What's in my compost bin?

[Two_Sheds]

Got some pictures.They're about 3mm long and I reckon 6 legs, so I retract my first guess of spiders

they look like aphids, but are probably compost mites. Have a look here: http://www.redwormcomposting.com/wor...ite-not-quite/

[Two_Sheds]

My bin contains a few slugs, a couple of snails, a few hundred ants and three earthworms which I put in. One of these has since died.

Earthworms don't eat compost, they eat earth
It's the red brandling/tiger worms that live in the compost bin: they'll find their own way.

I have no idea what your little red bugs are, I've never come across them, but they are probably a form of compost mite. More info about compost mites here.

(I compost guinea poo too, though I use shredded paper not sawdust for bedding)

The copulating black flies are most likely fruit/vinegar flies. Wrapping your kitchen peelings in sheets of newspaper (like a chip parcel) will sort them out.

[Jeanied]

hi Joe - I have been reading your thread with interest and I think we can all see why Two Sheds is a Gardening Guru! How amazing!

[FoxHillGardener]

Thanks two sheds, that looks very promising. compost mites, arachnids, so I'm off back to recount their legs

they look like aphids, but are probably compost mites. Have a look here: A Mite is a Mite is a Mite? Not Quite!