[matthew6476]

I made a nettle fertilizer mixture and today I decanted it into plastic bottles. My girlfriend, who has keener eyes than me noticed some little aninals swimming in it. Like tadpoles but with hairy tails. They are about 2mm long, and are hovering around the surface.

What are they? What have I created?

[Ruby Red]

They sound like mosquito larvae. You generally get them in ponds or waterbutts. They breathe through a tiny tube which they push through the surface of the water.  

[poultrygeist]

Sounds like 'em.

They lurve warm water. Must be lovin the nettle tea even more. Like a herbal bath !

They'll die off as soon as they're tipped out of the bottles.

Rob

[peggyprice]

They sound like mosquito larvae. You generally get them in ponds or waterbutts. They breathe through a tiny tube which they push through the surface of the water.  

Snorkelling mosquitos  :?:  :?:  :?: :!:

[poultrygeist]

Used to watch them in our pond (my busy social life again!)

Fascinating. :roll:

[Ruby Red]

When we were kids we used to look over the tub thereby cutting off the light and they used to disappear into the murky depths.

[muntjac]

be gratefull for the added protien  

[JudyAnn]

Do you get alot of the nasty skin boring things there, too?  I treat my rain barrels now and again with an organic pesticide to kill the larvae.  Do you have ticks also?

[peterjf]

the littletaddys you see are hover fly larve , little fat and round with a long thin tale , its normal , your nellte tea shouldbe ready to use very soon , dont forget to hold your breath when drawing it from the barrel

[peterjf]

the little taddys you see are hover fly larve , little fat and round with a long thin tale , its normal , your nellte tea shouldbe ready to use very soon , dont forget to hold your breath when drawing it from the barrel

[BigPaddy]

Midge pupa

http://www.scientificillustrator.com/illustration/insect/midge-pupa.html