What creatures make good worm neighbors?

11 years ago

I've seen several articles, videos, and photo compilations of uninvited creatures (both malignant and benign) you might inadvertently find in your worm bin. What I haven't seen are any lists of good non-worm candidates to invite into the bin. I'm curious about what might be added on purpose for beneficial effect.

I know predators like land planarians and centipedes should be kept out. I know isopods can help with breaking down tough materials, and I've collected and placed some in my bucket bin (already seen some of their casts, too). I've left alone some tiny roaches that popped in for a snack, found conditions not to their liking, and left without incident.

What else might be good to deliberately import to the worm bin? I'm thinking some millipedes if I happen to spot any more, but I'm unsure about them. I'm also considering adding soil worms if I can get any... I keep hearing they tend not to perform well in a worm bin, but I figure they couldn't hurt, their performance can be judged by healthy competition instead of reputation, and they might be helpful in a bucket bin with low surface area compared to depth.

Is there anything else I should be considering, to help out my red wigglers and establish a robust, adaptable, vermicomposting ecosystem?

Featured Answer

armoured

11 years ago

If this is an indoor bin, I'd avoid introducing anything. And if an outdoor bin, I shouldn't think you'd need to.

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Comments (10)

Jon Biddenback
Original Author
11 years ago
Out of curiosity, why would you avoid introducing anything to an indoor bin?
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armoured
11 years ago
Just to avoid any possible indoor pests. And while it might be appealing to think it'd help, focus on the basics: good bedding, not too wet, don't overfeed. If you're going to get anything wrong, make it too much bedding.
Jasmyn Kim
11 years ago
PILL BUGS (aka potato bugs, wood lice, or rolie-polies). They are the "worms helpers" as I've heard someone call them before. They help make the organic matter /scraps/food easier for the worms to eat/compost. You may notice that in nature, where you find worms in the ground there are usually pill bugs too. Kinda reminds me of a shark/pilot fish relationship, to some degree. And about them becoming a pest, I doubt that the human world outside the bin has much appeal to them.
Jasmyn Kim
11 years ago
PILL BUGS (aka potato bugs, wood lice, or rolie-polies). They are the "worms helpers" as I've heard someone call them before. They help make the organic matter /scraps/food easier for the worms to eat/compost. You may notice that in nature, where you find worms in the ground there are usually pill bugs too. Kinda reminds me of a shark/pilot fish relationship, to some degree. And about them becoming a pest, I doubt that the human world outside the bin has much appeal to them.
Jon Biddenback
Original Author
11 years ago
I've already put in some pill bugs and sow bugs, those are the isopods I mentioned. They are definitely working away in there. Never expected to learn to recognize isopod poop, but then I never expected to be reading an article where someone was using isopods as their primary composters, either.

They never even try to get out. They just quietly munch away on harder stuff like little bits of stick, tough weed stem, or corn kernel shell. And, they poop. Looks a little like somebody seasoned the bin with ground black pepper.
treehugging_druid
11 years ago
the pill bugs is a great idea. i have a bunch of those around. i have heard about black soldier flies too for composting.
tete_a_tete
11 years ago
Slaters (woodlice) like damp wood. And dark places.
sbryce_gw
11 years ago
My experience with wood lice is that are fantastic composters, but they love to wander. Wood lice in an indoor bin means wood lice all over the house. They also love to eat tender shoots in the garden. Wood lice in the garden means new starts will be eaten quickly.
Jon Biddenback
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I already checked into how to separate isopods from the non-worm compost for exactly that reason. It seems easy enough. In the worm bin, I've noticed they tend to loiter near the surface; they aren't really found in the casts. I'm wondering if simply crumbling the stuff while applying to spot and pick out the odd stray will be sufficient. Alternatively, I might try a quick dunk to send them running for fear of drowning. I could try the spread and sun dry approach that's supposed to work with regular compost, but isn't it bad to let your vermicompost dry out?