'Alien' grubs surface in plants
People are reporting "alien-like" grubs surfacing in their pot plants.
![alien grubs close up hero](https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/Horticulture---alien-grubs-close-up-hero-1584x633.jpg)
The curl grubs are larvae of the blackheaded pasture cockchafer that are surfacing as a result of drowning in too much water.
It comes as people also report slime mould, plant snot and multiple kinds of fungi because of the recent downpour Australia has been hit with.
"The larvae eat the roots of your plants which can certainly go backwards and sometimes they die as a result," said the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Nursery Supervisor Randy Sing.
![grubs close up](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Horticulture---grubs-close-up-1551x633.jpg)
An image of the grubs posted to Reddit.
"They respond to the rain and they tunnel to the surface to come out at night."
Mr Sing said the grubs could be found in your soil if you were repotting or digging up your plants and usually weren't a problem in small numbers.
He said people were also finding an abundance of snails and ants in their homes, coming out to escape the rain.
While the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Nursery is free from pests, Mr Sing said mildew had been forming because of the humidity.
"The humidity is up at 99 per cent 24 hours a day at the moment," he said.
"We've got the humidifiers to keep it at 70 per cent but they're not working because it's above that constantly. The soil stays moist so we hardly water at the moment."
![adult bug close up](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Horticulture---adult-bug-close-up-1551x633.jpg)
The adult bug. Picture: Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria reports the blackheaded pasture cockchafer has become an important pest of improved pastures, lawns, golf courses and parks and appear to prefer areas where the annual rainfall exceeds about 480mm.
Our horticulturists recommend to repot your soil rather than use pesticides and feed the dead larvae to the birds which love them.
Gooey plant snot appears
Australian Institute of Botanical Science Honorary Research Associate Stephen Skinner says people might spot 'snot' in their gardens. Read more.
Related stories
![Paper daises in the Connections Garden at Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan](/sites/default/files/2024-08/News-paper-daisy-1024x676.png)
![Garden icon](/sites/default/files/styles/garden_icon/public/2023-07/rbg_icon.png?itok=Xb6k1O__)
One of the largest paper daisy displays in eastern Australia is in flower at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
![Guests at the launch of the Garden Gallery](/sites/default/files/2024-04/News---gardengallery-thumbnail-496x372%20%281%29.jpg)
![Garden icon](/sites/default/files/styles/garden_icon/public/2023-07/rbg_icon.png?itok=Xb6k1O__)
Botanical art is putting the impacts of climate change on plants in the spotlight following the opening of The Garden Gallery and new labs for the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience (ReCER) at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
![Autumn leaves scattered on the ground](/sites/default/files/2024-03/News---bmbg-autumn-thumbnail-496x372.jpg)
![Garden icon](/sites/default/files/styles/garden_icon/public/2023-07/rbg_icon.png?itok=Xb6k1O__)
With a dense collection of cool climate trees nestled in amongst UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah is one of the best places to marvel at nature’s spectacular show of autumn colour.