Worm Digest - Re:mites in castings

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1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

Michelle

User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 31

mites in castings - 2008/05/13 16:20 I have an ongoing mite problem in my bins. I'm keeping them 'pretty much' under control but they are still an issue. When I harvest castings would it be okay for me to freeze the castings in order to kill off the mites? Will this deminish the quality of castings? I plan to share castings with several gardening friends but I don't think they'd appreciate me sharing my mites!

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Worm Chick
Summitville, Indiana

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Paratrooper

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 76

Re:mites in castings - 2008/05/13 23:51 I had mites as well but I was able to make short work of them . I let them play until it was harvest time . I separated all my worms (not counting cocoons and really small worms) and flooded my castings and stirred it all up . About a jillion mites came to the top and were either dead or soon to be . I then tilted my container and skimmed all the dead bodies out .I then drained out the rest of the water and let the castings dry out on a picnic table outside . If you want to use some of the old bedding so as to conserve the microbe action you can do this and let it dry after pouring all the excess water out . It seems that the microbes still live after a "bath". Before I do anything with the worms they need to be washed also . Simple kitchen strainer will do . Put some or all your worms in and slosh it around in a tub and any mites hanging out will float to the top . Believe it or not the worms will survive this with no problem . After I did this with a pound and a half of worms I had 2 dead worms . And that was an accident since they got into the tub with 8 others . (there's a significance to this exact count) . I discovered the 10 worms 2 days later and fished them out . After sitting for a couple of minutes 8 of the 10 started moving . They went into the new bin . I then let the compost sit for 3 weeks and took another 250 worms out during sifting with a strainer . Some were just overlooked but many were "newborns". Make sure that you let the compost sit for a while so the cocoons and babies you missed can achieve a size where you can save them . Worms will multiply exponentially so it's not the worm you save but the potential .I don't know much but I will share my experience with anyone that needs it . Tom
Kingman Arizona

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growsveges
User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 10

Re:mites in castings - 2008/05/14 08:11 good question...I've wondered myself if castings being sold are heat (or otherwise) treated or if they contain all the extra stuff mine do (a few mites, beetle eggs) or all the other critter eggs that will be in a typical outdoor worm operation.
Thanks for the worm washing tips Paratrooper, that answers how to get the worms clean when I want to give some(not there yet!) away.
Freezing will probably kill the mites, and will preserve most of the bacteria in the castings so I wouldn't expect the quality to be affected.
Cathy

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Chana
User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 17

Re:mites in castings - 2008/05/29 18:10 I'm a little confused.I thought mites were a good thing.I just set up my 2nd been after harvesting for the 1st time.I am using rabbit manure and bedding(that sat to compost for 2 months)There is an increse in mites and other critters,so I assumed it was necessary to break down the manure.Anyway until I hear from you all,I have a couple of slices of cantelope in the bin
Chana

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redhen

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 655

Re:mites in castings - 2008/05/29 23:14 Mites are in any healthy worm bin environment.
It is only when their numbers explode that they are indicating a problem.
Mites love wet acidic conditions.
Dry things up and balance returns to the bin, making the environment more favorable to the worms. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.

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wormgirlnyc
User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 24

Re:mites in castings - 2008/06/14 08:44 hey para:
i tried your flooding method. got rid of a bunch of mite things. i ALSO was able to harvest out a bunch of cocoons. they floated to the top as well once i stirred it all up. i scooped em out with a spoon. i am considering doing this cocoon harvest method to the rest of my castings. flood: scoop: dry. thanks for the suggestion!

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