DE IN WORM BINS

[Greenthumbs256]

Hey guys I was wondering about something while checking out my worm bin and adding some food I noticed tons of micro bugs not sure what they are but considering my latest problems I figure their either gnats or spider mites either way I decided to cover the top layer of the bin with diatomaceous earth in hopes i can rid myself of all bugs! But I've got a few questions!

1 should I move my worm bun out of my veg room? I'm wondering if some of my problems are coming from the worm bin!

2 does DE hurt worms in any way? I do belive it is food grade I bought it from a local hydro store that does mostly organics!

 

[Greenthumbs256]

I found thia online everyone says I have a spider mite problem but could it really just be these? Never seen a Web ever just the spots on the leaf!



White Mites
Mites are tiny, round arachnids that may appear in worm beds from time to time. These creatures are about 1/25 inch long, with eight legs, just like their distant cousins the spiders. Although red mites spell trouble for your worms since many feed on the worms themselves, white mites are decomposers that consume dead or dying worms. They help to keep your worm bin tidy, but sometimes their populations explode and the feeding pressure causes them to feed on other decaying foods in the bin, depriving your worms of food.

 

[Greenthumbs256]

I need to put this new digital microscope to work tomorrow I will spend hours and hunt down every bug I can and get some still pics of them that way we can know for sure what I'm dealing with but I think I've got a few kinds of bugs!

 

[Wetdog]

Ummm ... DE works by cutting/scratching the skin/exoskeleton of whatever bugs come in contact with it, much like glass shards or pieces of razor blades.

How well do you think soft skinned worms will do crawling around in it?

Wet

 

[Greenthumbs256]

Ummm ... DE works by cutting/scratching the skin/exoskeleton of whatever bugs come in contact with it, much like glass shards or pieces of razor blades.

How well do you think soft skinned worms will do crawling around in it?

Wet

Actually not long after making this post I found out its actually not bad for worms they use it like egg shells to help break down food and stuff! But you are correct so I wonder why it doesn't hurt the worms?

I wonder if worms are intelligent enough to know how to use it or some shit??? After doing a Lil research their is many ppl that actually use DE in worms bins! It's got me curious!

Edit: I mean no disrespect and I respect your opinion plus you are completely correct about how DE works but if enough ppl use it regularly it can't be that bad for worms!

 

[Tim1987]

Actually not long after making this post I found out its actually not bad for worms they use it like egg shells to help break down food and stuff! But you are correct so I wonder why it doesn't hurt the worms?

I wonder if worms are intelligent enough to know how to use it or some shit??? After doing a Lil research their is many ppl that actually use DE in worms bins! It's got me curious!

Edit: I mean no disrespect and I respect your opinion plus you are completely correct about how DE works but if enough ppl use it regularly it can't be that bad for worms!

Dont quote me on this.
Never have used DE.
But im faily certain its because of silica.
I believe worms have gizzards to digest their food. I think the silica helps their digestion.
I use sand in my worm bin, for this purpose.

I would be cautious about using too much DE. I think at least leave some space for worms to get through.
Im only guessing, but itd be like the equivalent of a layer of really dry sand. The worms cant use it to travel.

Doesnt water have to break the DE down into silica first, for DE to work?

Im more curious than sure of myself here.

P.S.
Ive heard spinosad is safe on earthworms.
Just double check all this info. Please.
Im guessing here.

 

[Greenthumbs256]

Dont quote me on this.
Never have used DE.
But im faily certain its because of silica.
I believe worms have gizzards to digest their food. I think the silica helps their digestion.
I use sand in my worm bin, for this purpose.

I would be cautious about using too much DE. I think at least leave some space for worms to get through.
Im only guessing, but itd be like the equivalent of a layer of really dry sand. The worms cant use it to travel.

Doesnt water have to break the DE down into silica first, for DE to work?

Im more curious than sure of myself here.

P.S.
Ive heard spinosad is safe on earthworms.
Just double check all this info. Please.
Im guessing here.

I appreciate the input hopefully a professional can help us or eventually I will find the correct info from the Web and research and I'll put it here!

 

[Wetdog]

Tim1987

I use sand in my worm bins also and have since 2009 - 10 when I first started the bins.

But, I do remember a nugget from somewhere saying to avoid the sharp, contractor sand, like for making motar or cement. Bought a bag of play sand and still have at least half left after 9 years.

I make a peat based bedding and I'm pretty sure they utilize the pulverized dolo lime as grit also, but that's just a WAG on my part. (Wild Assed Guess)

Wet

 

[Wetdog]

Hey guys I was wondering about something while checking out my worm bin and adding some food I noticed tons of micro bugs not sure what they are but considering my latest problems I figure their either gnats or spider mites either way I decided to cover the top layer of the bin with diatomaceous earth in hopes i can rid myself of all bugs! But I've got a few questions!

1 should I move my worm bun out of my veg room? I'm wondering if some of my problems are coming from the worm bin!

2 does DE hurt worms in any way? I do belive it is food grade I bought it from a local hydro store that does mostly organics!

AFA problems coming from the worm bins, just bear in mind that bugs that attack live plants generally don't hang out much where there are no live plants and decomposers usually don't bother live plants.

Considering the food source goes a long way with the good bug/bad bug thing. Like the common "spider mites in my compost" freakout you see a lot with inexperienced growers. What are they eating? With no live plants to suck the juices of it seems they would get hungry right quick and head for a live In & Out.

It CAN happen, it's just not very likely.

Your new scope will go a long way here.

Wet

 

[Tim1987]

Tim1987

I use sand in my worm bins also and have since 2009 - 10 when I first started the bins.

But, I do remember a nugget from somewhere saying to avoid the sharp, contractor sand, like for making motar or cement. Bought a bag of play sand and still have at least half left after 9 years.

I make a peat based bedding and I'm pretty sure they utilize the pulverized dolo lime as grit also, but that's just a WAG on my part. (Wild Assed Guess)

Wet

Thank-you Wet.
Appreciated.

Tim

 

[Greenthumbs256]

AFA problems coming from the worm bins, just bear in mind that bugs that attack live plants generally don't hang out much where there are no live plants and decomposers usually don't bother live plants.

Considering the food source goes a long way with the good bug/bad bug thing. Like the common "spider mites in my compost" freakout you see a lot with inexperienced growers. What are they eating? With no live plants to suck the juices of it seems they would get hungry right quick and head for a live In & Out.

It CAN happen, it's just not very likely.

Your new scope will go a long way here.

Wet

That does make perfect sense like u said I'm just gunna have to put that scope to work! Usually I feed my worms tons of banana peels, egg shells, cardboard, apples. Pretty much w.e. comes along!

 

[Greenthumbs256]

Here we goes guy I caught the Lil fuckers!!!!!!!


Well I took an amazing video but they won't let me post it here if anyone Can tell me how to post the video it would help a lot more than this pic!

Wow I can't even post the exact same pic that I circled them!!! So stupid!!! Well any where there is 3 mites pictured here! One low center second to the left of that and the he third is mid high center

 

[Greenthumbs256]

I had a friend post the video on YouTube lol so here it is!!!

 

[Richard Drysift]

I have very tiny soil mites in my worm bin too but they are darker in color and "jumpy." They like jump around real fast; very hard to catch them. Awesome video; I wouldn't worry too much about them unless you see them munching on your plants....spinosad should work on all leaf munchers.

 

[Greenthumbs256]

I have very tiny soil mites in my worm bin too but they are darker in color and "jumpy." They like jump around real fast; very hard to catch them. Awesome video; I wouldn't worry too much about them unless you see them munching on your plants....spinosad should work on all leaf munchers.

Thing is those look like the same bugs that I've been told are spider mites! They look exactly like the same bugs that have been plaguing my girls!

 

[Richard Drysift]

Yes I realized this from your other thread and I wish I could give you some advice. Never had spider mites but I've heard they are like the Borg...resistance is futile. Good luck

 

[Strudelheim]

Yeah Bugs in worm bin I wouldn't be worrying about. They are there because food is there for them and they themselves fit into the food chain that exists in the environment you created. Nature balances itself out. Live plants, dead plants, 2 completley different food sources. I worried in the beginning when I saw the red little soil mite. They would be on the lid of my bin in the hundreds. They also end up in my saucers. They crawl down from the pot into the saucer when wet and full of life. And they when the saucer dries they get stuck and either die or go into hibernation. I just throw them back into the top of the pot

 

[Achillesactual]

Hey man, looks and sounds to be Hypoaspis miles. Beneficial insects that kill gnat larva and other larve in your soil. They are just a another piece in the biological puzzle. They won't harm your baby worms either. They only like the top inch or two of soil, all their doing is helping make even more nutrients bio available for your future plants!
Lots of people think they are bad because you only notice them once you have some sort of gnat issue, but really they are already on the job! You can buy these guys online for use in gardening.

 

[Chunky Stool]

Ummm ... DE works by cutting/scratching the skin/exoskeleton of whatever bugs come in contact with it, much like glass shards or pieces of razor blades.

How well do you think soft skinned worms will do crawling around in it?

Wet

"Ummm ..." google is your friend.

DE does not hurt worms, animals, or people.

 

[Greenthumbs256]

Hey man, looks and sounds to be Hypoaspis miles. Beneficial insects that kill gnat larva and other larve in your soil. They are just a another piece in the biological puzzle. They won't harm your baby worms either. They only like the top inch or two of soil, all their doing is helping make even more nutrients bio available for your future plants!
Lots of people think they are bad because you only notice them once you have some sort of gnat issue, but really they are already on the job! You can buy these guys online for use in gardening.

I'm jealous of your knowledge lol thanks for you input that makes me feel a lot better and it makes more since!