I have bugs in my wormery!

[Flytrap]

I have bugs in my wormery!
I'm not worried about this as I know that a variety of bugs are needed to properly break everything down. The worms seem happy, all wriggling around in the food under the moisture mat. They have also stopped escaping into the sump now. Moisture mat has started to drop to bits though, thought it would last longer than this (less than one month). Food breaking down nicely and no bad smells.
Back to the bugs. I noticed loads of tiny red spider-like things. They are about half a mm big and are fast moving, I had about 20 running up my arm after I lent on the edge of the wormery just now. Shudder!
Also, on the food waste there are lots of about 1mm across, creamy white blobs. I thought they were some kind of egg but they are crawling about.
Any idea what these two bugs are? As I say I'm not too worried but don't really like them running up my arm, I'm feeling all itchy thinking about it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I take no notice of the microcosm of life that is in my wormery - all crawly things (worms, earwigs, slugs, snails, earwiga, beetles etc etc) will make my veg input transform into compost/feed output.

The only organisms who get on my wick are the clouds of fruit flies who whizz up in the summer when I open the lid to add stuff.

[Alison]

You get all sorts of bugs in a wormery and almost all of them are good tenants. Also, don't worry about the mat, the worms love them and eat them before your waste. I never bothered replacing mine as I want them to eat veg waste not something I've bought. If you want to cover them (handy in summer when fruit flies are about) then just use a few sheets of newspaper. Does the trick

[wormcity]

Hi
The white and red dots in your wormery food are probably spider mites - they congregate in the 1000s and aid the composting process.
They like damp conditions - so you often see them on tomatoes / cucumbers etc.
They can literally bloom overnight - so dont worry.
Re the moisture mats - use cardboard cut to size or newspaper even old carpet or a wooly jumper instead.


Ronnie

[Sprocket*]

Fantastic - I have been worrying about the other life within my wormery, no more I will just let it go on doing its business.

[rana]

Hi
The white and red dots in your wormery food are probably spider mites - they congregate in the 1000s and aid the composting process.
They like damp conditions - so you often see them on tomatoes / cucumbers etc.
Ronnie

I was always under the impression that red spider mites preferred dry conditions and was going to suggest sprinkling a little water in the wormery bin.

[Two_Sheds]

red spider mites preferred dry conditions and was going to suggest sprinkling a little water in the wormery bin.

The name is confusing: glasshouse red spider mite does like warm dry conditions.

However, compost Spider Mites are "Small white / red mites that can appear overnight in their hundreds - They like moist conditions, and may be an indication that your wormery is too wet. Add dry newspaper. Aids composting" WormCity Questions About Wormeries, Worm Composting, Worms For Fishing And Composting, Ants In Wormery, Fruit Flies, maggots

There's also fruit tree red spider mite, citrus red spider mite, box red spider mite and conifer red spider mite, to add to the confusion