Skip the urine on the roses, but if you still have to go, make a run out to the compose bins and go there. Then go get some insecticidal soap and spray your roses regularly, unless you have lady beetles. Other wise, the IS should solve your problem. Most of the other things you suggest will serve to bolster your roses own defenses, the neem will help to ward off bugs. The IS will kill the ones that eat the rose leaves. Cheryl

Gina, they're most likely Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL). They will eat dead meat, but not living worms. They're great composters. You can read more about them here: http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/ [Photo by Aariq via blacksoldierflyblog] Your bin needs to be in COMPLETE shade. I've heard the sun's pretty fierce in Texas. Even 30 min. of sun could cook your worms. Cheers, Andrew

Hi Mandie! Welcome to the world of vermicomposting. Do not panic. Unusual insects are part of the hobby. I would be more worried if the bin was inside. Fresh horse manure is the absolute best food that I have given my wigglers. Soon you will have many more worms. However, flies and fly larvae occupy the dung VERY quickly during warm weather. They usually die very quickly and cause no problem. It sounds like the ants are cleaning the bin for you. I hope this helps and good luck! Pete

Nothing really good for scale in the photo so no way to even know the size other than small compared to your fingers. Like Dan said they don't appear to be normal grubs of the common beetle. In the first photo when I blow it up substantially I'm not even sure they are grubs as there appear to be legs and wasp shaped body. Can't say what they are but "harmful to plants" or not is far too early to tell and there are no plants there yet for them to hurt. They could just as easily be a beneficial larvae as a bad one at this stage. So given that all kinds of bugs exist in soil and that it isn't at all uncommon to find them and most of them are neutrals or beneficials, I don't see why any intervention is required. Dave