Scarey larvae

[scared55]

Whilst removing turf to create the new bed yesterday, we came across two of the creatures pictured. They are about two and a bit inches in length and the size of those disgusting looking things people apparently eat in the jungle.

I think they are summer chafer larvae - can anyone confirm or refute this? Either way, does anyone cleverer than I know whether this is a problem that may result in major problems for me if I try to put the area under cultivation - is two within about four metres of each other likely to indicate an infestation.

I have been over the bed three times with Mr Rotavator, tilling to a depth of some four to six inches.

Thanks for any help

KK

[Headfry]

A cockchaffer grub me thinks!

[skegblade]

It's a cockchaffer grub scared55. They live as grubs for three years and eat plant roots.

Phil

[Nicos]

Here's a good site to look at...

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...%3Den%26sa%3DG

[scared55]

Thanks everyone - what I had found on the web suggested either a cockchafer or a summer chafer. It seems the larval stage is similar. What I haven't been able to find out is whether it is usual for them to be sporadic or to exist in levels enough to constitute a serious problem.

KK

[roitelet]

Hi Scarred55,

Found loads of the same lave in the ground when I first dug it to make the potager. They seem to like grass land and now that the ground is cultivated I don't seem to find many at all.

Did find lots in the mown grass heap though

[scared55]

Funny - they're not mentioned in my Larousse Gastronomique, and I always understood there was a recipe for everything ...

KK

[moggssue]

I'm sure someone will be able to provide a recipe ... haha!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Depends how desperate you are! I'd have to be MIGHTY hungry to eat one of those!!

[scared55]

Mm - lovely grub!

KK

[skegblade]

You mean there's something the French DON'T eat

[rustylady]

They're the larvae stage of daddy-long-legs. They live in grass, lawns, etc, where they munch on the roots until they hatch - don't appear to do too much damage. They prefer to be undisturbed, so if you dig up the lawn to make a veggie bed, the larvae will be turned up and the birdies will eat them.