[wrighty500]

Out allotment has been waterlogged with all the rain lately and we have been advised to dig up all our potatoes to stop them from rotting.  This we have done but find that some of the potatoes have tiny thread like worms on them.  They look like cotton.  Does anyone know what they are and what effect it will have on the storage of the pototoes. This is only the 2nd year of owning our "lottie" and we are still learning so any advice would be welcome.

Mcwrighty

[Aunt Sally]

They could be wire worm.  I'll see if I can find a picture for you.  I don't suppose you took a picture did you  :?:

[Aunt Sally]

Are these the little blighters ?



Wire worms are the larvae of the click beetle

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This is the damage they cause, the potatoes are still edable if not too badly damaged.

[richyrich7]

Or is it flea beetle larvae ? Like this it's really hard to say are they doing any damage ?

[wrighty500]

these wriggly things are about an inch long and look like cotton but they move, Yuk.  Do you think they are coming off the soil rather than the spud.

[Aunt Sally]

Are they causing any damage to the potatoes :?: Can you take a picture for us to see :?:

[splodger]

if you are correct in your description - then i would guess eelworm is the problem - i can send you a detailed explaination if you can't find it on a web search - but not tonight - i'm cream crackered

[wrighty500]

will look on the internet but would be grateful for any pictures.  In the meantime I will try and take a photograph myself.

Many thanks to all who have made us so welcome

Mcwrighty

[Aunt Sally]

I don't think you can see eel worm other than a cysts on the roots.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0801/eelworm.asp

[Rhuby]

Just thought I'd add to this discussion as i had some such worm pop out of my potato in the microwave!!!! Still ate it though!! the spud that is.
I thought it was like a meal worm, you what you feed birds?

I just though well you dont get that with supermarket spuds. How exciting!!!

[Webby]

I had a similar thing on some of my earlies, under close examination they were centipedes