Invasion of the wormlikes...

Hi all :gnthb:

I would have posted this in the 'Pests' forum but I'm not sure if these are pests or not. A flesh coloured worm like about 1-2cm long, about 2mm in width. Loads and loads of them. Sandy soil uncultivated for quite a while. A plant pot saucer placed on the soil for a week will see hundreds of them gathered underneath. I am about to dig in compost ready for planting flowers next season and was wondering what these things are and whether I should treat the soil somehow first to get rid of them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

G

 

Hi Kathy, thanks for the reply. Though nope, they're not the ones (unfortunately) the onesI have are almost nematode like. I have searched the net and I cant find any piccies of the ones I have.

 

Yes, very interesting stuff that K. Thankyou.
They look almost identical to the ones pictured on the page given (top left) but the blighters I have are quite big, though I believe many nematodes are microscopic. I have recently moved into the property and I wish to plant up this, my only available ground, with flowering plants especially some sweetpeas that my mother gave me before she sadly passed away last year. I shall keep searching for them and hope in the meantime some body on the board canhelp identify them.

 

I have an inkling they may be some kind of maggot.

The other thing that springs to mind is the New Zealand flat worm.
But I think they are longer.

 

Could you not post a photo on here, or, take some in a jar to a garden centre???

Do let us know!!!!

 

Hi everyone.... Yuk! I know that they tend to be found more in lawns but at 1-2cm long sounds more like leatherjackets, maybe? If they are you can buy some nematode stuff from one of the organic gardening suppliers - try www.buzzorganics.co.uk - which I've used in the past and seems to work a treat. Must admit it's the flesh colour bit (coupled with the relatively small size) that puzzles me. Glad I don't have them :o)
Good luck anyhow!