Very thin, yellow 'worms'

[SusieG]

Whilst clearing out a patch for my veggie bed yesterday, I unearthed what looked unlike regular earthworms.
They were quite a bright mustardy yellow colour, very small and thin. I picked them out as I didn't like the look of them!
What are they exactly? Hope they weren't young earthworms!

[Alison]

Do you have any photos?

[mothhawk]

Are you sure they were not centipedes? They are as you describe, except they have lots of little legs. They are good guys, eating pests in the soil and on the ground.

[Guest]

Was it in a potato bed or reclaimed grassy patch - they might be wireworm.

[SusieG]

No photos, wasn't quick thinking enough!!!
Definitely not centipedes - no little legs!
I suppose you could say the area I'd been diggin over is 'reclaimed' as it had been weed/ grass covered for a few years ... So might be wire worm then, Norfolkgrey? Are they bad critters for veggies?

[Guest]

^^^As far as veggies are concerned they are bad. Don't panic though, if it was only a few they will disappear with cultivation. However, try and avoid root crops in there this year

[SusieG]

Thanks for the tip!
I did only notice a few of them, although to be honest there could've been more that went unnoticed by me ...
I see from some info I read, that they change into beetles that do the damage, little blighters!

[lottie dolly]

this thread and replies has had me googlin,and thinking,centipede,it shows 2 types,1 the thick shorter orange/brown,and a long very thin yellow/orange,are there 2 different types in the ground,i have seen both of these today,and now curious as to what is what,