Ox beetle larva revealed

While breaking down two compost piles and a hugelkulture garden bed, my friend Jeremy and I uncovered loads of ox beetle larva. These grubs will mature in Jeremy's yard. Before they transform into North America's largest beetle, I hope to sell my house so I can buy an RV and travel full time. Read more about that on my blog "Welcome to Where We're Going."

Ox beetle larva feed on decaying organic material. Buried oak logs, part of a moisture retention technique known as hugelkulture, attract adults who mate and lay eggs. The grubs burrow into the logs, creating the deep pits visible in the upper right of the photo. After nearly a year, the plump larva metamorphose into giant horned beetles.