Question

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I have what look like worms with legs in a potted palm a friend gave to me. What do I need to do to get rid of these insects and to prevent them from returning?
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Hi Sally,

I hope to be able to help you, but first I need some information.

Was this potted palm kept outdoors?

The plant was kept indoors. The worms are about 1/2 of an inch long. Some seem to be brown on their backs and tan on their bellies. Others, maybe babies, are white and transparent. They roll into balls when touched and I can't tell how many legs they have. They are hard to see and as a result count. Thanks for your help. Some people have mentioned using crystals but I am not sure what they are talking about.

Answer
Hi Sally,

Thanks for the information.  I am not an entomologist, so I cannot be sure of the insect you describe.  Pill bugs roll up into little "pills" when touched, so at least some of the insects sound like pill bugs. Pill bugs are not destructive to plants generally, but they can become problematic if you provide a moist, inviting habitat.  In such conditions, they can multiply, and once the food supplies are exhausted, they will seek other sources.

Juvenile pill bugs look like small adults, so the clear/white "worms" are likely another species, perhaps larvae.  The first insect that comes to mind is the fungus gnat, whose larvae appear clear to transparent with a distinct black eye.  These are very small, approximately 1/4 of an inch.  The larvae usually are not visible, but the adult fungus gnats are quite evident above the soil surface; they resemble fruit flies or very, very small houseflies.  Most of the time, the adults are visible first, and only upon further examination are the larvae identifiable.  Check out this website:  

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/fungusgnats.htm

Both pill bugs and fungus gnats require moist conditions to thrive.  Fungus gnats feed on the fungal spores of fungi that have infested the root systems of the potted plant.  One of the simplest control measures for both is to allow the root ball to dry out, and in future waterings, do not allow the root ball to sit in water, and allow the soil to become dry to one-knuckle depth between waterings.

Some people have cut up potato cubes and put them on the infested soil to trap the pill bugs.  They are not killed by the potato, but they can be more easily removed.  

Fungus gnats are very tenacious, and I have had a very hard time ridding them from my greenhouse over the years.  My most successful management tool was proper watering.  Insecticides can also be useful, but in a home applications, insecticides are exceedingly difficult to use properly.

Sorry that I cannot be more specific, and I hope this has helped.

Good Luck!