Patience my friend. If your compost smells like clean dirt and you have a good population of juveniles you are doing well.

Dave Nelson

"The top bin is ready to harvest based on my understanding of this."

Jen, please describe the worm bin system you are using. Most systems harvest the bottom bin while the worms continue to migrate towards the upper bins.

As for the adult/juvenile mix in your worm population, it is NOT due to something harming only adult worms. My first guess is that you did not receive 1000 worms. Most reputable worm sellers these days sell worms by the pound rather than by number. Secondly, you may have received old or unhealthy worms, who died even faster for the reasons you listed. However, the bedding the worms were packed in probably came with cocoons, which have since hatched and are now the juveniles you see.

E. fetida: "Time to sexual maturity: Approximately 85-150 days under ideal conditions." If you've just hit the 90 day mark, you should start to see some of your worms mature. The mites are a normal part of a worm bin ecosystem. The dirt smell is a good sign, as is your reduction in feeding. Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Andrew