[mashbintater]

I've got loads of larvae in my soil that tend to be found within dandelion roots or similar. I thought they were vineweevil but they are at least an inch long, sometimes longer and are cool & soft, I think vine weevils have hairs or something don't they? They look more like waxworms.  The starlings are delighted with them. I've a heap of grass sods and weeds I'm knocking the soil off and finding them in it. What do you think?

[Trillium]

If they're a whitish colour, then they're larvae of Japanese beetles. The larvae can eventually demolish your lawn, or leave large patches of dead grass when they chew the roots.
Soon as I see them, it's SQUISH! time as I have no chooks and the robins are never around at the right time.

[mashbintater]

They're a sort of grey / cream colour. I've just left another batch for the sparrows as they've not had a look in yet.
They were under my grassed area, couldn't call it a lawn as there were more weeds than grass, it's now my mini veg plot. I found loads as I was digging it, hope my veggies aren't doomed  :shock:

[Trillium]

I've yet to find one in my veggie patches. They seem to prefer grassy areas.

[mashbintater]

I've just looked at a pic of a Japanese beetle larvae, they've got tiny legs near the head, these are legless, patchy grey cream colour, up to 3.5cm long & 3 or 4mm wide, were curled when I found them, now laying mainly straight. They were under my grass as I was digging it up to make a veg plot, still finding them. Just look like waxworms, but they tend to nest in beehives I read.

[sawnee]

Sound like a Leather Jacket (baby cranefly) live/eat the grass roots,if you get starlings in the garden watch them,this is what they are looking for as they wander around the lawn.

[mashbintater]

Thankyou Sawnee! That's them! Glad I haven't planted my spuds in the ground, they're in containers. Found the pics by googling.
Now, need I be worried, must read up, thanks again !

[sawnee]

No probs,  we aim to please
(lucky guess)

[gobs]

Trill, we don't have Jap beetle in most of Europe as yet - thank God -, they are notifiable etc.