In reply to Rupert (W.Yorkshire) ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...
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

...
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.

Nematodes. Available in McDonald's apparently.

Still yeuk.

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...

"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...
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

...
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.


Oops! It looks like it's one of the other ones anyway. A variety of
symphilids maybe.

There are loads of different types of insects under the soil. A
lot of them are larvae for other things, chafer grubs for beetles,
leatherjackets for crane fly etc. Coming across a big infestation
can come as something of a shock, but as far as I know, none of
them have been known to attack and kill humans.

Not so far, anyway.


michael adams

....

"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...

"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...
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

...
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.


Oops! It looks like it's one of the other ones anyway. A variety of
symphilids maybe.

There are loads of different types of insects under the soil. A
lot of them are larvae for other things, chafer grubs for beetles,
leatherjackets for crane fly etc. Coming across a big infestation
can come as something of a shock, but as far as I know, none of
them have been known to attack and kill humans.

Not so far, anyway.

You mean up til now they've been good at picking people who wont be missed
and are good at disposing of bodies?

--
Rhiannon_s:
Just a scientific experiment gone horribly wrong.