Grandpa jsdebooATcomcast.net wrote in message ...
Is it normal for large insects (grubs???) to infest a healthy(???)
compost pile? Mine is about 4' square, only a foot deep at the moment
though. I've some fruit and vegetable scraps in it, lots of grass
clippings, some steer manure (treated stuff), sand and dirt, egg shells,
coffee grounds etc. I dumped in a pile of potato skins tonight and when
I turned it found a bunch of what appear to be grubs, but a WHOLE LOT
BIGGER than what I've ever seen in the past. I had small ones maybe 1"
long and a ¼" thick at most in my lawn years ago. Whats in the compost
pile looks to be the same color with a transparent white body, but the
head is not dark black, and they're curled the same but were over ½"
thick and probably 2"+ long if uncurled. Some really healthy suckers.
Oh, and ugly too! My 3 year old grandaughter thought they were "Cool
Grampa, lets find more!"


Don't know where you are from, but have seen news reports on the 17
year cicada maturing this year. They would be about the size you
describe and starting to surface this spring and summer.

The compost pile will attract earthworms, grubs, sow bugs, and insects
that help in reducing course vegetation to compost. If your compost
pile is too "cool" add some green material (green leaves or grass
clippings) or nitrogen to help heat it up. However it is early and
the warmth will attract the above (usually around the edges and
deeper)