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Identify eggs please

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by Jack McHammocklashing, Mar 14, 2012.

  1. Jack McHammocklashing

    Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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    I opened a bag of compost, filled a planter, and noticed in it a group of about ten egg type things
    They were a bit like mistletoe, 5mm diameter and grey/grey opaque

    Are these Snails , Spiders, Slugs, or what ?
    Any ideas

    Jack McHammocklashing (squasher of eggs)
     
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Sounds like snails or slugs Jack.
     
  3. Chopper

    Chopper Do I really look like a people person?

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    Thats a pretty big snail egg, maybe it's from one of those six inch monsterslugs that are bright orange. Most of the ones i find are smaller 2 - 3 mm max.

    Mrs Chopper
     
  4. Axl

    Axl Gardener

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    Definitely sounds like snails or slugs. Worth a good squash.
     
  5. Kleftiwallah

    Kleftiwallah Gardener

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    Did the front of the compost bag say anything about 'Moisture retentive' or 'Contains food for up to four months' ? If so it could be this is moisture retaining balls or plant food addatives. Cheers, Tony..
     
  6. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    • Dave W

      Dave W Total Gardener

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      Any chance of a photo Jack?
      5mm is big for eggs and also for fertiliser pellets unless they are ones I've never seen.
      I'd guess if you squeeze them and they crunch they are fertiliser, if they squish they are either eggs of some GIANT bug :gaah: or possibly water retaining gel.
      My guess would be on water retaining gel. Could well be wrong though.
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      If its imported,could be very small Duck Billed Platypuss.
       
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      • Jack McHammocklashing

        Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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        It was cheap Aldi compost, half bag left over from last year
        in a gallon bucket there was just this one clump of ten (eggs)
        I squished one, then thought I might be squishing good stuff,(new generation Dinasaurs) so chucked the remainder of the clump behind the shed

        I have had some "different" slugs in the garden ie about three inches long and stripey green mustard colour, half inch dia thick, I always thought slugs were the black slimey things I knew as a kid

        Not water retention stuff

        Jack McH
         
      • gcc3663

        gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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        Watch out for an infestation of Ants Jack.
        I found some "eggs" in a compost I bought from Adsa a few years ago.
        A couple of weeks later the back was crawling with ants.
        Quick dump on the nursery bed and a lot of Nippon followed.
         
      • Dopey

        Dopey Heathrow Nr Outer Mongolia (sunny south)

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        You see the size of this snail??
         

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      • Jack McHammocklashing

        Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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        I have googled images, and they look exactly like Slug eggs, only mine are at least twice the size, most images you have not got a clue to the size but one guy has laid a tape measure thankfully so they are usually about 3mm MAX mine are almost ten
        I think I will try to see if I can retrieve them from behind the shed, and put them in soil in a plant pot and see what I get

        Jack McH
         
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        That's a lot bigger than what you first said|:

        Were they sperical or oval/elongated and if the latter did they have leathery skins?
         
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        • Liz

          Liz Gardener

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          I found this:
          'The eggs appear as perfectly round gelatinous spheres filled with a watery substance. They range in size from 1/8 to 1/4-inch in diameter. They are usually colorless, often reflecting the color of their surroundings, but they may become cloudy just before hatching. Baby slugs resemble adults but are smaller and may not be as fully colored'
          from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2010.html, referring to common garden slugs in Ohio which sound much the same as varieties in Britain.
          I had no idea the eggs could be so big, although I get monster slugs in my Warminster garden! I would keep a sharp eye on whatever hatches out from the eggs:gaah:
           
        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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          Sorry Scrungee, the first post was my pre metric days brain
          Then I looked at a steel tape measure and yes the are 10mm/ 3/8TH Inch
          They are round grey and just like missletoe

          Jack McH
           
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