I would think that the problem was caused by the bedding being too dry where the ants invaded - it's actually a bad idea to be "areating" a worm bin the way you describe, the worms can take care of themselves for oxygen, which they absorb thru the skin, but they absolutely need very high moisture as their little bodies are about 80% water, and they get dehydrated easily, which means suffocation

try not agitating the bin, and make sure the outsides of it are always wet - no ant species likes really wet soil

Bill

Hi, I really thought I was keeping the bin "nicely wet" . The worms are defiantly thriving. Could you clarify what you mean about keeping the outside of the bin wet ?

Thanks

If you could in some way put the drum on top of a concrete block which in inside a bin of some kind with oil in it the ants can not crawl through the oil to get to the drum. Could use three small bricks and have them sitting in oil. some people use water but ants can crawl across the top of water if it is not to far. also water evaporates and oil just sits there forever.

I mean if the edges where the ants can get into the bin are at all dry [even like "moist" soil], they'll like the space, if it's "mud", they move along to find a drier place - worms prefer a uniformly wet substrate .... not just damp, wet

something that discourages ants is cinnamon and/or turmeric - sprinkle either or both around the bin, replenish if it rains

Bill

New to this forum and to vermiculture in general. BUT I have loads of experience with fire ants. Try sprinkling diatomateous earth around your bin just be careful to keep it out of the bin and dont breathe the dust. The only other good way is a liquid barrier as stated above or pesticide control of the area.

TIA
Robert
Central Texas

Won't the diatomateous earth hurt the worms too? As I understand it the theory is that the diatomateous earth makes little scratches in the ant's exoskeleton, they dehydrate and die. Seems like thats not good for worms either...

Unless you ment sprinkling it around the outside of the bin...

Yep keep it out of the bin and away from the worms. Put it all around the bin so they have to walk through it to get at the worms.
Yes it cuts through there exoskeleton and they dehydrate and die works on most insects and arachnids. One of the few things that helps keep down scorpions around here other than free range chickens :)

There is a company around here that is called gardenville that carries a liquid called anti-fuego that also works wonders on getting rid of fire ants but it is a mound application. I also broadcast Amdro on my yard a couple times a year to keep them down.

Robert
Fire Ant infested Central Texas

Hi D'Ann,

Tanglefoot might work if you could roll it onto a pedestal or low platform.

I set the cat food bowl inside a shallow tray that has Tanglefoot spread on the rim to keep ants off of the food.

When I had a Can-Of-Worms set up, I put some on the legs to keep ants out of the bin.

Terran

Here is a link that might be useful: Tanglefoot

Thanks everybody for the advice. I guess the worms are easy prey for the ants......... I have a large lot and a well , and try my hardest not to use pesticides . I will try the irritants / barrier first.

D`Ann