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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: Multiveg on September 11, 2004, 18:36:46

Title: potato pest
Post by: Multiveg on September 11, 2004, 18:36:46: 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)?
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: Bath_Bun on September 14, 2004, 15:40:01: 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.
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: sandersj89 on September 14, 2004, 16:14:04: Can you spot it on this site, there are some decent pictures:

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

Jerry
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: tim on September 14, 2004, 17:44:23: Creamy-white suggests a cutworm? = Tim
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: Multiveg on September 14, 2004, 19:45:39: (http://www.pestspotter.co.uk/thumbnail%20pictures/pest10.jpg)
'Tis the Snake spotted millipede.
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: Hugh_Jones on September 14, 2004, 20:24:08: 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
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: sandersj89 on September 14, 2004, 20:35:17: Quote from: Multiveg on September 14, 2004, 19:45:39
(http://www.pestspotter.co.uk/thumbnail%20pictures/pest10.jpg)
'Tis the Snake spotted millipede.

Glad the site helped!!!

Jerry
Title: Re:potato pest
Post by: Palustris on September 14, 2004, 20:41:41: 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.