Mystery bugs in the soil-believed to be beetles eventually ?

Anyone know what these are and if they are a problem. I have them every year and someone did say they are larvae of a small iridescent beetle ?
I have a pile of old compost in a corner of the garden where I dump old stuff and then replace with new, so they live there now
I am interested to know if they damage the plants or just live there, they seem to like vey wet conditions. Some pots have dozens and some just a few, I find them at the bottom where the soil can be wrung out it is so damp.

 

They look like vine weevil grubs.
They eat plant roots and need to be destroyed, and they turn into a beetle like creature during the summer.

 

I agree with @pete they are vine weevil larvae. They eat the roots and then the plant dies.
They will thrive in any soil or compost. My cacti which I keep dry, in gritty free draining compost, can get attacked by them. However I know when they are there because the plant gradually becomes loose in the pot and will shake back and fore in the compost. Then I can change the compost, kill the larvae, and save the plant before it's too late.

I usually use a systemic insecticide especially for Vine Weevil larvae, to kill them.

 

Just add, they are a pest mostly of pot plants, I find they like Fuchsias especially and they rely on being able to overwinter so that the adults can emerge in summer, lay eggs and keep the population going.

They are not really encouraged by the crocks in the bottom of pots, if the weevils are active in summer you will get these grubs in winter regardless of whether you use crocks.

 

Not so sure that these are vine weevil grubs. They look as if they have legs at the front, in which case they are more like chafer grubs.

 

I did wonder about the fact they appear hairy.

 

Might be worth putting some of the grubs in a clear plastic tub with some compost and see what they hatch out as and then you might be able to find out if they are harmful to plants.

As said those grubs do look like vine weevils and you can get various products to kill them.
For you heap of old compost, just keep turning / raking it over and the birds should eat them for you.
eg - https://www.amazon.co.uk/BugClear-U...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2RLE7VQ2OV7MU

 

Thanks, found one called Nemasys (love the name) which seems ideal as just sprayed on the soil.
Supplementary question there seem to be various nematode solutions naming various pests, are they specific or just a case of a nematode is a nematode ?

 

They don't have legs but could be 'chafer grubs' ? I think some of the treatments are for cacti (in Spain) so go on the outside of the plant, I think in the soil is better.
Found this on types Beneficial Nematodes Selection Chart

Shame a previous cat (Max) moved off to somewhere else, he liked farms, as he used to gorge on them.

 

I think they are too big for vine weevil, I'd go with chafer larvae.

There are different nematodes for some pests, with slugs the nematode carries a bacteria that kills the slug after a few days and the nematode then feeds on the result.
The thing to watch with nematodesis soil temperature at the moment my soil is too cold.
I generally tip them into a tray and leave them outside for passing wildlife.

 

Chafer beatles are quite large. See here for picture and info: Chafer grubs in garden borders / RHS Gardening

 

yes Chafer grubs I have found when I have dug up established lawn, which they feed on

 

I certainly jumped to a conclusion there.
They are not something I have come across, I was going by the brown head.

 

Thanks for all the info, I hadn't noticed the legs till I zoomed into the photo so definitely Chafer as they are about 1-2cm in size.
I would prefer no treatment so will leave it for a while, always confusing as I found a load in the roots of a dahlia but it was ok. They mainly seem to be in damp soil so I will just try to keep the soil dry as we are buying low water demand plants.

I have some bees and know of this guy through that, very good on wildlife About Cockchafer, Chafers, Hanneton in France
I remember asking this on his web site many years ago and he is the one who said, shiny beetle not a problem (but he always says that as loves wildlife) and I have seen the green ones about. So good news is I don't need to do anything, I can do that I can only guess they were attracted to roots in the soaking areas of the pots so counts as rotting, always in damp areas never dry.

 

One method of deterring vine weevils from laying eggs in your pots: top dress with 2cm or so of grit. They won’t burrow down through that into the compost below. Works for me..