Check under your doormat!

[brainfarmer]

i'd go along with leather jackets having looked at this site.
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[nightshade]

I would say Leather Jackets and probably Sawfly of some sort,what is the plant nearby?(poss.beetle)

[Wild-Woman]

Yep, I'd say leather-jacket too. Some birds find them a delicacy. I'm surprised that a passing blackbird hasn't found them and taken your mat apart to get at them!

[Jennywrenny]

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

i'd go along with leather jackets having looked at this site.
Flies page 1

That's a great website, Brainfarmer - I've added it to my favourites so that I can go back to it - it looks really interesting. There's also a link to Paul Mabbott's website on there which looks great too - that's gone in my favourites as well

I would say Leather Jackets and probably Sawfly of some sort,what is the plant nearby?(poss.beetle)

Nightshade - the potted plant is a small conifer / ivy.

Yep, I'd say leather-jacket too. Some birds find them a delicacy. I'm surprised that a passing blackbird hasn't found them and taken your mat apart to get at them!

WW - I did jokingly say to Dave that if I was really cruel I could put them onto the bird table

[brainfarmer]

Originally Posted by Jennywrenny

That's a great website, Brainfarmer - I've added it to my favourites so that I can go back to it - it looks really interesting. There's also a link to Paul Mabbott's website on there which looks great too - that's gone in my favourites as well



Nightshade - the potted plant is a small conifer / ivy.



WW - I did jokingly say to Dave that if I was really cruel I could put them onto the bird table

thanx jenny i know this is going off topic but its the great thing about this site it makes me take the time the look at lots of other sites and whilst im never going to be an expert im always learning new stuff.

[Jennywrenny]

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

whilst im never going to be an expert im always learning new stuff.

Same here

What I've learnt on here may not seem like much to some people (especially the experts) but it seems like loads to me and there's still more to come

Jenny

ps - I like your signature!

[Jennywrenny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

it might be worth dropping a pm to fourwings , aeshena , or paul mabbot in case they dont see this thread

Thanks Eeyore - will do

[aeshna]

Originally Posted by Jennywrenny

We wondered about leatherjackets or something like that but my dad said maybe something fly type (ish) ??

Eeyore - As you have suggested I have them in a decent sized plastic container with good sized airholes at the top so they can't get out and they are in a shaded area in the garden. If there are any other suggestions on how best to keep them I would be glad to hear

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

at first glance I would have guessed some sort of beetle larvae but on checking with a book I have, I would be happy with cranefly. This book says about 1" in length, does yours fit the bill?

If you are going to rear them, put a couple of inches of soil in the container, not too dry in case they need to burrow and keep checking at least 3 times a week for changes. Put a small pile of damp leaves/moss in a corner.

I found this link - Crane Fly

The drawing on this page, looks very much like your 'beasts'

regards

Aeshna

[aeshna]

Originally Posted by eeyore

They do move about a bit but i wouldnt think they would be conciously wrestling I cant see a problem with keeping them - perhaps in a jar or tank with muslin over the top so that they get air but the insects dont escape when they hatch - it would be good to identifty ythem though so that you can provide a food plant for when they hatch out....

..... but that will take a real insect expert which unfortunately I'm not it might be worth dropping a pm to fourwings , aeshena , or paul mabbot in case they dont see this thread

Pm worked

[bugbotherer]

I'm a bit late on this but there are 9 (poss 10) cranefly larvae. You can identifly them to species (just about) from the size and the shape of the anal papillae. From the look of them they are not far from pupating which is why they may have migrated to under your carpet. You might get them to pupate if you cover them with John Innes No2 and a then cover the dish with a circle of damp cardboard. You need to keep the card damp but not wet and you might get them to pupate and then emerge (no promises though). I used to keep them in damp sawdust mixed with a bit of agar under damp cardboard.