Leatherjackets?

[cazp]

I was shifting some unopened topsoil bags from the patio this morning and saw underneath what looked Just like large maggots - except greyer and just over an inch or so long. They moved along just like maggots too.

I have surfed about for ages trying to id them from memory and think they might be leatherjackets. Is this the right time of year to see leatherjackets and would they be present under compost bags? what else could they be?

[Two_Sheds]

photo?


(as you've found, leatherjackets are usually in the ground, where they feed on grass roots. Crows & badgers dig up the lawn to get at them.)

I wonder if yours are something else?

[cazp]

I saw one or two there this morning so will try to take a pic and post it later on. greyish magotty things - I looked closely and the head end looks quite blunt with very minute tentacles all around....

. I hope theyre not leatherjackets else having read more about how then can attack young plants (and veg!). My raised beds are in the same garden.

[Two_Sheds]

. I hope theyre not leatherjackets ... can attack young plants (and veg!).

They don't like disturbed ground though: they prefer grassland/lawn

[Snadger]

It IS the right time of year for them though. Feed them to the birds..............they love em!

[cazp]

Attached is a pic...

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, that's the fella.

As Snadge says, throw them to the birds. If you think your lawn is affected, give it a good water then cover it overnight in a plastic tarp. The grubs will all be under the tarp in the daytime ~ you can fling it off and give the birds a feast

[cazp]

Ok thanks for the confirmation.

We had the lawn replaced in September last year as it was so uneven and had died in places... its the same all over the neighbourhood, compacted soil and builders rubble are a factor but maybe the leatherjackets contributed.

My raised beds are also in this garden and all plants doing ok I think - nothing wilting. The beds were put in during October last year on an area where the lawn had been taken up and the soil excavated to make a gravel surround (about 4 inches deep) - the beds were filled with fresh topsoil. I am hoping this will mean the chances of leatherjackets in the beds are minimal but will keep an eye out.

[judy2shoes]

Hi there - glad I came across this thread. I planted out three small beds with pak choi and lettuce last fortnight with new compost. The middle bed ended up with around 15 of these grubs who ate all everything, not sure if they are leatherjackets or cut worms and what I am puzzled about is how they got into one bed while the others seem to be fine but all out of the same brand new bag of compost?

Any ideas - I am panicking about having these in the PT and now paranoid about anything that moves!

[rustylady]

Are the beds outside or in your polytunnel Judy? And why did you need new compost?

It's highly unlikely that the grubs were in the compost, more likely to have been in the bed to start with. You say the grubs ate everything - cutworms and leatherjackets eat roots, not leaves. Could be you had a visit from the slug brigade.

[judy2shoes]

Hi Rusty Lady
i used new compost cos we are newbies and haven't started making our own yet! I planted up 3 old bakers trays in the pt. Actually, they did eat the roots but there were leaves left that looked like they'd been cut straight across? The maggotty thing looked like the one in Cazp's photo. The other two trays aren't showing any signs yet. Got any advice? We are doing slug hunts every night, with a glass of wine in hand. Its fun in the dark!

[rustylady]

Is your polytunnel on soil, or concrete, or paving slabs?

Just thinking if it's soil the grubs could have been in that and migrated to your trays.

[cazp]

Hi
My lawn is full of leatherjackets and so I was not at all surprised to find quite a few in my raised beds this year.

I've decided to treat lawn and beds with Nemasys "Grow your own" Nematodes which are supposed to kill leatherjackets and a few other veg pests. I'm hoping it will get red of the current generation of leatherjackets in one treatment but we will see - should arrive this week, fingers crossed.

[judy2shoes]

Bugs

The trays are over gravel, but the main bed (never had any trouble yet with that into year two) is on the site of an old pond. I'm going to keep an eye out and might think about the nematodes. Had a lovely weekend in the garden despite the 'find'!