Young country diary: These soil magicians aren't normally above ground | Amaya

Hampshire: Curl grubs are amazing creatures - I found two on a tree stump, when they do all their hard work below our feetWhile playing in my garden, I noticed two unfamiliar, plump little guests on a rotten tree stump. Taking a closer look, I saw they were slimy-looking, colourless grubs, curled up into "C" shapes.They were funny creatures with their clear white bodies, speckled with brown and six spindly legs cramped up by their heads, making their movement very awkward. I'm not sure how they get anywhere with legs like that. Further research told me that they were called curl grubs. Curl grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles and they can spend up to two years composting wood or living underground. That sounds like hard work! They help disperse seeds in the earth and wood and help create healthy soil for the garden. Continue reading...