move, and are pale brownish in colour.



Any ideas?

[Tig]

Whatever they are bagpuss I wouldn't want them in my compost

They are grubs or larvae of some sort - and most of these feed on roots whilst in the soil, before hatching, possibles include leatherjacket larva or cutworm caterpillars.

Others may offer more ideas - but I would definately squish them before I used the compost for seed sowing, and might even pour boiling water over the compost I was going to put in trays or pots! Tig

[andy]

Tig's got it spot on....looks like leatherjackets to me.

The general rule with soil bugs is....if they move slowly, they're a foe and if they move quickly, they're a friend

[Plocket]

Yes they look like leather jackets to me too. If you bought the compost from somewhere then take it back. If not you're going to have to go through the whole bag very carefully to get them ALL out. If you don't they will eat any plants from the root upwards.

To get rid of them, put them in a bucket of water for a few weeks. They'll eventually drown - but it takes time!

[Plocket]

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0206/leatherjackets.asp

[bagpuss]

Thanks all for your help with this, much appreciated.

Had a suggestion from my Mum that they could possibly be cut worms. I think they must have been in the horse manure that I mixed in with the compost. Will definitely get rid of them. Thanks for the boiling water suggestion Tig, will give that a go.

I'm glad I put these ones on my bird table now! ;D

Thanks again

[Shrubrose]

Hi bagpuss! Glad you got an answer! Is it worth saying what brand the compost is (if well known? Might save others grief.

[Chuckles]

good job you spotted them BP