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Mystery Bugs eating plants

whn9q7h74j1ePeeCvqwhn9q7h74j1ePeeCvq Posts: 4
in Plants
Is anyone able to identify the bugs in the picture attached?

brought three new perennials a couple of weeks ago and all of them are on their last legs. All got damage to leaves and when I’ve dug around the roots I’ve found a large number of the attached bugs. They are planted in large flower beds so want to try and get rid of them as quickly as possible.

thanks!

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Wood louse aka pea bug.  Quite harmless to plants.  But surely this the first bug that every child knows/.

    Look for the culprit elsewhere.  Probably your buying damaged goods.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    One of the Wood louse family.   They wouldn't normally any cause initial damage to plants but will take advantage of those which have already been damaged in some way.
    It is somewhat of a contentious issue tho - some gardeners agree with the above but others don't.
    If the leaves were damaged after planting, I think you need to look elsewhere for the cause.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We have had wood louse damage to some of our orchid plants...and yes it was woodlouse. We also find them nibbling away at the strawberries. Yes they are a good recycler and will help to break down your compost.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree. Don’t blame the woodlouse. I think I can see some snail damage on one of your plants. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
     @whn9q7h74j1ePeeCvq Looks like they have made a nest. Agree it is very unlikely they are causing the damage it is another cause and the woodlice are enjoying the resulting a rotting debris. Slugs are the more likely cause. What perennials are you growing Were the plants very small say 9cm pot. They might have been better growing on? 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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