[loubylou29]

My blinking potatoes are being eaten again!!!!!!!!
Last year I posted to ask what it might be, ell worms and wire worms were suggested and nether creature looked like what I was finding in the spuds, but the holes did. I duely planted mustard in the beds over winter.

Now I am harvesting this years crop I am finding the same creatures and holes in spuds and am really cheesed off that it's being spoilt again. I am able to eat the pots, but it is labour intensive to dig out the holes and make sure the creature is out.
They do look like tiny thin white (Almost see through) centiepedes. I will try to take a pic when I find some more.



Any ideas??

[peapod]

Got your pic yet?

[bonfire]

When you say you planted mustard in the beds - are you growing in the same bed as last year?

[loubylou29]

Sorry, no pics yet.. need to find another infested spud!!LOL the ones from the last dig, seem to have crawled away before I peeled them.
I did not plant in the same bed this year no, but I grew mustard as I know it is meant to help, I now have onions in it with pots going in next year.

[loubylou29]

sorry, I added the picture to the post from last year, when the holes started.
I know the spuds have scab, and this one has no holes, but these things are all inside the holes, but no sign of any wire worms, just hundreds of these!!

[Paul Plots]

Wireworms? 

[Mitsy]

I had centipedes in a couple of my potatoes too. I checked all books and pics because I had assumed wire worms too. Luckily the rest were ok 

[Tattyanne456]

 I found these pieces of information, I hope they help. We too have problems with millipedes, and as yet I believe there is no chemical control but current advice is good housekeeping around the plot.
Millipedes may be confused with wireworms because of their similar shapes. Wireworms, however, are click beetle larvae, have only three pairs of legs, and stay underneath the soil surface.

Habitat and Importance
Millipedes normally live in and feed on rotting leaves and wood and other kinds of moist decaying plant matter. Generally, their role is a beneficial one in helping to break down dead plant matter. However, when they become numerous, they may damage sprouting seeds, seedlings, or strawberries and other ripening fruits in contact with the ground.
Diet: Most millipedes are herbivores (plant-eaters) that eat dead and decaying plant material, but a few are also carnivores (meat-eaters). Millipedes also occasionally eat moist, living plants. They are often nocturnal (more active at night).

[jb]

Had the same problem last year on my maincrops, also found them in holes on my parsnips and even in pea pods (that were growing  next to tatties). This year I found huge quantities around the bases of elderly lambs lettuce. In all cases the millipedes were much smaller than the holes they were around so it could be that  they are opportunists feeding on damage caused by other pests. Would it be worth blitzing potential slugs/wireworms and seeing if that helps. Otherwise if they preferentially feed on decaying matter try putting some old manky leaves near your crops to distract the little blighters (though you might need to deslug as the bait may also attract them).

[Yorkie]

I found these pieces of information, I hope they help. We too have problems with millipedes, and as yet I believe there is no chemical control but current advice is good housekeeping around the plot.
Millipedes may be confused with wireworms because of their similar shapes. Wireworms, however, are click beetle larvae, have only three pairs of legs, and stay underneath the soil surface.

Habitat and Importance
Millipedes normally live in and feed on rotting leaves and wood and other kinds of moist decaying plant matter. Generally, their role is a beneficial one in helping to break down dead plant matter. However, when they become numerous, they may damage sprouting seeds, seedlings, or strawberries and other ripening fruits in contact with the ground.
Diet: Most millipedes are herbivores (plant-eaters) that eat dead and decaying plant material, but a few are also carnivores (meat-eaters). Millipedes also occasionally eat moist, living plants. They are often nocturnal (more active at night).

Useful post, Tattyanne 

Please could you include a link to the site or book which you got the info from - for copyright reasons?  Thanks

[loubylou29]

Thank you, all very useful and good to know that I am not alone in this problem!

[Tattyanne456]

Ohhh Yorkie now you're asking something! I'm afraid I just typed Milliipede into the address bar then scrolled through the results. Sorry

[Yorkie]

Well so long as you remember next time 

[Lady Lottie]

I think the same thing is eating my spuds too.  Tiny, thread like centipedes, very fine, about and inch long, lots of legs, creamy white in colour, bores little holes into spuds - I can't find anything online that looks like them either.

Will take a photo next time I see any so we can compare!  Annoying little bleeders.

[Paul Plots]

I had better put my specs on next time I go furtling.... found a few holes in two of my spuds. 

I was pretty sure it was wireworm.... they don't have legs... Do they?