u/HobbyistHobbies

I found this really tiny red guy on a compost pile. (Attached non-zoomed photo for scale.) Is this a beneficial insect, a pest, or neither?

I have a KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus mixer that’s at least 10 years old. It still works great, but it is so loud. Do they all sound like this, or is this because it’s old? Is there anything I can do to make it quieter?