On 08/03/2011 21:29, rbel wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:47:34 -0000, shazzbat
wrote:

I dug up this handsome specimen this morning. The top of it is black,
or very dark brown. I haven't come across this one before, anyone know
what it is?

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t282/shazzbat3/


Initial thought is that it is the _larval stage_ of a beetle, probably
one of the many species of staphylinidae ('staph' or rove beetle) a very
good predator of garden pests.


I agree completely. Type "staphylinidae larvae" or "coleoptera larvae"
in Google image and you'll see many similar beatsies. Very difficult to
determine which though..