What in the world are these things. The are ribbed, brown, less than an inch long, with a point on one end, and the belly is a little lighter brown. I've got hundreds of them in my (separate) compost pile for cat box refuse and they are having a field day. (Something has been eating all of the poo and pee and I thought it was an Opossum, but I think I've found the diners. I use wheat based cat litter.
Another thing - they seem to get kind of catatonic (or dead?) when you take them out of the pile and into the light and/or air.
I'd like to identify them so that I know whether they are beneficial or destructive.
(sorry the pics aren't real sharp)
THANKS!
CLOSED: Worm? Grub? Larvae?
I suspect that these could be larvae (maggots) of soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) - see http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-43-c-txt/cimg227.html for an image. These larvae primarily are scavengers on a wide variety of decomposing organic matter, including manure and compost.
How very interesting and disgusting at the same time! And what a great was to get rid of cat waste.
Thanks so much!
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