A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems A host of critters and questions...

I was working in my garden today and I came across a creature which RESEMBLED a maggot but which I am 90% sure isn't a maggot. It was white with an orangeish head, had about three orangeish legs on each side and was about the size of a nickel curled up. The hind end appeared to be dark purple or black in color and it had some black spots on it's back. The garden has been home to weeds and junk for as long as it's been there (a long time) and I just started to work on it today. Now I didn't get very close to it because it was basically the embodiement of all my nightmares , so take the description with a grain of salt. I live in western New York if that helps. It moved in a weird convulsing manner which resembles the movement of someone's throat when swallowing.

Does anyone know what that might've been? Is it good or bad for a garden, and how many more can I expect? Any advice for getting rid of them if they are bad?

I also spotted about twenty potato bugs and I'm sure there were many more. This might seem like a stupid question to ask but are they good or bad? (I'm new to gardening!). There are tons around here so if they're bad adivce on prevention and a way to control them would be nice (there's no getting rid of them, that I am sure of!)

euwwwwww I got a visual in my head by your discription,, I don't think it's a grub worm,, but it could be

It is! Thank you, angelblossom! *Goes to read about the disgusting little creatures*