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Where, oh where have my little worms gone? Where, oh where can they be?
After a 1/2 hearted and unsuccessful attempt with vermicomposting back in 2007, I decided to give it another whirl and set up my Worm Factory with 2 lbs. of red wigglers a month ago. I noticed lately that I wasn't seeing too many worms. A few days ago I poked around the bin with a garden shove and today I decided to dump my bin and dig through it. I found less than a hundred worms. From the worms I did find, some appeared to be very healthy and lively and others were pale and barely moving (two or three appeared dead all together). What I was surprised to find was a bunch of cocoons (probably a couple hundred of them)! There were a TON of what I assume are springtails though they weren't springing (these were tiny, pinhead sized bugs and were crawling all over the place and moving rather fast. They ranged from a white to brownish red color)
I am really at a loss at what caused such a demise of my worms. I set up a bedding with damp coconut coir topped with damp shredded newspaper. While the coconut coir seemed ok, I would use a mix of damp shredded cardboard and newspaper in the future. I didn't have the bin set up before the worms arrived and would change that next time but would be surprised if that caused so much trouble. The bin resided in the stairway to my basement where the temperature is usually around 65 degrees. There had been no evidence of a mass worm exit from the bin. The moisture content seemed appropriate as I was getting a small amount of leachate (approx a tablespoon every day or two) in the collection tray. The bedding was definitely damp but not soggy. I read that it takes a while for the worms to adjust to their new environment and that overfeeding is a common problem with new bins. I added small amounts of organic matter in one corner of the bin, being mindful not to overfeed.
So, does any one have any ideas as to what may have gone wrong? I am not sure what to think about most of the worms being gone yet having so many cocoons. I am not sure where to go from here - if I should see if the worm population will increase on its own or if I should order more worms for the bin. I'd hate to add more worms to the bin without any idea of what the original problem was. Suggestions?
Thanks! :)
I am really at a loss at what caused such a demise of my worms. I set up a bedding with damp coconut coir topped with damp shredded newspaper. While the coconut coir seemed ok, I would use a mix of damp shredded cardboard and newspaper in the future. I didn't have the bin set up before the worms arrived and would change that next time but would be surprised if that caused so much trouble. The bin resided in the stairway to my basement where the temperature is usually around 65 degrees. There had been no evidence of a mass worm exit from the bin. The moisture content seemed appropriate as I was getting a small amount of leachate (approx a tablespoon every day or two) in the collection tray. The bedding was definitely damp but not soggy. I read that it takes a while for the worms to adjust to their new environment and that overfeeding is a common problem with new bins. I added small amounts of organic matter in one corner of the bin, being mindful not to overfeed.
So, does any one have any ideas as to what may have gone wrong? I am not sure what to think about most of the worms being gone yet having so many cocoons. I am not sure where to go from here - if I should see if the worm population will increase on its own or if I should order more worms for the bin. I'd hate to add more worms to the bin without any idea of what the original problem was. Suggestions?
Thanks! :)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Micah on -
I wonder if you have a pest living in your worm bedding along with your worms. I have read a little about a pest that feeds on worms. I found one in my flower bed underneath a rock. It looks kind of like a red wiggler worm but has a black stripe up and down it's body. I did a google search but cannot seem to find it.
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Permalink Reply by Esbe on -
Is this the creature you're referring to, Micah?
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=389
http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/land_planarians_photo...
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