Topic: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?

[Susiebelle]

I always make Stinging Nettle fertilizer from the first flush of nettles - this year I haven't used it all yet and when I went to use it there are lots of plump fleshy maggoty thingies all swimming/moving around at the top of the liquid - does anyone have any idea what they are and if it's still OK to use?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Possibly rat-tailed maggots; do they have long 'tails' they use to breathe through? Whatever, it'll be perfectly usable.

[manicscousers]

we had them last year, yuuuuck !!!
uckily, ray's not as squeamish as me and used the compost tea,anyway  :o ;D

[Digeroo]

I had lots in mine.  Does not seem to affect the plants.  The thrushes love them.  My container was full of them but the next day they had all gone and a large frog hopped out of the mix.  It was amazing that it did not mind the nettle mix at all.

[Susiebelle]

Many thanks for all your responses, rat tailed  maggots seem to fit the bill  - I am pleased to be able to continue using it, I do agree very very 'yukky'

[Kepouros]

I always take them fishing.  Practically everything with fins and a tail goes for them in a big way

[Robert_Brenchley]

The fish are probably used to them, and they don't normally have a hook inside!

[calendula]

but aren't rat's tail maggots the hover fly? amazing that such such yuk can tun into something so useful - my dank water butts were full of them during the hot spell

[Susiebelle]

Are they really Calendula so I should leave them be?

[calendula]

yep  :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat-tailed_maggot

[Digeroo]

Oh yuk have you read the bit about having them in your back passage?  They are back enough in the nettle tea. 

They do not seem to like comfrey though.  I wonder if few comfrey leaves with the nettles would put them off.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I found a dead one in my pee barrel today.