White fat grubs in compost - are they harmful?
Glasgow,
United Kingdom 
I was about to put primrose and geraniums in some planters that have been outside since last year. I decided to fluff up the compost when I noticed there were dozens of fat white/creamy looking grubs with brown heads Yuk! They give me the boak! Anyway are they harmful to the plants should I just ditch and buy new compost? The soil and vegataion around here is covered with slugs and snails so I was wondering if that had anything to do with it?
4 May, 2009
Answers
Yuk! I already dumped the compost. I was a bit impatient and had 3 herbs to put in a planter so I just dug some soil up from the grounds here. Do you think that soil will have wine weavil in it or do you think it will be ok. The soil is very heavy and always damp it never dries out. Thanks, Liz.
4 May, 2009
I'd say vine weavils too. Horrid little things. Nothing for it, you'll have to dump the compost
4 May, 2009
If there are vine weavils in the area then there is no reason to suppose that they are not in the soil as well. The good news is that the plant damage they cause is much more noticeable in the pots.
4 May, 2009
There is very good vine weavil treatment these days. I tip the peat into a barrow, kill all I can find and then leave it a few days for the birds to have their fill. and then fill the tubs and treat them. Too expensive to keep dumping it I like to think they are dead and not left to hatch out!!!
4 May, 2009
If they are big and fat and have legs! then they are Chafer grubs. Vine weevils are smaller with no legs.
4 May, 2009
No legs - I have googled them - definately wine weevils!
4 May, 2009
Have you been at the fermented grapes now, Pennypolly?
5 May, 2009
Oops - just realised! lol
5 May, 2009
Your description sounds very much like the dreaded VINE WEAVIL!!. If you want to give the vine weavils a treat then plant the primroses in the compost - the roots are their most favourite food. Otherwise I would just dump the compost and buy more.
4 May, 2009