"michael adams" wrote in message
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"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
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I dug up a tropaeolum ciliatum
that was withering and near death.
The roots were covered in small white thread like millipede type things.
They were about 1/2 inch long and could move fairly quickly. They had a
small head and many pairs of legs and the little beasts had devoured a
majority of the roots.
An ideas what this pest is??

These chaps ?

http://www.gaipm.org/top50/wireworms.html

Although they only have three pairs of legs each, if there are
enough of them all gathered together in one place, it might
resemble a mass of legs.

michael adams

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Perhaps-but the bodies were much thinner--almost as thin as cotton.
I suppose it depends on their age--we all fill out a bit as we get older.