thrips in worm bins?

17 years ago

Has anyone ever had thrips in their worm bins? I've seen tiny light-colored critters that i assumed were springtails, which are common in worm bins and generally harmless to plants.

My bin is in my apartment, and i have some rare African violets in the same room. Today, I found thrips on some of the blossoms. It's possible that it came in on other plants or organic vegetables. But I'm wondering if the worm bins also host them.

According to some of the horticultural fact sheets, the Eastern and Western Flower Thrips lay their eggs in soft plant tissue. In theory, that could mean vegetable stems that end up in worm bins. But there's so many other predators like mites in that bin that i wonder if the thrips larvae would survive in a bin. And if thrips could survive in worm bins, my next question would be whether i could introduce natural predators to the bin, like nematodes, but would that harm other beneficial worm bin critters?

I've become really fond of my worms and would hate to give them up -- but if the thrips are originating from the worm bin, I may have to find a new home for my worms.

Any advice would be deeply appreciated!

cheers,

shireen

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Comments (3)

mamaswormcomposting
17 years ago
Nematodes shouldn't harm your worms, so I suggest using them in this case. If you're really worried, just have a conversation with the predator mites grower before you buy. If you're really unable to get rid of the thrips, though, just move your worm bin to your garage or an outdoor shady spot (all shade, no sun!). Then you can keep your beloved worms! :-)
sgmd
Original Author
17 years ago
hi mamaswormcomposting,

thank you, i really appreciate the advice. I live in an apartment so a garage is not an option and the apartment complex won't allow an outdoor compost bin. So I need to keep my little buddies indoors.

The more i think about it, the more i suspect the worm bin may not be the culprit. Thrips lay egges in the foliage of plants, which is living tissue. Most of the contents of the worm bin is dying plant tissue. Maybe this was a freak occurrence?

Anyhow, I'm going to hold off on the nematodes for now. If i get a second infestation, then I'll look into it. And I am considering a clear plastic enclosure for my African violet shelves, tho' i'm a bit concerned about air circulation.

Again, thank you so much!

cheers,
shireen
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gardenfanatic2003
17 years ago
The only insects you're going to find in a worm bin are decomposers or insects that eat decomposers. I don't believe thrips fit into either one of those categories.

Deanna