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Identify a grub

ashedotbobashedotbob Posts: 11
in Problem solving
Hi folks
Needs some advice again. I was growing potatoes in containers but they had stopped growing, were still fairly small and looking quite pale. I decided to give them up as a bad job and tipped them out. There were no pototoes and not much plant but there were 20 or so of these grubs. They are 1-2" long, move fast and burrow back into the soil in a blink. Any ideas what they are and what to do about them? A spade bounces off them.
Thanks in advance.


Posts

  • TackTack Posts: 1,367
    They look a lot like stag beetle larvae. Which is fabulous if they are

  • ashedotbobashedotbob Posts: 11
    Thanks Tack. Having looked at some photos of stag beetle larvae and descriptions of where stag beetles are found I think you are right.   
    And there's plenty old tree stumps around to keep them happy.  :)
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Probably more likely to be larvae of one of the chafer beetles which can be a pest of spuds.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • ashedotbobashedotbob Posts: 11
    Thanks Wild. I compared the stag beetle larvae with the cock chafer larvae and rose chafers. I did think it was the cock chafer because of the potaoes. But these grubs don't have a clearly defined head, the legs are very short, not long and they definately didn't get up and "run". I'm now thinking it's a rose chafer having watched some videos on how they move. One of the things I was struggling to work out was which way up it was meant to be because it didn't seem to matter to it escaping. Unfortunately I think Stag beetle is wishful thinking on my part.
    The potatoes probably died because I don't know what I'm doing.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    This site @Dovefromabove posted the other day may help with the ID:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ashedotbobashedotbob Posts: 11
    Thanks Bob. I think the video footage clinches it for the rose chafer.
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