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I was digging out my runner bean roots today from last seasons tub when I came across these two revolting creatures.
The little white grubs stood out against the black compost, but there must have been at least a dozen of them. The long caterpillar thingie, I only found two, but have seen several while digging in the ground.
Any ideas what they might be please?

yeuuuuck  :-X

The first one looks like vine weevil, if you cant squish 'em put them in a bowl for the birds. They eat the roots of plants, mostly in containers. The plant eventually dies after not doing much.

I dont know what the second one is sorry

Leatherjacket?
:-\

Yes the top one looked like a vine weevil grub to me. They tend to target tubs as easy meat but they destroy all sorts from the root up. You can spray with nematodes to get rid of them when the weather is warmer or you can just lay them out for the birds as suggested.

Second one could be a leatherjacket although they are normally browner in my garden. Looks as though something (prhaps your hoe?) has attacked its rear end though. They are not as ghastly as vine weevil but tend to live in grassland eating roots. Blackbirds love 'em!

The second one is one of the winter moths probably cabbage moth. Eats anything from leaves to roots and polyanthus petals.

Quote from: grawrc on February 20, 2008, 21:37:07
Looks as though something (perhaps your hoe?) has attacked its rear end though.

Oh that was wet compost stuck to the back end  :-\

Thanks for your help. Yep it was vine weevil  :'(

http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/vineweevil.htm

http://www.bestchrysanthemums.com/cabbage_moth.htm

Nematodes it might have to be then  ::)

Found a load of these in the  strawberry plant pots , wear some gloves as these bad boys pop at some rate when squiged. It's the only cure and explains why  the strawbs were dieing off.

We will probably see a lot of vine weevil grubs this year. The amount of adults I saw round here last autumn was amazing :-\

Get your own back

Eat the grubs!

What do the adults look like, I have only ever seen the grubs. What do I look out for?

there is a picture of the vine weevil here :o
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0600/vineweevil.asp
debbie :)