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Lesson 3
Pests, Bugs and things that are creepy, crawly and scary in earthworm bins, beds....OOOOH
Thanks so much to Babe and Linda for the work they did on finding the common names and scientific names for our "critters" , pests we will be discussing in this lesson. Couldn't have done it without you. Thanks again.. YOU both get A+ Plus. And for the other Volunteers, there is going to be a little surprise for you too.. I appreciate the help..
UPDATE:
There is a Pest that goes beyond the word pest that Babe and Linda didn't come up with, that has raised it ugly head of late... imported Red Fire ants... they can quickly kill an entire earthworm bed. Keeping the bed wet seems to be about the only way to keep them out!! I lost some of my earthworms to fire ants after our move to NE Texas. They move in quickly, so beware.
Now to work.
There are a lot of different types of organisms, insects, critters, pests and good guys that hang out in worm bins or close to them, some are beneficial and some aren't so good.
When I first started out, most growers didn't want ANY bugs except earthworms in their beds, we considered them all bad and went to great lengths to get rid of them. Since there weren't to many experts back then or people that had been growers long enough to have any long range experience of the effects of these "Clean of bug" beds, I'm sure we did more harm then good.
Now a whole host of once "bad guys " are being shown to actually help the earthworms in their quest to clean up the environment. These bugs help by "pre-digesting" and breaking up the chunks of decomposing matter, so that it becomes easier and faster for the earthworms to consume. Which improves the system as a whole, with the "garbage" having less time to lay around and produce odor or draw flies..
So, before going on a "find and eradicate crusade" through your bins, lets take a few minutes and look at each of the "pests" and what it does and doesn't do...
THE BIG THE BAD AND THE UGLY, by Babe (Wormman)
Predators play an important part in the ecosystem. Keeping a balance so no one species population overwhelms the other. There are many predators of earthworms in the lawns and gardens. Also these same predators can be a problem in certain bin configurations if precautions are not taken.
The BIG
Moles; eat 15-20 earthworms each day and leave runs for the shrew who also eats worms for dinner. Other mammals who eat worms are. Hedgehog, Badger and Red Fox .
If these can get to your bins say "good by wormeys".
THE BAD
There are many birds who can prey on a open bin or windrow. Among these are Starling, Crow, Robin to name a few.
The amphibians also make earthworms their prey. Toads and Frogs, Salamanders, Lizards and some Snakes.
THE UGLY
Besides the Mammals many invertebrates prey on the earthworm.
Centipedes use poison fangs to catch their prey.
Flatworm feeds by attaching a feeding tube and liquefying the worm.
Mites (there are many kinds), The Red Mite invade the earthworm to grow and feed by attaching itself and sucking out the body fluids.
Slugs, there are 3 species who prey on worms. Beetles, some species. Leeches.
Ants invade the bins in most areas, but are harmful only to the extent they eat the sugar and carbohydrates in the feed and bedding. "NOTE:SEE FIREANTS ABOVE" Some Ants will kill young earthworms or carry off and suck the fluids from the capsules. And of coarse Fish.
Many of these creatures are very important to our ecosystem. In the worm bin most are not a problem if precautions are taken. Predators may become a problem in the bin when other factors, temperature, pH, feed stock and etc. are not right for the earthworm.
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T-Dome Homes Basic Manual