How to identify
- Slender, shiny, orange-brown larvae that feel hard like wire
- Holes in potato tubers and carrot roots
- Worse after sod or weedy ground is turned into a vegetable bed
Damage: Tunneled tubers and seed loss; plants may wilt.
Control methods
- Avoid planting potatoes the first year after converting lawn.
- Use potato bait pieces to monitor before planting.
- Keep beds cultivated; reduce grassy weeds.
What products to use
We list product types and what to check on the label — not brand rankings, prices, or “we tested” claims. Always follow the label for your crop, and prefer the least disruptive option that works.
Soil monitoring / bait potatoes
When: Before planting into former sod
Look for: No reliable home-garden drench; prevention and site choice matter most