Have a look at the images linked below. Any similarity?

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Cutworm Images

I saw the images, hence my confusion. What I have are flatter - the images show them as plump, grub-like or caterpillar-like. Mine are skinnier, flatter and sort of metallic looking. What could they be?

You're not looking at millipedes are you? I would describe those as skinnier and sort of metallic.

no pics no diagnosis, however there are plenty of sites that allow you to identify insects based on their features.

I see and find a lot of those "Omega" shaped/curled latva, everywhere I dig
in the spring time but never had a plant damaged by cut worms.

ausbirch - They're not millipedes, those are fast-moving with distinct legs. yuck.

organicislandfarmer - I tried to take pics, my camera is not up to the task... Without knowing the name of the bug, how do I look it up? Any specific sites you recommend?

cyrus - So you think they are not related to cutworms? Any idea what they are the larva of? Can I relax then? :)

I've seen small red "hard" worms in my garden too, could this be it?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/satrap/SpottedCow/Elaterid_larva_sm.jpg

"These golden brown hard-shelled worms are the larvae of click beetles, and are found throughout the United States. They live in the soil where they feed on stems, roots, seeds, and tubers of a wide variety of plants, including corn, potatoes, beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes. They are seldom a serious problem, but they are most likely to appear in large numbers in garden soil that was recently covered by sod."

Here is a link that might be useful: homegrownbud.com

cgiglio - No, not a match (mine aren't red). Thanks for playing, though! : )

"I tried to take pics, my camera is not up to the task"

Your problem is not the worms in the garden...it's your camera! Go buy a cheapo digital camera and show us some pictures. We stand ready to help you, but this is like operating in the dark...shed some light on the subject please.

> ausbirch - They're not millipedes, those are fast-moving with distinct legs. yuck
Centipedes are the fast-moving ones with more distinct legs. Millipedes are very slow moving. I have lots of them in my garden soil and I'm never sure if they're the ones eating the roots off my seedlings or not. And they do roll up into an 'O' when disturbed.

It may be a pill bug.
They are silvery gray and curl up when touched.

Sowbugs?

lonmower - A cheap digital camera is exactly what I have! It could not focus on something that small/upclose. Sorry for the limited technology...

lsst and bluebirdie- They are not pill bugs or sow bugs. I do have one or both of those, but these things I'm talking about are closer to the pics of millipedes (not the giant ones!) than anything else so far.

tcstoehr - We may have a winner! Though, I did not detect legs, they looked more worm like to me. If they are small enough, maybe I wouldn't have seen them? Assuming I have millipedes, what would be an appropriate course of action? They may be eating my beets and carrots even as we speak!

Thanks everyone for your persistence. ; )

So now you have identified the animal. You know, you probably could have done that by yourself by searching Google images, no digital camera required.

As for your course of action - I would suggest do nothing! Especially since your original post doesn't mention any plant damage. There are an enormous number of organisms in your garden, most of which do no harm, many of which are beneficial to your little ecosystem.

A quick scout of the information available online suggests millipedes are unlikely to cause you any grief. They are described as being usually neutral-to-beneficial in the garden because of their role as detritus feeders.

Apparently they can sometimes damage seedlings, but I have to say, I've had them in my soil everywhere I've ever gardened, and they have never been noticeable as a pest for me. YMMV, of course.

Apparently they like moist conditions and are very susceptible to drying out. The link below from the CSU Extension Service suggests controlling moisture levels in your soil if you feel you need to reduce millipede numbers. Also keeping soft fruit like strawberries off the dirt with mulch to keep them away from any millipedes.

Bt will not work on them because they are not caterpillars.

Here is a link that might be useful: CSU factsheet millipedes

ausbirch - It's a bit like looking up a word of which you don't know the spelling... I wouldn't have known to look up millipedes as I had an incorrect notion as to what they were. But you get the prize for correctly identifying them for me, so thank you. I am happy to co-exist with them as long as they leave me and my veggies mostly alone...
Thanks again!