Pests centipedes?

lothianchap · March 2021

Hi

can anyone identify the pest in the attached picture please? I suspect it may be a centipede post size is 3" x 3" (75 x 75) - there's an awful lot of them in my vegetable plot - is there a way to get rid of them?

thanks very much

Pete

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kw/et260fmxj3q2.jpg

Dovefromabove · March 2021

Centipedes are beneficial in the garden
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/centipedes-and-millipedes.htm

BobTheGardener · March 2021

Centipedes are predators and considered a 'good guy' in the garden:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=887

I have the same ones and think they are likely these:

https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/western-yellow-centipede

lothianchap · March 2021

thanks for your responses.

The raised plot that I have created for vegetables has chicken wire all around and over the top to stop cats getting into the plot - this also stops birds getting in so the insects within the plot don't get picked off by the birds.

Last year our potatoes, onions and carrots were tunnelled by something that I assumed was centipedes when I saw that there was an awful lot of them yesterday when I went to plant this years potatoes.

This year I'll take some pictures of any damage to the spuds etc.

I am now thinking that I'll remove the chicken wire and put in an ultrasonic cat repellant. Any suggestions to stop cats getting into our plot would be very welcome.

thanks

BobTheGardener · March 2021

The two most likely culprits for 'holey' potatoes are a type of small slug and wireworm. Have a read of these which may help:

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/pest-disease/wirewoms.php

https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/how-to-prevent-slug-eaten-potatoes/

If you have a water supply available, then it would be worth trying a 'water spray cat repeller' which are one of the few things that forum members have reported to actually work.

Dovefromabove · March 2021

My first guess would be that the small slugs that live underground are damaging your potatoes. If you scroll down on this site you'll find a list of slug-resistant potato varieties https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=228

Another culprit could be wireworms https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=914

Hope that helps

robairdmacraignil · March 2021

peter_rothon said:

Hi
can anyone identify the pest in the attached picture please? I suspect it may be a centipede post size is 3" x 3" (75 x 75) - there's an awful lot of them in my vegetable plot - is there a way to get rid of them?
thanks very much
Pete

That looks like a wire worm to me.

Dovefromabove · March 2021

That's not a wireworm ... they have stiff and much less flexible bodies and don't have all those legs

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=887

Dovefromabove · March 2021

@robairdmacraignil 😊
Further to my post above ive found some pics of wire worm.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/pest-disease/wirewoms.php#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20species%20of%20wireworm%20in%20the,their%20way%20to%20the%20surface%20and%20begin%20feeding.

You’ll see they’re quite different to the centipede in the OP’s photograph.
😊

lothianchap · March 2021

having studied the pictures looks to me that these are centipedes (too many legs for wireworms). I have also discoved lots of small yellow balls (possible eggs?) see picture. I think I may have done the wrong thing by excluding birds from the plot area!

So I have removed the chicken wire and have planted potatoes - onions and peas to follow shortly - I'll keep a close eye on the crops and will take pictures of any damage or worms etc.

thanks very much for all of your comments

Dovefromabove · March 2021

Sometimes the slow release fertilizer capsules in multipurpose compost can be mistaken for insect eggs. 😊

Pests centipedes?

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