Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote:
"Bioboffin" wrote in message
...
Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote:
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??

Could they be Symphilids? See link:

http://soilbugs.massey.ac.nz/symphyla.php

Although this link is for a New Zealand site, there are certainly
billions of Symphids in the UK too.

--

John
Not certain -but the bodies of the things I saw were like threads of
cotton. I suppose they could be the very young ones.
I admit with deep shame that I was that alarmed that I dropped the
trowel and the plant. When or if I find more I will get a photo
before I squash them

They are not that easy to identify - you really need a microscope.