what is on the bottom of my pool

[localh67]

I live in Connecticut and have an above ground pool. My dad has had the pool for about 15 years and this year suddenly we keep finding these small things floating at the bottom that almost look like tiny tried up mulberrys but they but are black in color but just turn to mush when you try touching them. We arent sure what they are and my dad is hoping its not some animal droppings that may be swimming in our pool at night. Im posting some pictures. If anyone has any idea what they could be please let me know. THANKS!

Here are some pictures of what we keep finding floating at the bottom of the pool...

[PoolDoc]

. . . they but are black in color but just turn to mush when you try touching them. We aren't sure what they are and my dad is hoping its not some animal droppings that may be swimming in our pool at night.

[ GROSS BUGS ALERT for Watermom: you don't want to read this post! ]

More likely, droppings from animals that are in the trees above your pool! I'm about 99% sure they are caterpillar poop -- more specifically, hornworms. Tomato and tobacco hornworms are common in my area, but there are other species. They tend to be very large caterpillars, but they are extremely well camouflaged, so they can be very hard to see, even when you look right at them.

Fortunately, caterpillar poop is much less likely to have germs that affect people then, say, raccoon poop. Still, keep your chlorine level up!


Here are some articles and pictures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphingidae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyles_lineata
www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05517.html


. I'll

. add

. some

. space

. so

. Watermom

. doesn't

. have

. to

. look

. at

. the

. pictures!

[Watermom]

Eeewwwwww!!!!! I shouldn't have looked! So, you mean I now have to worry about what is in the big tree that hangs over one side of my pool??!! Eww! YUCK!

(I did not look at those links, however. I've known Ben long enough to know better!)

[localh67]

Thanks for the help Pooldoc. Im pretty sure thats exactly what is floating in our pool.

[PoolDoc]

My biologist son was just by here -- we're wondering what is growing over your pool that has Sphingidae species in it. I'm pretty sure it's not tomatoes or tobacco.