What are these bugs and how do I get rid of them?

frisbeej

Leatherjackets or Chafers, both eat grass roots.

nikki2804

frisbeej wrote: »

Leatherjackets or Chafers, both eat grass roots.

It appears that they are leatherjackets. Hate, hate, hate daddy long legs so I'm not chuffed that's what they are.

ed110220

nikki2804 wrote: »

It appears that they are leatherjackets. Hate, hate, hate daddy long legs so I'm not chuffed that's what they are.

If you uncover them, the birds will soon make a meal of them ;-)

Biggles

nikki2804 wrote: »

It appears that they are leatherjackets. Hate, hate, hate daddy long legs so I'm not chuffed that's what they are.

But leatherjackets aren't usually white, they're almost always a sort of grey/brown colour.

nikki2804

One of the pictures that came up on image search was white? Maybe its the wrong picture.

The area they are in seems to be where my grass is dead/dying so I'll turn the area over and let the birds have a good dinner ( did wonder why I had so many birds on my lawn) Dont want to resort to chemicals as I have 2 cats and 2 small kiddies.

DaftyDuck

nikki2804 wrote: »

One of the pictures that came up on image search was white? Maybe its the wrong picture.

The area they are in seems to be where my grass is dead/dying so I'll turn the area over and let the birds have a good dinner ( did wonder why I had so many birds on my lawn) Dont want to resort to chemicals as I have 2 cats and 2 small kiddies.

You think the kids will eat your poisoned maggots? :eek:

More seriously, at this time of year, the birds are voracious predators of any & all small bugs, however ugly (but not generally children) because they are nesting and have chicks to feed. I have two blackbirds arguing over my lawn at the moment (Ed & Dave... 'cos both birds have a couple of white streaks in their plumage) and, right outside my window in the window box/balcony structure, I have a family of starlings (dad is Nigel, forever sounding off)... peace it ain't with them screaming the place down. (There are a pair of gulls shouting from their chimney nest on top of the house, but they don't eat many bugs & worms here, as I'm right on the coast.... they're Nick & Dave, by the way... all the birds are named after politicians ... )

The quantity of bugs Nigel feeds his brood is phenomenal. Seems to be a round trip every five minutes with another gob-full of worms or some wriggly thing.

I vote no chemicals, let the birds feast on.... Just, please, do it quietly. Less squawking, starlings!