A “new” insect pest was found in the soil surrounding apricot trees at the privately owned Orchard at Ahern (entrance off of Clarkway Drive, near West Bonanza Road in Las Vegas, Nevada). It was new for fruit trees anyway. Some of you may know about it feeding on soil organics created by adding compost or decaying wood chip mulch to the soil. The insects in this group improve soil health by feeding from organic matter and recycling fallen fruit.
Insects that feed on decaying organic matter are called Detritivores and include springtails, termites, ants, dung beetles, ground beetles and others. My feeling is that the young larvae come from a beetle. Those beetles that “eats” compost and gets some energy from it is suspect. Sometimes these “worms” (insect larvae mistaken for legless worms) “mistake” the small feeder roots of plants (living) with dead “organic matter”. Large numbers of these types of larvae feeding in the soil can cause damage to established fruit trees.
How to know? Look for exit holes of adults at the base of any fruit trees. Those adults are gone. Adults mean they have “children” or larvae present in the compost or wood chip mulch. Any liquid insecticide will work if it comes in contact with this insect. But it must be in liquid form or made into a liquid to work. Use a soil drench if the label permits. Follow label directions.