Does any one know what these are?

I had to dig up my herb container as the thing had rotted away over winter and fell apart, my Bay had died and my rosemary bush looked a bit worse for wear, browning etc..

When i dug the bush up though i found thousands of these yellow/orange balls beneath the roots, about 2-3mm and they crushed, some empty, others gooey. Dont rememebr them being there when i planted the things a few years back

Are they insect eggs? if so are they harmful? Not sure if i should throw the lot away and buy a new one, dont want to contaminate the new container.

 

It looks like slow release fertilizer

 

Thats what i thought at first, but i haven't ever used any which look like that, i use the soluble miracle grow blue stuff

 

i think they might be vine weevil eggs

have a google image search and see what you think

if they are these you need to destroy them. also this might explain the demise of your plants - were the roots eaten away?

loopy

 

100 /1 it's Osmocote slow release fertilizer from the original compost with the plants

Most rosemary is looking pretty browned off at the moment - I think we all forgot it's not 100% hardy

 

if you squish them do they have any content?

they do look a bit too orangy for vine weevil eggs!

loopy