----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Robison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 5:08 AM Subject: Rattailed maggot and 501-5x
> On the bugs, Tony wrote: > >They could be rats tail larvae It belongs to one of the > >fly family not sure which one Could be one of your insect predator flies. I > >recall reading in Wolf Storl Book "Culture and Horticulture" that such > >larvae in compost teas is a good sign that they are ready to be used. > >I have them in my brews all the time during the summer months. > > Here's a bit from Ohio extension brochure > >Rattailed maggots, known as the larval or immature stage of Syrphid flies, > >are about 1-1/4 inches long. > >The body portion is about three fourth inch long and the tail portion > >(breathing tube) one half inch long. > >These maggots are white-colored with the body portion an elongated, oval, > >cylindrical shape, which is > >wrinkled and semitransparent, protracting into a long breathing tube (tail). > > > >These larvae of the Syrphid fly live in highly polluted water such as > >livestock lagoons, polluted > >abandoned fish pools, foul pools and streams associated with barnyards, > >etc. Maggots are able to live in > >the water, if sufficient solids are present as food. The adult flies > >resemble honey bees in appearance > >and are often seen "hovering" near the ground in the barnyard vicinity. > >These flies do not bite or sting > >humans, and are considered beneficial because they are predaceous on > >aphids, etc. > > I get these maggots in nettle tea etc altho with a much longer breathing > tube. They are really gross looking but not harmful, just means it's time > to get the tea out. As it says above, the adults are beneficials. The same > maggots show up in the compost pile if there is too much wet, sloppy > foodstuff -- I get them if I add a lot of apple pomace without sufficient > aeration/heat. Once again, I don't consider them harmful, they break down > the material and prepare it for digestion in the pile. > > ========================== > Dave Robison > Hi Dave Thanks for the description. This is exactly what i have and i now recall seeing small bees hovering around the drums just thought they were honey bees looking for a drink.It is always very rewarding to identify our beneficial friends. Thankyou Tony Robinson NZ Down Under
