From the size and colour I would have thought centipedes (which is a good thing) or some similar arthropod but the legs are not really long enough. Maybe they are young ones.(?) That is not a very scientific thought but I really can't think of anything else like this. I take it that those little things that look like legs *are* legs. Could of course be young 'somethingelses' but I've never seen the likes before, except similarity with centipedes.

To be quite honest, S, I did not notice the 'legs' until I looked at the large photograph. I had not considered arthropods, The skin was tough and leathery but I suppose that it could harden up with age.
No more responses from me until saturday night, earliest. We are just off to Perth.

I don't think it is a centepede, it is similar to a Larder Beetle larva

No Bilbo..just similar. I am still looking when I get a mo.

Centipede "larvae" are pretty much the same as the adults. I would have to get a closer look at one, especially the underside, but these look more like moth larvae than beetle larvae

Diamond back female moth larvae???... Love brassica plants causing 'leaf mining'. Stomp on them or feed them to your birds!

These are definitely not centipedes. They look a bit like leatherjackets which are the larval form of Craneflies (Daddy Longlegs) which infest lawns, chew the grass roots and generally do it no good at all. They could possibly have come from the original turf, I suppose. I think there's a nematode drench on the market that will get 'em, otherwise, Avkq has the best idea with the stomping/bird solution, or sell 'em to your fisherman friends. The spiky things will be stiff bristles or setae, not legs.

http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/10857 ... they love any cabbages, brussels, cauliflowers, etc etc

You're absolutely right, Avkq, nothing like leatherjackets - as you say, diamond back moth larvae look right to fit the bill.

A suggestion I have from another site is the larvae of the St. Marks (or Hawthorn) Fly. This is the black fly with the long, dangly legs. We have a regular flight of these in the garden in summer, trouble is, I can't find pictures of the larvae! Any thoughts?

I found a picture of hawthorn fly larvae, Bulba, and they do look very similar, but a little paler - maybe a different stage of development.

I am now happy with the idea of them being hawthorn fly larvae. They are mainly scavengers but will also eat fiberous roots, so not good in potting compost The good news is that the fly has an annual life cycle, the grubs pupating in early spring, the insects living for a few days and then dying. I will have to sift my compost carefully for a few weeks more but then that will be it for this year.

The larvae of the hawthorn fly is pale cream/beige. Sorry Bilbo but have to disagree. The following web link shows a picture ... http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/10857