Worms’ Bin Check
We have baby worms!
I just wandered down the garden to have a quick check on the worms. It has been so hot and humid lately, that although the worms’ bin is situated in what I consider to be an ideal situation (early morning sun, followed by filtered sun and then shade for most of the rest of the day) I do worry that they may be finding the unseemly sub-tropical conditions a bit stressful.
The experts tell us that red worms can stand greater extremes of temperatures than other composting worms. James Shaw in an article on Squidoo entitled “The Life Cycle and Stages of Eisenia Foetida or Red Wiggler Worms,” quotes 60-80 F. (16-28 C.) as a general guide. Edwards (1988) quoted in The Science of Vermiculture suggest that temperatures of 25 C. (77 F.) provide conditions for optimum growth, but that for cocoon production a cooler temperature of around 15-24 C. (60-77 F.) is best. I was thrilled then, to find some cocoons and some tiny baby worms poking out of the mix of bedding, food and castings. This is not a great number in the scheme of things, I know. Red Worms have been recorded as producing 6 cocoons per earthworm per week, i.e. 19 young worms (Edwards & Arancon), but as a novice, I am just pleased that these few little ones were there, living proof that things may be OK.
I took my little worms and made a short video of them squirming about, and then,when they looked really fed up, I dropped them back into their bed.Theye quickly wiggled down and disappeared into the place they like best! I have not posted my video because it needs a little bit of work. One day soon……. In the meantime, the photo above will show how small they are. See the ‘bits’ passing through the worm’s digestive tract? Fascinating.
On the way back to the house, I stopped by a pretty purple/blue Fijian Hibiscus. The stamens are loaded with a creamy coloured pollen that looks just like powdered milk and I couldn’t resist taking some shots of a bee wallowing in this cream powder as though his life depended on it. And indeed, I guess it does.
Another happy punter!