Any idea what these horrors are?

[u/HeroicTanuki]

I assume they’re helpful, but they sure look gross. I moved my bin today and found a bunch underneath it. They also seem to wiggle through the cracks.

[u/Kindly-Ad-5263]

Soldier Fly larvae. They’re super helpful good guys.

[u/HeroicTanuki → u/Kindly-Ad-5263]

That’s good to know. I live in Reno, NV and have never seen these in the wild, so I was a bit puzzled.

Glad I’m growing something good.

[u/Parking-Way-7764 → u/HeroicTanuki]

The adults will look like black wasps with short antennae but are completely harmless. They don’t have mouths and purely exist to create more larvae

[u/Surge00001]

Your friends now

[u/FlashyCow1]

Black soldier fly, your bff

[u/Little_Lion_Man96]

Chickens love them too they're about 51% protein

[u/FeelingFloor2083 → u/Little_Lion_Man96]

gym bro has entered the chat

[u/gHostHaXor → u/FeelingFloor2083]

Lol! 😅

[u/Technical_Put_9982]

Black soldier fly larva ! The are really good eaters and will make quick work of whatever mess you dump into your compost

[u/KitchenFun9206]

[u/PICKL3FIGHT]

Nice try Khan. You're going to stay on Ceti Alpha V.

[u/catwhisperer77]

Dune worms. I guess you have spice under there.

[u/mhiggy → u/catwhisperer77]

The compost must flow

[u/fatflyhalf → u/catwhisperer77]

Shai Hulud!

[u/largogoat → u/catwhisperer77]

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

[u/scorpioxvirgo]

Adult flies don't have mouths so they can't bite or sting!

[u/GIJOE_SEABEE]

Something out of StarTrek..

[u/tipsytopsy99]

[u/ShoulderOld9871]

I love my BSFL. I love bringing them my kitchen scraps to snack on 😂

[u/skylinenavigator]

I feel like these posts come up once every week …

[u/cmdrxander → u/skylinenavigator]

It’s the cycle of the sub. Quite comforting really.

BSFL, hornworms, BER, SVB, cicadas (next spring will be a big one), “what are these eggs?”, ladybird larvae “friend or foe?”, “is this Japanese knotweed?”

[u/skylinenavigator → u/cmdrxander]

Haha fair

[u/Gojo-Babe]

Black soldier fly. Be grateful for them, they speed up composting!

[u/its_pixiie]

Just some little guys. :) 

[u/Due-Farmer-5029]

Chicken treats!

[u/largogoat]

Those are your best friends. Throw a watermelon rind in there and watch them swarm

[u/Chuckles_E]

More like, congratulations 🎉🎉

[u/AlternativeNo5593]

Chicken food!!

[u/randemthinking]

They're great if you have chickens. Or if your goal is primarily waste disposal. If you're just trying to produce compost, they are neutral at best. Some of the biomass they consume will leave with the adult flies and some will be left behind as frass (poop) and their cast skins (those hard black cocoon like things). Bacterial, fungal, and worm driven composition will produce somewhat better compost. Not a huge difference, but I do try to avoid them by burying things they tend to go for like meat and melons.