leather jackets

[lynda66]

damn, i've just found out what the catterpillary things are in my front lawn, leather jackets so that's why the lawn has been bloody awful, and apparently they eat spuds and i've just planted a load in the lawn....... this isn't good is it

is not a happy teddy bear

Lynda xx

[Birdie Wife]

Oh booger, I really feel for you, I had a similar problem a couple of years agowhen I moved house and found these things in the veggie patch. It was too late to do anything about them and I had to wait until they had hatched in July before I could do any direct sowings or plant out anything but really well grown seedlings. So not much productivity that year! My tatties were okay though, the leatherjackets might have a bit of a nibble but you should still get a half decent crop. They go for the tender young shoots and stems more.

[Snadger]

It's usually wireworm that can be a problem for tatties that are grown on a previously grassed area! Leatherjackets usually feed on grass roots methinks?

[piskieinboots]

oh - I saw the title and thought this was a motorbike thread....sorry, I'll close the door quietly on the way out

[lynda66]

yeah, they eat the grass roots, but i found out on a pest identifying thingy, that they like potatoes too, but that's why even though i raked and seeded the lawn last year it's still mostly bald i do find it strange though, that they are only in the front lawn, and don't seem to be in next doors or the flower beds or the back ........ just my flipping lawn ...... when they hatch, i'm gonna go running round with my leccy fly swatter, then they won't be laying any more eggs,

actually i was wondering, if i cover the whole lot in plastic, when they hatch they won't be able to fly round and mate will they? so that might be the end of them?

i'm only growing tatties in there, cos it's all being dug up at some point, and they are supposed to be good for breaking up the soil ...... i already have some in the back, so i guess it's not too tragic, but i was going to stick some broccoli and caulis in there too,

oh and i've just realised thats probably why my clematis and passiflora don't look too healthy, they are at the front of the lawn, whereas the ones on the other side are about 3 foot tall

grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Lynda xx

[lynda66]

oh - I saw the title and thought this was a motorbike thread....sorry, I'll close the door quietly on the way out

lol fraid not, though i'd rather have leather jackets and motorbikes than bugs lol

[Snadger]

So it's Daddy long legs bashing season this year then!

[lynda66]

yep ...... normally they only get it when they come in the house, i wondered why there seemed to be so many of them last year, now i know why ..... they were the reason i got a leccy fly squatter ....... hate them

[Tam]

If you have leatherjackets in your lawn, cover with plastic and next day when you remove it you should have leatherjackets on the surface to sweep up and dispose of - I think most softbills would eat them - starlings certainly love them. I am lucky in that we have regular visits by starlings and they seem to keep the lawns leatherjacket free.