Worm bin bugs - need advice!!

[DTOM420]

I just started my first 2 worm bins, 3 weeks ago. One has 2000 red wigglers in it from Uncle Jim’s worm farm and the other has 500 Alabama jumpers from a local guy. I put some wet shredded newspaper down and then added come bagged compost I had laying around and covered them with a wet, folded newspaper.

I have no moisture dripping out of the bins but there is some light condensation on the underside of the one with a lid. The kid has 8 1-inch holes in it with screen covering them. I have not fed them much but I did give them a little over-ripe banana, coffee grounds and Brussel sprout leaves along with a cup of ground malted barley. The 2000 worm bin has received maybe 3-4lbs of those inputs since I got them. I figured the compost would keep them busy but wanted to give them a choice. I’ve been keeping the bins in the house, in separate rooms and these bugs have only appeared in the bin with the red wigglers from Jim’s. So, I’m thinking they came in with those worms

Today I was shocked to see these fast moving little spider looking things EVERYWHERE! Thank God they’re in a separate part of the building from my grow! Can’t anyone identify what they are? Sorry the picture quality isn’t great - they’re very hard to photograph!

Here’s a 10-second video of them:
https://vimeo.com/305347940

 

[DTOM420]

I think they’re predatory mites like Hypoaspis Miles. Would love a confirmation.

 

[Microbeman]

https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

??? https://thelifeofyourtime.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/random-insect-snout-beetle/

 

[Xanode]

If their fast moving their may be miles. I have them in abundance in my bins.

 

[Handlebar]

They are spring tails. They are fine they only bug you do not want to see are centipedes. They have one leg attacked to the segment millipedes which are good have two. Most bugs are beneficial and help with the composting.

 

[Microbeman]

Those are not springtails. Springtails hop.

 

[frankslan]

Hypoaspis Miles for sure esp since you said they move fast. Also why woukd a bad plant eatijg bug be in a worm bin theres no food for them.

 

[Lrus007]

spread a thin layer of lime on top of bedding.
this will knock them down. might take a few times
a week or so apart. they came with the worms or
in the compost. any food you put into it cook first.
that will kill any bugs in your food scraps.
hope this helps Lrus007

 

[ReikoX]

Predatory mites Strateo. S. AKA H. Miles most likely. They are eating the fungus gnat larva.

 

[DTOM420]

I found out that these are called worm mites. They are not Hypoaspis miles. The mite specialist at Arbico Organics identified them and Jim’s Worm Farm confirmed it. Apparently their legs are longer than Hypoaspis Miles and they move much faster than Hypoaspis Miles. Also, the color is slightly darker than HM. According to them, they aren’t problematic and are good composers. Jim’s says their facility is “bug free” but there’s no other explanation than them coming in with the worms; since the other bins have the same inputs and ingredients and no mites in the other bin.

Still, I’m thinking about pulling the worms, giving them a bath to remove any contaminants and putting them into a new bin, to see if I can get away from these annoying buggers!

I’ve got a few gnats in the bin and that should have been a clue that these mites were r Hypoaspis miles. Bummer.

Thanks for all the help y’all!

 

[wetdog]

I found out that these are called worm mites. They are not Hypoaspis miles. The mite specialist at Arbico Organics identified them and Jim’s Worm Farm confirmed it. Apparently their legs are longer than Hypoaspis Miles and they move much faster than Hypoaspis Miles. Also, the color is slightly darker than HM. According to them, they aren’t problematic and are good composers. Jim’s says their facility is “bug free” but there’s no other explanation than them coming in with the worms; since the other bins have the same inputs and ingredients and no mites in the other bin.

Still, I’m thinking about pulling the worms, giving them a bath to remove any contaminants and putting them into a new bin, to see if I can get away from these annoying buggers!

I’ve got a few gnats in the bin and that should have been a clue that these mites were r Hypoaspis miles. Bummer.

Thanks for all the help y’all!

That is just a BAD idea. Worms don't take to "baths" very well since they breath through their skin.

Slow down on your overfeeding and that mite population will regulate down as the bin self regulates.

Wet

 

[DTOM420]

That is just a BAD idea. Worms don't take to "baths" very well since they breath through their skin.

Slow down on your overfeeding and that mite population will regulate down as the bin self regulates.

Wet

Ok, I’ll wait a bit but I asked Uncle Jim’s what to do and they said that the best thing to do (just more trouble than most people want to do) is to seperate them, wash them with a gentle shower of water over a screen and deposit them into a brand new bin with new bedding.

After further inspection, it didn’t seem like I was over-feeding. There is virtually no visible food source left and even most of the shredded newspaper at the bottom of the bin has disappeared. Most of the bin already looks like castings now - little granular pieces in texture - and it’s definitely not super wet. Just in case, I added some dry sphagnum peat to the top, at Uncle Jims’ instruction and I’m watching the bin closely. We’ll see how it goes. I appreciate the help Wet!

I didn’t know that I should be freezing (3+ days) any leftovers I want to put into the bin, prior to putting it in there. Live and learn.

 

[bigtacofarmer]

If mites become a problem in the worm bin let it dry out or add some browns. If you take a piece of watermelon rind and leave it in the bin overnight most of the mites will crawl on to it. Then just throw them away. A little diatamacous earth does not hurt either and is good for the worms digestion.

 

[Microbeman]

Ok, I’ll wait a bit but I asked Uncle Jim’s what to do and they said that the best thing to do (just more trouble than most people want to do) is to seperate them, wash them with a gentle shower of water over a screen and deposit them into a brand new bin with new bedding.

After further inspection, it didn’t seem like I was over-feeding. There is virtually no visible food source left and even most of the shredded newspaper at the bottom of the bin has disappeared. Most of the bin already looks like castings now - little granular pieces in texture - and it’s definitely not super wet. Just in case, I added some dry sphagnum peat to the top, at Uncle Jims’ instruction and I’m watching the bin closely. We’ll see how it goes. I appreciate the help Wet!

I didn’t know that I should be freezing (3+ days) any leftovers I want to put into the bin, prior to putting it in there. Live and learn.

What would be the scientific name for worm mites?
Freezing is a good practice but not essential.