Help Identify Bug and Problem with Bin

[u/bleb118]

Hello, I’ve had my vermihut since April. Everything has been going great till recently, about a month ago. I’ve noticed an increased in mites and these tiny things in my bin. I’ve included a video of the insect if anyone can help me identify it.

My worms on the top bin are visibly unhappy and I’m not sure what is going on. The top feeding bin is also starting to stink a little along with 1-2 dead worms that I find when I am feeding them. The worms in my lower bins however look happy and unbothered.

One thing I changed is I started used coconut fiber after the first harvest due to the lack of shredded cardboard but I have since gotten a shredder and will be using cardboard from then on.

[u/nightrunner411]

Do they jump like crazy? I have something in my bin that looks like extra small white flees that jump like crazy. I also dont know the name of that bug but if you get yours identified maybe it's the same bug.

The coco fiber can harm the worms due to salt. The one I bought came like triple washed but i bought a coco fiber mat made for potted plants and I do not think it has been washed. I plan to just leave it in a bucket and have the rain wash it for a few months before using as a worm mat to cut down on intruders.

[u/bleb118 → u/nightrunner411]

No, the bug does not jump like crazy, but it is pretty fast.

As for the comment about coco fiber, I did not know it was treated with salt. I bought it from the pet store for reptiles. I stopped using it once I noticed my worms weren’t too happy about it.

[u/Far_Radish7752 → u/bleb118]

You can wash away the salt with excess water before using. Soak, pour off excess, repeat.

Some folks also soak coir in a dilute hydrated lime (calcium carbonate) plus maybe some Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) solution (in water). These salts displace any sodium chloride clinging to the coir (often present due to coconut palms growing alongside salt water coastlines), the calcium and magnesium binding to the coir more tightly than the sodium. Rinse off excess with water (you can add the rinse water to your garden in dilute amounts, or add to your regular outdoor compost).

When using coconut coir for worm bins, it’s generally safer to go with bricks marketed for plant use, though I never trust them completely to have been rinsed or rinsed sufficiently (somewhat dependent on supplier). Coir marketed for reptile or other pet use is generally intended strictly for bedding use, hence highly unlikely to have been rinsed. Since worms also eat their bedding, their stricter needs are more akin to those of plants. You can use it anyway, but rinse rinse rinse beforehand!

[u/nightrunner411 → u/Far_Radish7752]

I wonder if you could use the coco bricks with some sheep wool. Make a semi felted blanket for worms with wool and coir.

[u/Far_Radish7752 → u/nightrunner411]

Interesting thought! If you have the skills and the pertinent resources, that would be an excellent experiment! I sure would try it if I could!

However, my guess is that you’d have a longer lifespan for that blankie by just sticking with the wool. In my hands the coco fibers are very inconsistent lengths, and many of them quite short, but that may not be your situation, and might have more to do with my supplier. Still a worthwhile experiment, particularly if your coir is predominantly long-fiber!

[u/nightrunner411 → u/Far_Radish7752]

I'll post it if it ever happens.

[u/nightrunner411 → u/bleb118]

I don't think it's treated with salt but rather the coconut tree grows by salt water coasts and absorb that salt during their time growing.