what is this?

It looks like the final stage of larval growth of a butterfly (possibly Dingy Skipper) or moth, but I can't be certain. Perhaps someone else will confirm or say something different.

Do they live in the soil Bamboo? I think this did although I suppose he could have fallen off a plant I was pulling up.:-)

I think they move around a lot to feed on various plants - it will soon be turning into a pupa and won't be able to move at all, if its what I think it is!

They go down into the soil to pupate

I thought they attached themselves to a leaf or something, Moongrower?

oh no, if you're right Mg I've dug it up at a bad time! although he did walk about a bit before I put him back in the soil. That's the problem with digging, I have to try not to think of what I'm harming:-(

Bamboo so do, others go underground to pupate.

Looks more like a cutworm to me, eats grass roots and other things if it is.

Owdboggy, I've googled it and I think you are right, in one photo it showed it in a C shape. Oh no, what have I done!!!!!!!! Well I did think I would leave it on the drive for a bird to eat, but it looked so vulnerable:-(

Bless you bornagain - that's the sort of thing I would do - go to great efforts to save a pest! ;-)

:-))

I don't know if this is any comfort, Bornagain, but I'm not convinced this is a cutworm - see that bluish grey strip running all the way down its back? Cutworms don't have those, but butterfly/moth caterpillars do.

Let's hope you're right Bamboo :-)

http://www.veggiegardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cutworm-larvae.png

This link shows a load of different types if you're interested. I really hope Bamboo is right too, but I think there is a bit of resemblance to the last one on the link...

Oh no! Don't tell me some cutworms have that stripe...

Ach well... we've got at least 5 giant economy size spiders hunting for hibernation sites in our bathroom as I type!

Oh, lord, I'd be in there with a lager glass and a piece of card, removing them outside asap. Can't sleep if I know they're in the house...

Oooooooo Nooooooo :-( I have a few flowers of very little root in my front border (where he was found)including musk mallow and a coreopsis. I did think it looked like vine weevil grub damage but when I looked there was no sign of the critters. I wonder if this one has some friends or has it done it all by itself. Do they live in colonies perhaps....will all my plants be killed off.... do they have an enemy I could introduce...am I exagerating the problem? ;-))))) I recently had a new front lawn, will I need another next year? I didn't like the look of him that's why I put him on the drive, in future I'll follow a friends advice and always go on first impressions ;-))

I accidentally, and I do mean accidentally, drowned one in the shower this morning. Three more where lurking in the Dove skin polisher/scourer thing (wonder if it is really any different to a pot scourer?) I grew up with a mother who was totally spider phobic... and she did a fairly good job of turning my sister and self into same. Not sure how or why I got over the phobia - and it really was such! But now I'll pick them up, if I can catch the beasties, and either put them outside or on the floor. At the moment we've got a 'spider ladder' in the bath tub... so that the daft things can actually get out of the bath. I assume they come up through the drain ... don;t read Bamboo and co! Catching them is a pain the the butt hence the 'ladder' :-)

I tell you the only bug that freaks me out is an earwig!

I read about this once - apparently, they don't ever come up the waste pipe into the bath, they always get in somewhere else and end up getting into the bath and can't get out, which is why we find them there. I used to leave a towel draped over the bath, until I realised they used it as an escape route.I want to catch them and put them out, so I don't leave the towel there any more.

They all scare me, I cant actually touch one, but carefully manipulate them with stiff leaves or stalks, I'm not as bad as I used to be, but daddy long legs....they fly at me and drop their legs on me.. yeugh, I shudder as I write:-)

I wonder Bamboo and am too tired to research :-) Ah well I'll not kick them, the butterflies, moths, newts and other assorted 'visitors' out. We once had a toad set up home in a large pot in our front porch - wreaked the plant but what the heck!

Daddy long legs, crane flies I think they are, aren't they? I've got a fantastic bit of kit for them - its a small tennis racquet thingy with a button on the side - when you press it, it electrifies the wire mesh in the racquet and deals with the daddy long legs really quickly and efficiently... No point trying to catch them, I just get rid - terrible, isn't it, really.

Lol! Sorry Bornagain - I seem to have made you think that your entire garden will be decimated by next year - I sincerely hope that's not the case. Lets all pretened it was a beautiful moth/butterfly to be, and have sweet dreams. Good night! M

Oh... can relate to your doing but just leave alone... In fact I leave just about all bugs alone! There are some that royally pee me off and then I go and attack but if it isn't hurting the flowers or the veg. I just leave it be... And no this is not a judgement on you Bamboo, I know most folk don't lke bugs :-)

Most of them don't bother me at all - bit phobic about spiders, don't like things flying near me, don't like wasps cos I've been stung too often, but everything else, fine, luckily. I'm off to bed I think, well, after I've checked for spiders...

I find it very hard to kill anything and even catch wasps in glasses if they come into the house( the wasps are not wearing them if you see what I mean) the same with spiders, but I have killed if there is no other way or the insect is damaged and hurt. I do though paint greenfly with dilute washing up liquid if they are causing a real problem without a flicker of conscience. yup I'm a hypocrite:-(

Aren't we all... Greenfly and their relations - no holds barred war!

Don't worry Mw I've always been paranoid, even wrote a blog about it;-))