Selfsufficientish.com

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:03 pm**

I have found loads of wireworm around my alltoment and am going to be planting my spuds soon. What can I do to stop getting a load of 'holey' spuds?

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:48 pm**

Im afraid Im a fan of the "stamp on as many as you can" approach,we suffer badly from wireworm (and cabbage whites) and I bribe the girls with 10p for each one they kill! They collect them in a bucket and feed them to the hens. Assuming your not into chemicals I think thats about the only way around it,unless they have a natural preditor,you could try the Wiggly Wigglers website to see if they have anything that feeds on them.

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:40 pm**

http://www.which.net/gardeningwhich/adv ... eworms.pdf is very interesting and offers a few tips on how to get rid of them.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:25 am**

Shirlz2005 wrote:http://www.which.net/gardeningwhich/adv ... eworms.pdf is very interesting and offers a few tips on how to get rid of them.

Yep that was a pretty interesting tips guide, so much so made me realise that I don't know what the pest I found is. I thought it was a wireworm, but no. It is a centipede type insect that is about 1.5 inches or 5cm long and kind of a dirty yellow/brown. Really thin sort almost flat. Tried a google search but don't really know what I am looking for

Must get that pest book that Ina recomemded.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:34 am**

take a photo Andy - someone on here might know exactly what it is.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:36 am**

Shirlz2005 wrote:take a photo Andy - someone on here might know exactly what it is.

Hmm if I can get my bust up camera to work

Will have a go.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:28 pm**

They might even be good bugs for all you know! Sorry but I can't think of anything I've come across which is centipede-y and flat.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:23 pm**

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/centip.htm not sure if this of any help??

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:13 pm**

that does help shilz, looks like I have been getting rid of a benefical garden centipede. Doh.

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:01 pm**

Don't feel bad. I spent all my digging time last year "rescuing" what I thought were stag beetle larvae and placing them lovingly under rotting wood. Turns out the damned things were cockchafer larvae.

Posted: **Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:28 am**

Give 'em to the chooks, they love them! Here's one we found last year........

Posted: **Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:26 am**

WOW - just look at those nails... how do you keep them so beautiful. I take it they are yours M3.

Shame they are so destructive - we were kept entertained last May when we lived in Herefordshire by these big beetles bashing against the windows.

Posted: **Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:04 pm**

Everybody comments on my nails rather than the bug! As I said when I posted it before - it was held in my left hand because I was too ashamed by the state of my right hand! I also have those nails most women - other than the ones on this site

- would give their eye teeth for - never break and are incredibly strong and just keep growing and growing and growing. Rather irritating really!

Posted: **Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:35 pm**

Must admit I did not even notice the nails until shirlz pointed them out. A gender thing perhaps

That is a mighty bug, I am thankful that I have not seen anything like that yet!

Posted: **Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:13 pm**

Mmmmmmmm! Tasty!

When you're ready, hack me off a steak please!

Nev