Millions of tiny bugs in vermicompost

philmarlowe

Member
So I have a worm bucket that's been going strong for a good 6 months now. Havent added anything new in probably 2 weeks, been neglecting the little guys really, letting them do their own thing. Anyway, I opened the bucket today to add some scraps that have been dehydrating in my window sill for a bit and there are literally millions of tiny nearly microscopic bugs crawling all over the sides of the bucket. there seems to be plenty of worms so i dont know if they are hurting the population. They are about the size of a sesame seed. Under the microscope they have 6 legs and slimy flesh colored bodies. I don't know how i would get an up close pic of one, as i have a microscope and a camera but not a micro-camera. Does anyone have any idea what these little buggers may be and if they are harmful to my worms, property and I?
 

ataxia

Well-Known Member
HYPOASPIS MILES do a google search on em .... do they look like this. I'm having the same problem with what sounds like the same type of bug. If it is them ...they're benefical to the garden
 

philmarlowe

Member
they look similar but these ones have either 4 legs and 2 antennae or 6 legs with the two in front looking like antennae. I just fell asleep and had a dream that they were all over my house but then i realized they were ladybugs which are good bugs, but that was there so i don't think they'll grow into lady bugs on this plane. Anyway, some of them had really bulbous bodies that were almost a perfect circle(like a walking pimple ready to pop) I'm guessing those were the adults. I wish I could photograph these ugly bastards, my worms seem to be killing it so I'm thinking its just some summer bug I haven't encountered before because i never composted in the summer.
 

ataxia

Well-Known Member
either way ....i'm in the wrong forum, but this is only my second summer growing. I'm indoors and my first summer was ok, with the exception of a tiny spidermite problem, but once this spring hit i had gnats like crazy, then summer hit and it's cooking my plants(i'm eastcoast) .
It's official i FUCKING HATE SUMMER!!! i've had bugs, hermies, shitty loose flowers from heat stress. I hate heat.
sorry, going on a rant. I just can't emphasize enough how much i dislike this season.
 

philmarlowe

Member
yeah i cant hang in the summer here, i called it quits until i move and can invest in a decent a\c and vent setup. spider mites like whoa, humidity issues, and the heat is ridiculous. i did have the light cycle from 8pm to 8am however i can only imagine how bad they would have cooked had the lights been on during the day.
 
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