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Troubleshooting - Worm farming
Help with worm farming issues
I have bugs (maggots/pot worms/mites/flies/slugs/snails/ants) in my worm farm. What should I do?
I have bugs (maggots/pot worms/mites/flies/slugs/snails/ants) in my worm farm. What should I do?
Victoria avatar
Written by Victoria
Updated over a week ago

Black soldier flies

Often confused with blow fly maggots, black soldier fly larvae are: bigger, browner and more segmented. They help break down organic material, and similar to worms create nutrient-rich castings. But, they aren’t for everyone!

There’s no easy way to remove them. But, to reduce their numbers, try mixing in shredded newspaper and burying your food scraps below the surface of the worm farm to discourage flies. 

Blow fly and house fly maggots 

Eek - maggots can be a little unsightly but don’t worry, they won’t do any harm. Often confused with black soldier fly larvae, blow fly and house fly maggots are: smaller, lighter in colour, do not darken with age and are less segmented. The presence of maggots suggests that meat or dairy are present. These foods should not be added to your worm farm. 

To get rid of blow fly maggots, place a piece of bread soaked in milk inside the worm farm overnight. This will attract the maggots, then just pull them all out in the morning.

Pot worms

No, your worm farm hasn't been invaded by alien worms. Pot worms are very small, white worms. Often confused with baby red wriggler worms, pot worms are: Only white in colour and do not grow larger than a baby red wriggler worm. 

Pot worms prefer a moist, acidic environment. While they won’t harm other worm species and are efficient at aerating soil and breaking down organic material, they may indicate some imbalances in your worm farm that are not healthy for your worms. 

To reduce a pot worm population, place a piece of bread soaked in milk inside the worm farm overnight. This will attract the pot worms, then just pull them all out in the morning. It is also important to balance out the moisture and pH in your worm farm. Try gently mixing in shredded newspaper.

Vinegar flies

While a little pesky, these tiny flies help to decompose organic material in your worm farm.

If their population is getting too high, try the following. While there is no quick fix, this will work to reduce their population as soon as possible!

  • Make sure to keep your lid firmly on the worm farm between additions

  • Get rid of any large pieces of uneaten food scraps

  • Make your own fly trap! Place a jar filled with vinegar and a few drops of dish soap near your worm farm

Mites

A large mite population commonly indicates that your worm farm is too moist. This may be caused by overwatering or poor drainage.

To reduce the mite population, you will need to reduce the moisture level in your worm farm. Add shredded newspaper or cardboard and gently mix it into the scraps. Also try to minimise the addition of water and moist scraps until the mite population is reduced. 

Ants

The presence of ants indicates that your worm farm is dry. Add some water and make sure that it is in a sheltered location. 

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