Snafu1236
Well-Known Member
Hello Mr Green,Hey Chron.,
Do you ever have an issue with fugus gnats in your worm bin? We periodically do, and do nothing to control it. They seem to run there course in a week or so, then dissapear.
This makes me nervous to use the castings in the cultivation though, would hate to screw things up.
Fungus gnats are completely natural and normal in your vermicomposter.
Also known as 'fruit flies', Tephritidae flies actually lay their eggs in the rinds and skins of most fruits and vegetables, where the plant acts as an incubation chamber of sorts.
Once the ambient temperature reaches a certain point, these Tphritidae eggs hatch and release whatw e see as fruit flies. They typically have a 4-7 day lifespan, and will be effectively eliminated in dry, anaerobic or non-carbon based climates and medias.
If you TRULY want to eliminate fruit flies and their eggs, decrease humidity and pour in some beneficial nematodes with your next water.
The inclusion of high humidity and moisture presence in media also exacerbates fruit flies.
Take what you can from this post, I hope this helps you.
And by the way, your castings are great to use if they smell earthy and look similar to used coffee groudns---don't worry about gnats.
-Snafu