I finally snapped some pictures of the mystery larvae that’s in my worm bin. Can you identify it? It’s not listed in any “common worm bin critters” references. Wicked looking, aren’t they? They are less than a centimeter long. 
Here is a video of the little critters movin’. They did not like sitting in the hot sun. I never have felt them (intentionally) so I don’t know if they’re as pokey as they look.
And here’s another mystery creature. Any idea what these are? Perhaps this is the fruit fly that’s been driving me mad. Don’t let the close-up fool you. This guy is less than one centimeter long.
ew ew ew ew ewwwwwwwwwww.
I shouldn’t surf and eat.
Comment by — June 10, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
I can’t classify those gnarly looking creatures but I bet I know how you could NOT have them in your bin…… Move it inside 🙂
I only have worms and the ity bitty white bugs that break down the food so the worms can eat it.
Comment by — June 11, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Blast-Ended Scrutes maybe? Either way they’re really, really gross.
Comment by — June 11, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
LOL HI C, you and your Harry Potter references 😉
Comment by — June 12, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Hm. Which end is the head? It looks like the small end has some beetle-like mandibles, but I can’t quite tell. I’d suggest it is some sort of beetle larva, possibly something related to dermestid beetles. If you could raise some to adulthood, that would help the identification a lot..
Comment by tceisele — October 3, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
The top critters, I believe are Black Fly Larva. Oregon State University has this to say about them. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=802&storyType=garde
Several came as guests with my worm order, and over the past few weeks the ones I didn’t find and escort outside, have hatched. They look like and fly similar to wasps, but they have no stinger and are harmless.
They help breakdown waste material same as your worms. I just didn’t want them inside, nor do I want my worm factory to turn into a black fly factory, so whenever I spot one, outdoors it goes to the passive compost heap.
jb in Minnesota
Comment by jb in Minnesota — August 4, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
oops that should be Black *Soldier* Fly Larvae.
Comment by jb in Minnesota — August 4, 2008 @ 2:04 pm