Comments on: White Lice in My Worm Bin? http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jenny http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-32058 Jenny Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:26:08 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-32058 Hi, Bentley. I have tiny white critters in my bin. I seem to see them in the lid, because the lid is black and the critters are white. They're probably elsewhere, too. They move super fast. Does that indicate they're springtails rather than mites? I don't see a ton of them or anything. I've added some more bedding just to make sure it's not a moisture problem. Hi, Bentley. I have tiny white critters in my bin. I seem to see them in the lid, because the lid is black and the critters are white. They’re probably elsewhere, too. They move super fast. Does that indicate they’re springtails rather than mites? I don’t see a ton of them or anything. I’ve added some more bedding just to make sure it’s not a moisture problem.

]]> By: Dick C http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30779 Dick C Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:40:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-30779 I'm glad I found this! Just started worm composting a week ago and now see a couple worms on the side of the bin covered with white mites. I'll assume they're dying, or at least not too healthy. I may have too much food in the mix, so I'll start my adjustments there. Thanks! I’m glad I found this! Just started worm composting a week ago and now see a couple worms on the side of the bin covered with white mites. I’ll assume they’re dying, or at least not too healthy. I may have too much food in the mix, so I’ll start my adjustments there. Thanks!

]]> By: L.H. http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-29883 L.H. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:20:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-29883 On a similar note, I recently got lice. I realized this after I had started my bin (at one point I covered it with a washcloth to keep light out but have better ventilation until I cant cut holes. Also, I shred a lot of paper and cardboard yesterday right before I found out- do I have to toss it? What should I do? On a similar note, I recently got lice. I realized this after I had started my bin (at one point I covered it with a washcloth to keep light out but have better ventilation until I cant cut holes. Also, I shred a lot of paper and cardboard yesterday right before I found out- do I have to toss it? What should I do?

]]> By: Chris http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-25963 Chris Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:30:40 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-25963 I am so pleased to find this article because I have been trying to identify the minute white bugs in my worm farm. I came up with Collembola/springtails. When I collect the worm pee millions of them form rafts floating on top and I am not sure if I should be tipping them onto my vegetables? Will they do any harm or do they just die? I am so pleased to find this article because I have been trying to identify the minute white bugs in my worm farm. I came up with Collembola/springtails.
When I collect the worm pee millions of them form rafts floating on top and I am not sure if I should be tipping them onto my vegetables? Will they do any harm or do they just die?

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-24676 Bentley Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:08:52 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-24676 Hi Lee, I assume you are talking about the broccoli slice with mites on it? I'm not sure what "slightly larger" objects you are referring to, but everything on there is a mite. Worm cocoons are a lot bigger than that. Hi Lee,
I assume you are talking about the broccoli slice with mites on it? I’m not sure what “slightly larger” objects you are referring to, but everything on there is a mite. Worm cocoons are a lot bigger than that.

]]> By: Lee in Iowa http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-24594 Lee in Iowa Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:26:01 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-24594 Oops, I meant the upper photo, not the lower one (which is clear as day). Oops, I meant the upper photo, not the lower one (which is clear as day).

]]> By: Lee in Iowa http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-24593 Lee in Iowa Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:25:28 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-24593 Okay, so this photo (the lower one) is kind of confusing. The larger, slightly golden, ovoid balls ARE worm eggs, right? And then the smaller, white circular things are mites, right? Gosh, I hope so, because I've been sifting by hand through my finished compost (which all the hatched worms left, heading down through a punctured sheet of black plastic into new bedding), but the eggs! the eggs! I can't stand to kill the babies off by planting them later on in the six-packs with my spring bedding plants. Thanks for all your great info! Okay, so this photo (the lower one) is kind of confusing. The larger, slightly golden, ovoid balls ARE worm eggs, right? And then the smaller, white circular things are mites, right?

Gosh, I hope so, because I’ve been sifting by hand through my finished compost (which all the hatched worms left, heading down through a punctured sheet of black plastic into new bedding), but the eggs! the eggs! I can’t stand to kill the babies off by planting them later on in the six-packs with my spring bedding plants.

Thanks for all your great info!

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-24229 Bentley Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:54:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-24229 Hi Dave, I've had loads of springtails in my systems and have never seen anything like what you've described, so I suspect that something else might be causing the issue with the worms. This MAY be an indication that you need to freshen up the bedding or start up a new bin entirely. Thanks for the comment, by the way - it reminded me about a post I've been meaning to write! 8) Hi Dave,
I’ve had loads of springtails in my systems and have never seen anything like what you’ve described, so I suspect that something else might be causing the issue with the worms. This MAY be an indication that you need to freshen up the bedding or start up a new bin entirely.
Thanks for the comment, by the way – it reminded me about a post I’ve been meaning to write! 8)

]]> By: Dave http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-24225 Dave Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:20:40 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-24225 OK, so after reading this post and your newsletter of January 8, 2010, I am sure that I have Springtails. Just today I noticed quite a lot of them in certain spots of my bin. Your advice leads me to not be very alarmed, except that today when I opened my bin (just before I found the Springtails) I found lots of worms on top of the castings; usually they are happily beneath the surface. I wonder if the two are related, i.e. the Springtails are increasing in number and my worms don't like them, or if there is a second cause for my worms all being on top of the surface, like being too wet or the pH being off. I have had my bin for about 6 months, and I have never seen the worms congregate on the surface as they were today. I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have; I'd hate for my worms to be unhappy! Thanks very much, Dave OK, so after reading this post and your newsletter of January 8, 2010, I am sure that I have Springtails. Just today I noticed quite a lot of them in certain spots of my bin. Your advice leads me to not be very alarmed, except that today when I opened my bin (just before I found the Springtails) I found lots of worms on top of the castings; usually they are happily beneath the surface.

I wonder if the two are related, i.e. the Springtails are increasing in number and my worms don’t like them, or if there is a second cause for my worms all being on top of the surface, like being too wet or the pH being off. I have had my bin for about 6 months, and I have never seen the worms congregate on the surface as they were today.

I’d appreciate any thoughts you might have; I’d hate for my worms to be unhappy!
Thanks very much,
Dave

]]> By: Mark from Kansas http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/white-lice-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-22749 Mark from Kansas Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:01:31 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1379#comment-22749 I took a real close at my new bin, I have noticed alot of different bugs. After doing some research, I found those different bugs are not harmful (in small doses). When all the food, fungi, bugs, and worms are added up, I concluded that my worm bin is an eco-system. I took a real close at my new bin, I have noticed alot of different bugs.
After doing some research, I found those different bugs are not harmful (in small doses). When all the food, fungi, bugs, and worms are added up, I concluded that my worm bin is an eco-system.

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