Ewwww....

Belle87ad 6/29/2012, 7:24 pm

I just started my compost pile with rabbit poo and veggie scraps, tea bags, coffee ground, anything and everything I can put in a compost pile. I have it held together with some leftover chicken wire from my critter cages. Well, the first day I went out to turn it, these HUGE (okay, according to my standards huge but really only about the size of a quarter) black beetles scurried out of the pile. Ugh!!! I tried googling to find a picture of them but no luck. They were solid black, kind of wide, flat bodies, and I think a yellow stripe on them. Has anyone seen bugs like these before?? I know bugs will play a part in the composting of all the materials, but...ugh!!!! affraid

pattipan 6/29/2012, 7:37 pm

Sounds like the American Carrion Beetles. They like veggies as well as meat. Smile

I suppose they do have their place in the food chain!

From bugguide.net:

Ewwww.... PQT0GQD09Q9KMKEKMKVK8KVKXKLSUQOKMKLSIKDKXKHSIKOKUQLS9QLSVQO06QRS9QCK5KBKHK2K5QV0PQ9KEQPKEQ

Ewwww.... PQT0GQD09Q9KMKEKMKVK8KVKXKLSUQOKMKLSIKDKXKHSIKOKUQLS9QLSVQO06QRS9QCK5KBKHK2K5QV0PQ9KEQPKEQ

pattipan

Belle87ad 6/29/2012, 7:39 pm

I think that's it!!!!! Lord, I didn't expect to see these things coming out when I turned the pile. Are there any bugs I *should* be worried about being in there??

pattipan 6/29/2012, 7:50 pm

Belle87ad wrote:I think that's it!!!!! Lord, I didn't expect to see these things coming out when I turned the pile. Are there any bugs I *should* be worried about being in there??

I assume they will help break the compost down. They feed on decaying vegetation as well as carrion. That's why I said they have their place in the food chain. Perhaps someone with more compost experience can add their 2 cents worth.

pattipan

Triciasgarden 6/30/2012, 1:48 am

I have never seen anything like those! They don't look like they should even be real! But every area has different insects! They are kinda cute, being an insect and all!

**llama momma** 6/30/2012, 3:33 pm

Oh My, those are weird looking. Never saw those before!

Belle87ad 7/3/2012, 11:23 am

I think I scared them off!! I've since turned the compost pile several times and I haven't seen them! Oh well, guess they didn't like being tossed off their meal :scratch:

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