Topic: potato pest

[Multiveg]

I dug up a few spuds today (when it wasn't raining) and found a small millipede like creature coming out of one of the holes in the spuds - it was about 2 cm long and very thin. It was creamish white in colour with red spots down each side (one per segment). It had lots of little white leggies - any ideas what it is (friend or foe)?

[Bath_Bun]

I have had exactly the same thing and despite threads on several boards uincluding this one I have still had no luck with identification.  I first thought it was wireworm but the creatures do not resemble the ones I can see in pictures on the internet.  If you have any luck I would be extremely interested to know.

[sandersj89]

Can you spot it on this site, there are some decent pictures:

http://www.pestspotter.co.uk/crop/potatoes-ss.htm

Jerry

[tim]

Creamy-white suggests a cutworm? = Tim

[Multiveg]

'Tis the Snake spotted millipede.

[Hugh_Jones]

I Tried Jerry`s link several times but could only get the This Page Cannot Be Obtained notice. However, this one also has lots of lovely pictures:

http://www.gardensafari.net/english/75java.htm?/english/centipedes.htm

and Multiveg is definitely right

[sandersj89]

'Tis the Snake spotted millipede.

Glad the site helped!!!

Jerry

[Palustris]

The book says that it rarely creates the entry hole for itself, rather it exploits one made by some other pest, so you may need to look for the original hole maker, keel slugs are often to blame.