Potato bug

[Lee]

Can someone id the bug in the photo below. It ate up my
Yukon Gold potatoes, which are now pretty much inedible.
Last year, I had some sweet potatoes in the bed, and they
had similar damage.

Also, any ideas on how to avoid them?

Thanks,

Lee

[kath]

They're wireworms. Found commonly in gardens that have recently been sod. I've heard that you can put chunks of potato on sticks, bury the chunks, wait for the wireworms to be attracted, pull out and destroy. I've been gardening in my present place for 14 years and still find them now and then. Sorry for your tuber loss.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by Lee

Also, any ideas on how to avoid them? Thanks, Lee

I agree wire worms, nasty, as they destroy other ground roots, carrots are easy meat to these guys.
You could try predator nematodes. They're spread using a water can, once in the soil they seek out insects in the soil, enter and kill from the inside. Very effective.
Do search on Google for 'predatory nematodes'.

[Lee]

I agree wire worms, nasty, as they destroy other ground roots, carrots are easy meat to these guys.

NOT good news..... I've got 2 rows of six types of carrots very
near by. Grrrr... I'll do a search on the predatory nematodes
and see what I can do. The zukes and cukes in the same bed
seem to be fairing much better. Well, except for the deer attacks!

Lee