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izzbee

pinkish larvae and big white worms (maggots?)

Izzbee
10 years ago

Hey all,

I'm new to vermicomposting, I started off with 500 worms and in a white bin. I did some reading and filled the bin 2/3rds from what I read. Of course, for 500 worms now that I've been watching them it must be too big of a bin to have been filled 2/3rds but I had read to fill the bin 2/3rds the way.

I know my moisture levels are too high, I have little white worms (pot worms), white mites, and just yesterday I found two other bugs in question. I'm afraid that it might be something that renders my castings useless and harmful to my garden. The first thing is a larvae or egg about the size of a fat piece of rice. It's pinkish in color but whatever is in it looks white. I thought red wriggler worm eggs but googling they are circular and significantly smaller than this thing. The second thing is a white worm significantly thicker than the pot worms but shorter. I googled and googled and googled, and can't find anything similar to these two bugs. Here are pictures of what I'm talking about. What is it and do I need to start my composting over again? I have been airing it out a little bit every day, have added new dry shredded paper and cardboard paper to the bottom to dry up the bottom (and the bottom has holes but hasn't dripped any of the water out, the paper has been holding on to it) but I haven't added more food since the first week I got the bin set up.

Should I restart the bin and throw out the castings? Thanks in advanced!

http://s277.photobucket.com/user/tinysabri/media/vermicomposting/IMG_7714.jpg.html

http://s277.photobucket.com/user/tinysabri/media/vermicomposting/IMG_7708.jpg.html

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