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Worm Bin Critter Gallery |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
by S. Zorba Frankel
The worm bin is an amazing, complex habitat, with hundreds or thousands
of decomposer species all working together to turn your kitchen scraps
into fertilizer. And you thought you just had a bin of redworms! Not
true - redworms are greatly outnumbered by other macro- and microscopic
organisms.
All these organisms are decomposers and beneficial to the ecosystem -
so don't fear any newcomer you may find in the bin - in all likelihood
it's just another one of your redworms' friends.
People new to worm composting sometimes worry that critters will harm
houseplants. Remember that these are decomposers that eat dead organic
matter, and will not eat living plants. Using your vermicompost in your
garden or on houseplants is safe - any critters that come with it will
only eat decaying organic matter or simply die off.
Will worms and other critters leave my indoor worm bin and start exploring the house?
Almost never. Your worm bin is the cozy, damp environment, with meals included, that decomposers enjoy.
With that we now introduce you to the most common inhabitants of your worm bin:
Bacteria
Bacteria are the most numerous organisms in the vermicompost system,
and the primary decomposers of organic matter on earth. They work on
organic material by secreting enzymes which break the bonds holding
molecules together, thus simplifying and reducing the molecules to
their component elements for absorption. As bacteria simplify the
organic matter they make it available to earthworms and other organisms
in the system, as well. On the same size scale as bacteria are
thousands of other species of microorganisms, feeding on decaying
organic matter and each other, forming a complex, microscopic ecosystem
called the soil food web.
Molds and fungi
It's not just arthropods and bacteria decomposing the organic material
in the worm bin! Molds and fungi are common organisms in a healthy worm
system. They feed on decaying organic matter with tiny, hair-like
hyphae, secreting enzymes which break down and simplify the organic
material. They are also an additional food source to other organisms in
the system, including earthworms.
Molds and fungi can also serve as an indicator, telling us if the
feeding rate is adequate. Because they grow most prolifically in still,
quiet environments, large amounts of mold and fungi indicate there is
more food than the system can quickly manage and the feeding rate
should be decreased.
Mold and fungi pose no threat to the garden or the animals living in
the worm bin, but can cause irritation to humans with mold allergies.
If you are allergic to molds, your bin should be kept outdoors or in a
garage or basement that is well ventilated to reduce or eliminate
irritation.
Mites (Acarina)
Mites are among the most numerous inhabitants in the worm bin, with
many different species feeding on decaying organic matter, fungi and
other organisms. They are generally found on the surface of the bin,
though some predatory species will venture deeper if the material is
loose and there is a food source. While beneficial to the system for
the most part, it is not uncommon for mite populations to become so
large that they stress the worms. Infestation level blooms generally
occur on the surface of the bedding and cause the worms to remain in
the lower areas of the bin and to decrease their activity. Mite
populations can be controlled by removing the upper few inches of
bedding during an infestation level bloom, or by placing melon wedges,
fleshy side down on the bedding. This is a favorite mite food, and they
will soon collect on the melon, which can then be removed from the
system. Leaving the bin lid open and exposing the bedding surface to
drying and UV light will also control mite populations.
The vast majority of mite species in the bin are beneficial organisms
which make up a significant part of the bin ecosystem. Mite species
which damage living plants are not found in the worm bin. Control of
mite populations should only be considered if the worms are
demonstrating stress behaviors like refusal to come to the surface,
huddling in a ball, low reproduction or mass exodus. What worms
consider to be infestation levels of mites is often very different from
the human view.
Mites are cousins to spiders and have large bodies, small heads and
eight legs. Their colors range from mottled brown, to red, to glossy
white. Species of mite found in the worm bin pose no threat to garden
plants or people.
Springtails (Colembola)
There are hundreds of species of springtail, all primarily decomposers
of organic matter. They are generally beneficial in the system and have
no interest in living plant tissue. It's estimated that more than 80%
of the organic matter on earth passes through the gut of a springtail
or sow bug on its journey to becoming topsoil.
Springtails in the worm bin are generally small enough to walk on the
head of a pin and range in color from brownish to striking white. Being
insects, these animals have three distinct body segments, six legs and
a pair of short, stubby antennae. Most species have an organ, called a
fercula, which is held against the belly. When the springtail needs to
move quickly it releases the fercula, which rapidly and suddenly
catapults it into the air, hence the common name "springtail". The
species most commonly seen in the bin does not possess a fercula,
however, and is commonly seen in large numbers on the surface of the
bin when there is a quantity of finished material.
Potworms (Enchytraeidae)
Sometimes called white worms, these small, white, threadlike worms are
found in worm bins when there is a quantity of finished material. They
are beneficial organisms that feed on decaying organic matter and are
considered a prized tropical fish food. Some worm growers culture this
species of worm for the pet food market. While usually found when the
bedding in the bin is slightly acidic, their presence does NOT indicate
a pH problem and pH adjustment is not recommended.
Pot worms are white, segmented worms, frequently mistaken for baby
redworms. Their bodies are nearly transparent and their digestive
system quite visible when viewed through a hand lens. Potworms do not
feed on living plants and pose no threat to the garden or people.
Sow or pill bugs (Isopoda)
Also known as woodlice or roly poly bugs, these animals are found in
the worm bin, where they shred and consume some of the toughest
materials, those high in cellulose and lignins. They may be found
through all areas of the bin, except the bottom where there is
primarily finished vermicompost, but are most commonly found in the
loose surface layers. Sow and pill bugs are considered omnivores,
meaning they will feed on both living and dead organic matter. They are
sometimes considered garden pests, though they are more commonly found
in compost and organic debris piles. In the worm bin they are highly
beneficial organisms. Sow bugs have a segmented, armored shell similar
in appearance to that of an armadillo, are brown to gray in color, have
seven pairs of legs and two antennae.
Fruit flies
 Fruit flies are small flying insects with large bulbous, often colorful
eyes. They pose no health threat to us or to the worms, and do not harm
healthy plants. Still, they are among the least favorite and most
common visitors to the worm bin. They seem to enjoy darting out of the
bin and toward our faces, startling us as we wonder "Did I just breathe
that in?"
Fruit fly eggs are introduced to the worm bin on the peels of bananas
and oranges tossed into the bin. The bin environment is an ideal
breeding ground, with food and moisture in abundance, and so the flies
flourish. Fruit flies are best prevented rather than controlled. Once a
fruit fly infestation hits a bin it can take several days to bring
under control.
Preventing fruit flies in the bin:
1. Bury food waste under several inches of bedding. Several sheets of
damp newspaper or landscape fabric act as a barrier to odors, which
will help to prevent attracting fruit flies. It will also reduce their
access to the bedding below.
2. Make a fruit fly trap using an attractive liquid, such as: vinegar,
wine, soda pop, fruit juice, etc. Put a few ounces of "bait" into a jar
or cup and attach a plastic bag on top with a rubber band. Then, cut a
few small holes in the plastic bag. The flies go in, but don't come out.
3. Destroy fruit fly eggs or larvae, by freezing, boiling or
microwaving fruit and vegetable skins prior to feeding to the worm bin.
Note: Less citrus peels in the worm bin is better. If you've ever
squirted yourself in the eye, you know well that their peels contain a
substance that can irritate your eye's moist tissues - and your worms'
skin. Peels take a couple of weeks for bacteria to decompose them to
the point that worms are more interested. For a small worm bin, one
orange's peel a day is fine.
Soldier Fly Larvae, or "Maggots"
The maggot commonly seen in a worm bin is grey-brown and about 1/2"
long. It is, by far, the least-liked of worm bin critters! It matures
into the soldier fly, a large slow-moving fly that lives around compost
and lays its eggs there. This fly does not carry disease, and is not a
housefly. Though you may have a lot of larvae in the bin, few adult
flies hatch, because the maggot needs a cooler, dryer place to go to in
order to pupate. The worm bin just isn't that place.
What to do about maggots? Worm composters find that these larvae show
up in huge numbers, live a short while, and then disappear. So, be
patient. Check to see if you have enough bedding in there. You can
reduce the likelihood of having maggots in the bin by mixing in plenty
of carbon-rich material every time you feed. The flies are attracted by
the smells produced when there's excess nitrogen around.
If you absolutely have to get rid of them, you'll have to empty the
bin, rinse off the worms (lay them on some kind of screen), and start
your bin over with fresh bedding.
Again, soldier fly maggots are good decomposers, producing a good
manure that redworms can further process for you. So, if you can stand
their appearance, consider them short-term guests in the worm bin.
Centipedes & millipedes
These long, slow moving, wormlike animals are found in small numbers
throughout all layers of the worm bin, where they feed on decaying
organic matter.
Millipedes are long and segmented, with two pairs of legs per body
segment and two antennae with which they sense their environment.
Colors range from black to red, but those species found in the worm bin
are commonly brown or reddish-brown. The millipede has an armored shell
for protection and coils into a ball, like a pill bug, when threatened.
Centipedes resemble millipedes, but their bodies are more flattened and
less rounded at either end. They possess one set of legs on most of
their body segments and a large pair of pincers which originate behind
the head. The centipede is generally more reddish than the millipede,
is very fast moving and is generally found only on the surface of the
worm bin.
It's unusual to have many centipedes in a worm bin and one or two are
no problem. However, because these arthropods will eat worms as well as
other organisms it's a good idea to keep their numbers low. The only
way to control centipedes is to remove them by hand which should be
done carefully. While not poisonous to humans, they can give a nasty
bite with their impressive pincers!
Encouraging Them to Eat More - and Reducing Pest Problems
The food waste you add to a worm bin today, as you know, isn't really
touched by worms until at least several days later. How long depends on
how quickly a population of microbes can begin to decompose that
material, and make it ready for worms to consume.
Now, a great variety of food waste harbors fruit fly eggs, which hatch
quickly in the bin! If we could only encourage worms to jump right on
that material, before most of the flies are born. Actually, we can do
this! Just let food waste develop this microbial population before it
goes in the bin. If you collect food waste in a countertop food scrap
container, try this: cover the container with a towel (to prevent fruit
flies from annoying you) and let it sit indoors for a week. For an even
better start, sprinkle finished compost or vermicompost directly onto
the food waste as you toss it into the food scrap tub.
Other potential visitors: moles, birds and more.
Obviously, there are a number of predators that must be stopped from
gaining access to your worm bin. An outdoor bin without a bottom is an
invitation for moles to come and have their fill of redworms! To
prevent their entry, fasten 1/8" hardware cloth (a strong metal mesh)
to the bottom of the bin. Some large-scale worm growers have lost a
significant part of their "herd" to birds. While a small worm bin will
certainly keep birds out, watch out for raccoons, dogs and housecats!
Ants
Ants occasionally will also visit and even try to set up home in a worm
bin. To prevent their access, place each of the bin's feet in a
container of water.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 September 2005 )
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