ID for larvae.

[animartco]

What do I have under my bin please? Please bear with description? I don't think a photo would be much help.
They are three quarter inch long by sixteenth of an inch in section. Same width throughout except slight narrowing before the head which is small and shiny black. The body is dark brown, and leathery with short spines all the way down. locomotion is very limited since they live in soft soil, in a LARGE DENSE COLONY. The head can stretch out a little but the rest of the body simply curls and uncurls like a chrysalis.
I'd like to know if they are edible so I can feed them to my birds?

[Matt Smith]

Fannia fly larvae perhaps.

[triops]

Despite your theory, a photograph would be a great help.

[animartco]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Fannia fly larvae perhaps.

Thanks Matt. They did fit the description of the Fannia but There wasn't a photo and the drawings were all too fat. Are they a lot skinnier than conventional maggots? Also they are apparently only eating worm caste, although it is possibly the worm itself has died. I found them last year in exactly the same place.

[triops]

You describe the larvae as having a shiny dark head. Fannia, as other Muscid/Calliphorids, do not have a head capsule, just mouth hooks, so no shiny head. Again, a photograph is essential!

[animartco]

Originally Posted by triops

You describe the larvae as having a shiny dark head. Fannia, as other Muscid/Calliphorids, do not have a head capsule, just mouth hooks, so no shiny head. Again, a photograph is essential!

Sorry Triops I didn't take photo but will take one next time I see them. I thought they weren't Muscids, and I don't think they are lepidoptera either. The head is more like a beetle, really shiny black and much smaller in section than the body. So some sort of terrestrial ditiscid? Nearest thing I've seen to them are mealworms, but I don't think they have spines?