Ugly in the Bathtub!

  So it is not every day that I find a weird critter creepy-crawling around in the bathtub but, well, this evening handed me the ickiest thing alive, I do believe!  Late this evening, I decided that a nice hot shower may take off the chill I was feeling all day.  I pulled back the curtain to find...egad!...a SOMETHING!  Yep, there was something crawling around in the bottom of the tub but I was not sure just what this thing was!  It was about an inch and a quarter long, half inch wide and was so dark brown that it appeared black.  The critter was segmented, had sort of a tube like snout and apparently had no legs.  It was covered with a bunch of little hairs and it was CREEPY to the utmost degree!  Normally, I am not too freaked about critters but I was not about to touch this one! So...I first asked Hubby what he thought it was.  "No idea" and that was that.  Son was next.  What do you think this is?  "Ugly"  Well, at least, he and I agreed on that!  It definitely was ugly!  Son proceeded to photograph then exterminate the intruder.  (He is my hero!)  After the menfolk vacated the bathroom, I reluctantly showered.  I kept having the strange idea that another critter was going to find its way inside!

  We always photograph the unknown critters so they are easier to identify through research.  Identifying this critter was much simpler than some in the past.  This one was the maggot of a Black Soldier Fly.  The Black Soldier Fly resembles a small, black bee and does not sting nor bite.  It is only alive as an adult to do one thing..mate..then while away the time waiting to die.  Most of the Black Soldier Fly's life is spent in maggot form.  It seems that these maggots are not quite as disgusting as others that totally dine upon rotting flesh.  They actually are good composters which might account for its access to the bathtub.  This far down in the bayou, there are not city septic systems.  There are septic tanks and gray water catches.  (Gray water being the water from bathtubs, lavatories and kitchen sinks.  It is not the overly "dirty" water but the type that can be recycled into the ground safely.)  Our gray water catch is near the canebrake but also the compost pile.  It makes sense that the critter decided to take a journey up the drain...perhaps seeking a warm place to overwinter.  Nope!  Nope!! NOPE!!!  Sorry, maggot, you are not overwintering in my house!

  Now....a bit of information about the Black Soldier Fly Maggot.  Researchers are saying that these things might "save" the planet and humanity.  How?  Since they are composting machines that will eat anything organic, the maggots are being used to eliminate landfills.  This in itself would be enough for me but these same researchers are claiming that those fat maggots are a delicious source of protein. Again. Nope! Nope!! NOPE!!!  Science says that it takes less to raise a mountain of maggots than a herd of cattle.  Whew!  For a moment there, I thought they were going to tell me that I should plop the uglies in my salad or sandwich.  I am safe!  Due to medical reasons, I have not been able to eat meat (other than seafood) for the past three years!  Yippee!  The researchers can eat all the maggots they want!  Nope!  Nope!!  NOPE!!!