Have your worms got some new neighbours?

Usually this isn’t a problem however, it may be a sign that something is out of balance. Here’s a run down of common insect additions that may show up and what to do, or not do about them.

Firstly, let’s note that our worm farms are designed to keep most pests out, but sometimes critters enter via food scraps or if the lid is left open.

Let’s also remember that some insects eat waste that your worms don’t like, which is kind of handy. It pays to be educated on what food your worms prefer. That way you can avoid attracting troublesome guests looking to clean up the leftovers.

Check out our guide to feeding your worm farm here.

If you are concerned about bugs in your Worm Farm, don’t hesitate to contact your regional manager and they can help address the situation.

What you might see

Ants

If the bin is too dry ant’s may decide to build a nest in your worm farm. Keeping the surface moist should prevent this.

Fruit Flies

These little fellas are attracted to the smell of rotting food scraps. If you see a lot of them, it may indicate an excess of unprocessed waste. Try feeding your worms less, burying fresh scraps under a surface layer of processed material or placing damp cardboard on the surface to stop the fruit flies reproducing.

Flies and Maggots

Maggots are the larvae of flies and may appear in different forms. They’re actually great decomposers and help produce additional castings for your worm farm. Flies are particularly attracted to rotting animal products, which we suggest you keep out of the worm farm as it is. However, if you’re noticing a lot of maggots this may indicate a growing colony of flies. One option is to simply let them grow and fly off, or in extreme cases transfer worms out of infected castings and then replace the bin with fresh bedding. Your worm farm manager can help with this situation should it arise.

Slaters

Usually, slaters are a good ally for your worm empire as they chow down on most compostable materials. They also love a dry-ish environment so a lot of them means your worm farm probably needs moistening up.

Centipedes, Millipedes and Earwigs

It can be tricky to tell these insects apart as they all look somewhat similar. Earwigs tend to have far fewer legs and pincers at the back of their abdomen. Earwigs are pretty harmless in your worm farm although Centipedes and Millipedes may decide to start snacking on your worms so it’s best to send them packing.

White Worms

Also known as pot worms, these delicate, white worms may indicate your worm farm is too acidic. A small handful of lime or adding additional carbon such as sawdust, leaves or shredded cardboard should resolve this.

Cockroaches

These resilient critters are big fans of food scraps. They also like to operate under the cover of darkness so if you’re noticing a roach trend, try uncovering the bin for a while. This will encourage your worms to operate deeper down and discourage the cockroaches from hanging around.

Part of our service is that you have an expert on-hand to support you when things need a tune up. However, we are so passionate about education and also want you to have access to resources like this article.

If you have any concerns about the inhabitants of your worm farm, please just get in touch.

Why are there bugs in my Worm Farm?