Kyle Bagley asked 6 years ago
How do you get rid of mites out of a worm bin? What do you add to a worm bin to get rid of mites and what keeps them out of the worm bin that you can add to it
wormadmin Staff answered 6 years ago
Hi Kyle,
Mites: What Do I Do About These MITES?
Mites are a natural part of the composting process.
They may be present in small numbers at all times.
They tend to go un noticed until their population grows.
Their population usually grows in response to conditions that suit them.
The perfect conditions for them are bedding that is too moist and or too acidic – but it’s mostly the acidity in my experience.
This moist/acidic condition is commonly from over feeding and or under bedding.
Baiting Mites:
To remove them, you can put in something big and juicy like a large slice of watermelon.
You then just wait half a day or so, until it is covered in them and remove it from the farm.
You can wash the bait off, then replace it. Repeat as necessary.
Correcting The Bedding:
As its usually a sign of too wet and acidic bedding:
– add dry bedding to absorb water and help neutralise or “water down” the acidity
– add pH buffer like garden lime or dolomite, or ground egg/oyster shell
– keep using buffer, using it every time you feed.
Thanks for asking your question
Regards
Brian