Worm Castings with Creepy Crawlies?

LWilliams 6/11/2011, 11:09 pm

I bought some worm castings today at a farmers market and as I put them into my garden I noticed not just a few red wigglers, but also some other bugs... Some looked like small pill bugs (rolly polly babies?) but also a HUGE earwig and a few centipedes/millipedes (I'm never sure which is which but they're brown and about an inch long and thin) My question is, did I just ruin my garden with these things?? I guess it means the compost was fresh, but I wasn't expecting critters to be included! What do I do now??

shannon1 6/12/2011, 1:04 am

I don't think you ruined your garden. Some of those bugs can become a problem if they become too numerous some can be benifical. Centipedes feed on insects and spiders. However millipedes and pill bugs feed on decomposing organic matter, but will occasionally damage seedling plants by feeding on leaves, stems and roots. A few earwig species cause some damage by feeding on crops and ornamental plants, but most play a beneficial role by feeding on other insects.

I would just get your castings somewhere else next time or even install one of Josh's worm tubes in your box. Enter "worm tube for the SFG" into search box under "latest topics" at left to learn more.


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Worm Castings with Creepy Crawlies?

Worm Castings with Creepy Crawlies?

Re: Worm Castings with Creepy Crawlies?