Grubs

Tiffany 2

Hi there 

I am new here 

I have just moved into a new build and as well as having to get my head around an overly clay soil I am finding white grubs everywhere . . . they also seem keen to come in to my new place! I have been researching and they seem to be beetle larvae of either the rose chafer strain which some say are good for the soil or the japanese variety which is not so good. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for treatments (if needed) as I have been recommended by internet research nematodes, milky spore, and or neem oil which are all looking to be pricey treatments . . . can anyone help please? 

Look forward to hearing from you 

Many thanks 

nutcutlet

Hi Tiffany

You need to get an ID before you start killing things. You might kill the good guys, or fail to kill the baddies with the wrong poison

Can you take a photo

John Harding

If you can't take a photo try describing them in more detail. i.e. a vine weevil grub is sickle shaped, about 12-16 mm long with an orange coloured head. These will devastate plants by consuming the roots below ground while the adult weevils spend their time playing 'dead' if you are around & looking for them - or nibbling holes in the edges of leaves above ground + laying eggs for the next generation. Best treatment (& only effective one so far as I'm concerned for these 'orrible little critters) is Nemasys (Nematodes) - expensive but extremely effective & available from several sources including Amazon.

Tiffany 2

Hi there 

Thanks for the replies

I will do my best to get a picture of these guys 

I am pretty sure they are leatherjackets! They are white / grey / translucent grubs with no legs and there are many on my patio writhing towards my back door! I am having to remove them from my door mats inside and out daily! 

I have lived in the new build for almost two months now and the lawn was left to overgrow so it has been quite hard to know if the builders or the bugs were to blame for the state of my poor lawn . . . but this could explain it! 

I have now ordered some nematodes / nemasys so fingers crossed as I'm gonna start having nightmares about these things! 

Hope that's a better description and if you've any other advice I'd love to hear it 

Many thanks  

nutcutlet

They're not dangerous, you'll soon get it all in hand.

Dovefromabove

 Here's a picture of leatherjackets - are these what you have?

Hope that's helpful. 

Tiffany 2

Morning 

Was just taking pictures and trying to work out how to share them . . . 

 

I hope that has worked . . . 

Thanks guys I am pretty sure that is what I have as yes dovefromabove they did look just like that . . . 

Thanks 

 

Tiffany 2

 

Dovefromabove

Shame you haven't got any chickens - they'd love those!  But blackbirds and starlings love them - encourage the birds - they keep the blighters under control here - so far!!!

Tiffany 2

Thanks very much guys . . . I do have a robin which hangs out around here however I think he or she may have their work cut out with the amount I saw last night . . . 

I have just applied my first application of nematodes to help the robin along so fingers crossed now . . . 

gardenjeannie

Tiffany, hope you weren't meaning how to share the critters Got plenty of my own, thanks!