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Can we assume I am aware what a worm looks like, even a ground beetle, slug, wireworm, earwig, millipede, centipede & woodlice. However there is one little critter I keep meeting which I am unable to identify so am unaware whether it is friend or foe.

It is 1 inch long with a segmented body, cream in colour with a pair of pinchers similar to an earwig. Sorry for brief description but has anyone any ideas?

MINESAPINT

Woo Hoo!! You could be a lucky so-and-so. Have a Google around for pictures of the larvae (and pupae) of the Stag Beetle.

Thanks MKG,

Just had a look. Stag beetles are located in SE. I should have mentioned in my original post I live in North Yorkshire.

I have searched periodically for this critter but never made any progress.

MINESAPINT

Just had a look at some pictures of larvae and note they are very much larger than the ones I find in my garden. Mine are about the same size as a centipede.

MINESAPINT

Just to add. These critters are pretty active whereas I would imagine larvae would be inactive?

MINESAPINT

I'm fascinated now. Try here ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/insectman/sets/469873/
and look at the larva of Pyrochroa - that's the Cardinal Beetle - which is common throughout the UK and has the earwig-like pincers

Thanks MKG,

My description cannot have been too bad as the Pyrochroa Larvae is pretty similar. To add another piece to this jigsaw I only come across them when digging so they do seem to be soil living creatures. Next time I come across one I will study it more closely and photograph it if my camera is up to it. This might be today but yesterday I planted 51 potato sets and saw 2 of these. I have never thought of them as being larvae, they look fully developed for whatever their purpose is?

I have studied books of common garden friends & foes but never come across them.

MINESAPINT

spose its not a cockchafer grub?

they look like half maggot half beetle.. disgusting ...

I found something which sounds similar in some virgin soil I was digging and just assumed they were earwig larvae just about to get their real outer skins. dur. Gave em to the chix anyway. Will watch this space. w.

Just searched for cockchafer grub and can confirm it is not one. These critters are slim & agile and not "C" shaped. I have found one today & brought it home to inspect & photograph. So I have photographs but have not got a clue how to post one on here. Might be able to e-mail to someone. However here's the description:

1 inch long
Slim & agile. Similar build to a centipede but not as fast as a centipede.
6 legs
4 or 6 tiny antenna protruding forward from head
pair of nasty looking pincers at mouth end
pair of curved tails - look similar to pinchers but much more fragile at back end.
brown head
tan back
cream sides & underbelly
body constructed of 12 segments

Do you know what it is yet?

Of course the reason for the post is to establish if they are friends or foes, up to now I have given them the benefit of the doubt.

MINESAPINT

A woman I worked for once said that, broadly speaking, if they are fast (like earwigs), they are friends; if they are slow (like slugs), they are foes... Although I'm not sure whether that's a 100% correct classification!

What you have is certainly a beetle larva of some kind - the six legs is a dead giveaway. And the jaws sort of dictate a predatory beetle, so we're looking at Cardinal Beetle, Ground Beetle - that sort of thing.

PM me a photo or two. Ve hef vays of naming ze little buggers.

This seems to fit your description reasonably well ...
http://rxwildlife.org.uk/?p=4969#more-4969

The third photo is of a ground beetle larva. If this is it, it's one of your best mates.

This site shows pics of friends and foe - is it here?
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/insects.htm

SORTED THANK YOU EVERYONE.

MKG got it in the link above. It is the laevae of the ground beetle as in the image. I do have plenty of ground beetles on my garden. FRIEND then.

I think as an organic gardener it is important to be able to identify critters as friends or foes as you come across them so you know how to treat them.

MINESAPINT