Anyone know what this is in back garden?

joe123

Hey all,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask bit im trying to figure out what this slug/larvae type thing is.

I've noticed it the last couple of weeks on the walls in the back garden, also crawls up the back door as well. Only see them at night time.

They are about an inch long and it's like a cross between a caterpillar, slug, maggot/larvae thing. Needless to say I'm not a fan but more importantly I'd rather sort the issue before the grow into something else...or become a bigger problem.

Assume they are coming from the back garden? It's a year old garden and has issues with pooling rainwater so wondering is that part of the issue.

looksee

I've seen them before but always assumed they were slugs.

Looks like a leather jacket

looksee

I've only ever seen leather jackets in the earth, but now you mention it...can they climb like that?

Madd002

Yep their leather jackets, I nearly cried when I got these first as I didn't know what they were although mine were in summer 2011, hundreds of them came from lawn onto concrete driveway at night frightened the beejayus outta me. then they were all around the edges of the house, in the end I swept them all up and shoveled them into a bucket of scalding hot water and salt. you could actually hear them in the grass sounds likes a fizzing noise.

looksee

Well! You learn something new...

Mick Tator

The photos show a smooth body with a mucous film, typical of a slug. Why say they are leatherjackets which have a ridged body, live in the soil, pupate there and emerge as 'daddy longlegs??

macraignil

I think they could be a type of cut worm(larvae of moths) and they may be trying to avoid getting drowned in the ground by the heavy rain we are getting currently. Encouraging natural predators like birds and ground beetles in your garden should help sort the issue.

looksee

Ah, apparently you don't necessarily learn anything new...:D