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Larvae ID
AngieR
Posts: 347
I came across lots of these little blighters when clearing away some winter debris. I found them on both soil and on concrete slabs under mounds of leaves. I know it's a bit of a long shot - any ideas if these are friends of foe?
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Posts
They look like sawfly caterpillars, perhaps the last of the summer broods which normally overwinter as pupae. However, even they don't do much damage other than defoliating roses, gooseberries etc. There are about 400 species! Could be beetle grubs, of some species or another, probably harmless to live plants and very likely feeding on rotting wood somewhere. They'll have finished growth now and are waiting to pupate before emerging, as something wonderful, in spring. Either way, they're not wireworm, cockchafer or vine weevil so be pleased!
H-C
In the great scheme of things I do try to leave most creatures in the garden to their own fate Pansyface - be them friends or foes but it's good to know just what I am dealing with. Finding these in their masses had me wondering just, as you mention, why the birds hadn't go to them. I think H-C might have hit the nail on the head re sawfly. The Solomons seal was obliterated by them last year and that particular lot were around where it grows. I don't grow my own fruit and veg so not so much of a concern. I've thrown in a handful of sunflower hearts into that particular border in the hope that I can entice the birds over. It's not their usual haunt in the garden.
H-C, thank you. I think you might be right re sawfly. As I mention above they were very near to where the Solomans Seal grows so that's a distinct possibility. I am familiar with both the cockchafer and wine weevil grubs so was able to rule them out right away.
Yes pansyface, here's what I found last year on the solomons seal. From memory I don't think there was much difference in size.