Dreamer, no one has answered because your question hasn't been spotted by someone who knows. The longer it stays at the top of the page, the more likely someone will be able to help. A post begins to drop as soon as someone posts a comment, even you. I would strongly suspect that they are Dahlia root maggots. Do some research about how to avoid them in the future. Sorry....I didn't see the post until now. Potting mix, or anything used to grow plants in a container, is not comparable in any way to real garden soil happily situated as part of the earth. "Dirt " is constantly being renewed and restored. There are no walls, no bottom. Micro and macro fauna abound, all part of a highly complex, working system.....the soil system. Potting mix of any kind is inert, dead. It needs to be changed because it can't renew itself within the confines of a container. The ingredients from which it is composed begin to physically break down, deteriorate. As time passes, the characteristics we like about the potting mix we have chosen end up eroded. Porosity is lost. Some options last longer than others, but all must eventually be changed out or the plants will pay the price. By the way, if you were to use your finest native garden soil in a container, it, too, will turn into sludge when it's taken out of that whole system of biological, chemical, and physical interaction.

Thank you for the link. Sorry I don't have my own pics. I deleted them when I figured out what they were. I put a link below to someone else's though. I kept doing research and found this blog (link). Jumping worms! There is a video on the blog. All other comments I found were related to cocoa shells, which is disappointing because I like using them over woodchips and rocks. They come out in droves when it rains. Original post that I found was here - Titled Jumping Worms from '07. Lots of comments on it. One said they jump to avoid drowning. Most comments said they weren't harmful, but one said they move on to the roots when the foodsource is gone. Every comment referenced the cocoa shells and water. Anyway here is the link to the blog with pics and videos. The video doesn't do the jumping justice. I could cleary see them jumping 6 inches or higher and easily a couple of inches in distance from my first floor window! I didn't even have to go outside. My husband bought raid and sprayed it when it rained tonight, before I could tell him to stop. It seems to have gotten quite a few of them, but I would rather not have that in the garden. Don't know if this will be a recurring problem or not, but it hasn't happened in 2 years. I'll let you know if they come back. Here is a link that might be useful: jumping worms video

Thanks, Sandra. It is a dedicated BSFL bin system (small bin inside a larger bin). I'm in No. California and by the time I learned of BSFL it was too late to try and establish a local colony to maintain over the winter. I ordered a "BSF multi-stage starter kit" from Jerry at blacksoldierflyblog.com. What you saw in the video is what the starter kit developed into after 3 1/2 weeks. Since BSF have nearly stopped egg laying in Jerry's area, he's stopped selling the starter kit until next spring. You could contact him about buying just grubs without the eggs. Like jasdip described, people often find them in their compost bins, manure, etc. If the conditions are right they can quickly dominate a worm bin. (steamyb had a bad experience with that) When that happens the bin becomes too hot (85-100ºF) for the worms. You can probably attract BSFL next spring. I suggest starting a dedicated BSFL bin rather than trying to incorporate them into a worm bin. See #2 on this FAQ: Here is a link that might be useful: BSFL FAQ

Bonnie, I am sorry you tossed it out. I agree with bdobs now--don't think they would have been a problem. Just cover with a bit more potting mix. And no you can't use the earthbox without the cover as rain would wet all the fertilizer all the time which you don't want. I have seen people do that but then they would have to mess with adding more fert. as it leaches down and that defeats the purpose of fertilizing once and then forget it. People should maybe put that organic fertilizer they send in the freezer for 24/48 hours before using --that would kill the larvae if it was already infested. Then when you use it be sure and cover with potting mix so flies can't get to it. Don't be too disappointed--they really do work great. I have used organic fertilizer with no problems at all.