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Re: Compost Horror

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

     
Hello Shawn and Other Happy Composters,

Re: the seething masses of (presumably) larvae I  spoke of

Well, I dipped two of them out of the seething mass, on a piece of bark.  I
regret that I have not the descriptive powers of one of the great 19th
century naturalists, but this is as good as I can do:

The younger smaller ones are off-white to tan in color; half an inch long;
legless; cigar-shaped; segmented in appearance. The older bigger ones are
tan to brown; 3/4 inch long. Much smaller than the pinkie-sized grubs you 
mentioned.  No hair that I can see, no spots, no visible
organs except in the front a tiny protuberance which is presumably its
mouth.

Since I dumped the compost-heater-upper on them full strength, there seem
to be less of them, and they seem to be less madly writhing. I don't know
whether they're dying, or just slowing down and getting ready to go into
their next life-stage.  I hope in a few days I don't find my compost
container brim-full of ugly black beetles!

Your nature-loving friend, (Really! I love nature!  I do!)

Julianne  
Zone 6/7 Upper East Tennessee
where the days are still warm-to-hot but the nights are now chilly


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