Lettuce wilting...??

This year I have grown some lettuce in pots, and have been very successful. One of the pots of lettuce suddenly wilted. I pulled them out and the roots were covered in small white insects.
Any idea what these insects are?
Thanks.

 

Were they insects or grubs ?
If grubs, it sounds like eel worm. They eat through the roots and the plant suddenly collapses. Make sure you dispose of the compost.

 

Alice, they looked like insects.

 

Lettuce root aphid. they are very rare not sure how to control them, you don't really
want to go pouring chemicals on food plants. hope somebody can help in that department.

Pete

 

Unfortunately with the banning of the soil pesticides such as Derris Dust and Gamma Dust there is not much you can do except put them in the green bin and let the council have them.:gnthb:

 

I agree with Pete (about the cause of the problem) and with Dai (about what you can do about it now). Lettuce is particularly susceptible to tainting from any insecticide so when you notice serious symptoms, it's too late.

But where there are aphids, there are usually ants tending them so keep a good look out for signs of ant activity near your plants. If you suspect ants are farming aphids on your plants, take action immediately and destroy the ants' nest with an appropriate pesticide.

 

Sorry Gaz, if they're insects I can't help.
Never experienced such a thing.
Sadly, I think you have lost your lettuce.

 

I've had root aphids on lettuce grown in pots too, but not when grown in the ground.