On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 23:27:19 +0000, David Hare-Scott wrote:

I have no way to post a picture so I am sorry you will have to work from
1000 words as they say. I am in Australia where it is high summer, hot
and showery at present.

A grub that I have never seen before just stripped a fig plant in a pot.
All the leaves are reduced to paper thin lace, this took about 24 hrs for
a 2ft (60cm) plant as it was fine beforehand.

The attackers are up to about 3/4in (18mm) long with segmented bodies and
a pair of legs on each segment I think, my eyesight is not that good, lots
of legs anyway. Each one has a similar number of segments, about 12.
Some are smaller and presumeably given enough food they would all grow
bigger.

They are yellowish on the underside and dark grey/brown on top and
somewhat hairy. One end is blunt and seems to have black mouth parts, the
other, the tail I think, is slightly pointed. Oh where is my binocular
microscope ....

As they appeared so quickly I assume they hatched recently and have grown
very fast. If you are able to identify the grub can you also tell me what
the adult looks like so I can keep an eye open for them.

David


In the US we have county extension agents affiliated with local
universities. Check the insect depart at your local university. They
will be happy to ID the critter.