HOME COMPOSTING WITH WORMS

PESTS AND PROBLEMS

A healthy worm composting system will attract a myriad of associated organisms (biota).  Most will be 'mini-beasts' and unseen by the human eye, but others will be more obvious.  Most of these creatures are not harmful and are, in fact, beneficial so don't race out and kill every critter that isn't a worm.  Remember that this is a living system.  Every other creature is there for the pickings and will help break down the compost.  The best system will be 'alive', supporting a complete and harmonious ecosystem as close to nature as possible.  In general, only the top few centimeters will be affected by larger biota and you will find only worms deeper down. 

However, desirable as these critters may be in the compost, you may want to deter them for various reasons.  Some may bite, some may eat the garden and some are simply scary.  Be assured your system will still work without them but don't use chemicals in the system to kill them.   

Simply keeping the cover on is the best deterrent.  However, if you have a recurring problem with a pest, cover all the fresh waste with about 10 cm of dry vermicast or light soil and leave for a week before adding more waste.  In most cases, this will destroy the habitat of the pest and kill the eggs.  Like worms, these surface dwellers need the right environment to live and breed and they will quickly disperse or die if the usual surface conditions are changed. This method won't harm the worms.  

The following is a list of common biota and what to do or not to do about them: 

* Butcher boys (slaters).  These are harmless and beneficial but can be easily physically removed if desired as they congregate together.

* Small white worms.  These are actually an earthworm that thrives on acidic material.  Their role is to neutralize the system making it more desirable for the other composting worms. Don't deter these.

* Flies.  The cover will foil most flies but the tiny vinegar species may make their way in.  They tend to swarm and are most annoying.  They will only appear seasonally but the best way to deter them is to cover the fresh waste with castings or soil. 

* Spiders. Get rid of them before they breed.  They won't hurt the system but don't risk getting bitten.

* Snails and slugs.  Excellent composters but you may not want them near the garden so physically remove them.  There will be eggs just under the fresh waste so dry the system for a couple of weeks and the eggs will die.

* Ants.  If ants appear, you have a dry spot in the compost.  Flush them out with water.

* Centipedes and earwigs. These can bite so get rid of them.  Usually, they would only appear one at a time.

* Beetles.  Mostly harmless composters.  To deter, leave the cover off for a few days.

* Grubs.   These are usually the larvae of beetles.  Some of the larger species may be found quite deep in the compost.  They are no threat to the worms.  They will pupate then fly away as beetles.

* Cockroaches.  Bait with bread soaked in milk then physically remove.

Predators 

If left uncovered, predators will also be attracted to the system.  Worms are a delicious temptation for birds, possums, lizards and frogs but other less desirable predators include snakes, rats and mice.  In snake or rat infested areas, keep the system away from overhanging trees (other predators can approach from trees but aren't harmful to humans).  Dogs and cats love to dig in any kind of compost and so do little children.  A snug-fitting cover is the best safeguard against predators and be sure the sides of the system are flush against the drainage base.   Rats, in particular, will dig up from under the system. 

While safe in their bedding, worms have few predators but watch out for flat-worms.  They can be at any depth in the system and you are most likely to notice them when removing the vermicast.  They have a distinctively ribbon like and slimy appearance and are usually cream, pink, red or mauve in color.  These worms are carnivorous.  They eat normal earthworms by wrapping their flat bodies around the victim and slowly digesting it through their skin.  If you find one, discard the worm and also the surrounding soil as it may contain eggs.

Other Troubles 

Like anything new you try, you could face a few problems with your system especially when you're just starting.  But don't panic, everything is fixable.   Even from the worst neglect, a worm composting system will bounce back to health.  Scientists estimate that worms have been on the earth for 600 million years which is a lot of time to fine-tune survival techniques.