Yes, the "beneficial bug" thing takes some getting used to, but I'm getting there! Thanks for the helpful comments. Actually, the "doubleheaded" bug(s) that I was able to get into the clear container (where I took the pict of them) separated into two bugs the next day and were flying around inside the container. They're tiny black flies flying around the compost (I'll do a search for soldier fly picts). If there are a lot of those, does that mean that the compost is too wet? I turn it often (every 3, 4 days) and did today, and it doesn't seem too wet to me. When I squeeze some in my hand, it clumps but I can't get any water out no matter how hard I squeeze. I thought I read that that "damp sponge" effect is what I should be looking for. Happily, it doesn't smell bad at all, in fact, it smells like freshly turned dirt whenever I go to turn it (Omg, I'm a compost monster! You know you're a compost monster when you pull the lid off your compost bin, take a breath and say to yourself, "Mmm, that smells good!" :) and, besides some scraps of shredded paper, I can't really see any of the specific foods scraps I put in when I started the pile, which is a sign that something is happening, right? I'm so thankful for this forum! Its good to be able to talk to others that are into talking about this. My friends are sick of hearing about my compost bin! :)

It sounds like you took care of the problem. Keep an eye on it for the next week or two in case there are any more caterpillars - then pick them off as you did for the first one. Now - take a deep breath and relax :-). Bugs are part of gardening. There are good bugs and bad bugs, and if left alone they usually find a balance and you will only need to intervene occasionally. BP

ok , so the beer works - and boy-howdy does it work. after scooping out ( with a spoon ) all the dead slugs i left the pans with the left-over beer just to see what would happen --- came back about 4 hours later to find double the amount of dead slugs floating in the pans ( i think one must have escaped and went to tell all the slugs in the area that theres free beer over in my yard ) i think all i'm doing is luring them to a free drink and their death. slugs are not like bees - a certain number living together that i can get rid of them all and be done with it , this would be an on going battle ( i'm not licensed to set up a bar in my yard ) nothing is going to get rid of them once and for all so , i guess for this year the slugs have won :( what ever comes up comes up and i'll be happy for it -- maybe next spring i can spray or powder or whatever to get a head start and maybe win the battle , same goes for the lil' red ba$%ards ( lilly beetles ) maybe next year i can get a head start be well & enjoy the rest fo the day - mic

I had these this year as well. It looked like tiny black coffee grounds covering my lilies. It turned out they were black aphids. I purchased live lady bugs and they ate them up. Good luck!