CLOSED: larva in the compost pile?

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madrid2000 Humble, TX Jul 21, 2008

I use a plastic trash can with the bottom cut out and burried for composting kitchen scraps. These guys and roaches hang out in there. I was wondering what they are and if they are beneficial to composting.

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madrid2000 Humble, TX Jul 21, 2008

Here is another picture of some of them together. They are a little less than an inch long.

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madrid2000 Humble, TX Jul 21, 2008

Sorry these pictures are out of focus. Those little guys move fast!

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madrid2000 Humble, TX Jul 21, 2008

I hope the pictures help. Let me know if there is other information that would be helpful. Thanks!
Tabitha

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 21, 2008

I suspect that these are larvae of soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) - see http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-43-c/img227.jpg for an image. They are harmless scavengers; we find them often in our compost pile.

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madrid2000 Humble, TX Jul 22, 2008

Thanks for the ID! That looks like what I have.
Tabitha

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