[tode]

Could anyone tell me what these are?  Got a lot of them in the pile of council compost left over from last year. Theyre about an inch long.
What do they turn into?
I want to now if its worth the trouble of picking them all out
Thanks

[archiesgems]

Hi

these are fantastic, don't kill them I am sure that they are the grub stage of the lesser stag beetle, they eat rotting vegitation and will do no harm at all

[tode]

Are you sure? Weve been invaded by scarab beetles this year whose only food source appears to be our rose flowers 
Beautiful things acarabs, but I feel theres going to be a falling out........

[Sweatndirt]

They look like the larvae of a number of things.  I have attached a link to a site that may help you identify them.  Hope it helps.

http://maria.fremlin.de/stagbeetles/larva-guide/index.html

[Beetroot queen]

Dont think like look like any of the ones in the link 

I would be tempted to ............................... send them somewhere else just incase 

[tode]

Hello Sweatndirt:
followed your link (which I found very good: clear, lots of information) and did a bit of detective work:

1. When put on paper, they crawl on their back
2. Their bum is sideways, not lengthways (if you see what I mean)
3. Last photo is of the beasts we have in our roses. Usually theyre everywhere, but today, of course, could only find one, who promptly flew away.

So, seem to be rose chafers.

If I get a better pic of beast, will post.
Thanks

[barbarella]

Whatever they are, the birds will love 'em.  My chooks are always scrabbling around on our compost heap looking for such delicacies