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critter care

Something is invading my worm farm

Adam Morley

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Location: Central Kentucky

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posted 7 years ago

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My red wrigglers were doing ok until I added some leaves as bedding. This introduced a strange little white bug (about 1/16 of an inch long) that is multiplying to the point where they are literally taking over.

Just wondering if anyone knows what they are? Pic below

4C93B379-0B95-41CE-8E0F-6B5AA6C4E518.jpeg

Bryant RedHawk

gardener

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Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

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Termites! Those are definitely termites.

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Craig Dobbson

steward

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Location: Maine (zone 5)

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posted 7 years ago

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Does DE work on termites?

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Keith Odell

pollinator

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Location: Indiana

posted 7 years ago

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They look like springtails to me. Hard to be sure. Any closer shots?
If they are springtails, then it is a common critter in your worm farm.
If it's a termite, then you've got other issues - sorry.

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Bryant RedHawk

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DE will work on termites as long as the DE is dry, (this is true of any DE application, once wet it is far less effective for critter control).

Those are not springtails, they have brown jaw structures and springtails don't, plus springtails have their tail cocked most all the time, those don't have the correct structure (tail).

Ants and Termites have been known to kill worms and eat them (mostly ants do this but I have seen termites attack a worm that went to the wrong place on my farm).

Keith Odell

pollinator

Posts: 148

Location: Indiana

posted 7 years ago

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Very well could be, I appreciate Redhawk's contributions very much.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/burtonandy/3719126970

These appear to be the same. Termites look to have a waist. I don't see a waist on Adam's picture.

I would hate for Adam to go to extreme measures wiping out springtails that he mistook for termites.

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Bryant RedHawk

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Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

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posted 7 years ago

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This is a spring tail, note long antennae on this species.

I've gone through about 150 photos of springtails today to make sure we get the ID right.
I agree with you Keith we don't want to get this one wrong.

This is another species: All springtails have longer antennae that what the OP's photo seems to have. Hopefully he can use our photos to compare and make his own decision.