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Maggots/larvae in my comfrey tea
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:23 pm
by Granny
I've be brewing comfrey tea (just leaves in water in a bucket with a lid on it) for about 3 weeks. When I took the lid off today there were a lot of maggotty things with a long thread like tail wriggling about in it. About an inch long, white, and quite a few of them seemed to be almost tied together at the end of their tails, while others were swimming alone. I've never seen anything quite like them before. Any ideas?
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Granny
Re: Maggots/larvae in my comfrey tea
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:43 pm
by oldherbaceous
Dear Granny, could they possibly be Gnat larvae!
Re: Maggots/larvae in my comfrey tea
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:53 pm
by Nature's Babe
Yes , sounds like gnat larvae. To avoid these another way is to pack comfrey leaves tight in a big screw top jar they will dissolve into a black treacly liquid, which you can then dilute. Or I guess you could fine net the top of your bucket.
Re: Maggots/larvae in my comfrey tea
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:12 am
by Johnboy
Hi Granny,
If you fill up with a little more water so that you have a clear water surface put a teaspoon of vegetable oil in the container and you will suffocate as the grubs need oxygen with the oil film this will be denied to them. The oil wil not harm any of you plants.
JB.
Re: Maggots/larvae in my comfrey tea
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:07 am
by Granny
Thanks for replies and useful advice. I'm amazed that things so big only produce a gnat!
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Granny