Worm observation in compost pile

17 years ago

The question is often asked here"won't the heat of composting cook my worms?"

The answer is invariably, "They'll crawl away and escape the heat- don't worry".

Well- this week I've made an observation that concerns me just a bit. My active pile is still rockin along in the 120-130F range. I've made a couple of mid-sized additions recently (including a bunch of hotdogs in buns, a big bowl of salad, and a frig. cleanout), which I dug in just a little, and added some browns on top. I also, of course, rearrange pieces of the pile and rotate them to the top. I had a lawn/leaf paper bag on top to keep the top moist (seems to maintain heat nearer the surface as well).

Anyway- twice in the past few days I've found worms at the very top of the pile. I assume that they came from the additions of laeves that serve as thick mulch (put on the garden last fall) and from the rearrangement of the pile (living in cooler parts of the pile). I rescued them, stirring the top a little and finding a few more.

It seems that they needed to crawl UP to get away from the heat. I'm not sure what temps they can survive for longer periods- but they would probably dry out up there. I always assumed they would crawl AWAY- but I guess I gave them no choice.

Anyway- just an observation.

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Comments (8)

julianna_il
17 years ago
Wow, poor guys. I'm glad you saved them. Worms are good.
Kimmsr
17 years ago
What was the temperature of the stuff?
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coonx
17 years ago
Last week, I finally pulled some compost out and noticed that some of the grubs were cooked, in an area of the pile that I added to a few weeks ago.
Will
p.s. Is it just me or does it seem that the bugs that live in the compost piles are usually about 2-3X bigger than the regular noncompost bugs.
kqcrna
17 years ago
Since my compost thermometer is relatively new, I never knew what was happening in there. It was a crummy old bin also, next to impossible to turn, and produced compost slowly. Now I'm armed with a thermometer and a Biostack bin.

On Saturday I emptied the contents of my bin into a 32 gal Rubbermaid garbage can, holes drilled top, sides, and bottom, to let that batch sit and cure a little. I started a new batch with grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and various yard waste. Sprinkled with water as I built the pile. By Sunday morning the temp was 150 and now, 5 p.m. Tuesday, it's still 150 degrees. The contents have been reduced to half of what I started with so now it's maybe 20 inches tall. I thought it would cool down by now. Shouldn't it? I don't think there are worms anywhere near that thing!

I compared readings (a few weeks ago) between what my soil and compost thermometers said in both the compost and soil and both temps were the same, so I'd guess the thermometer is fairly accurate.

Karen
junegem13
17 years ago
Awesome new pile Karen!
I take it the new pile this week-end was in your new Biostack bin?
gonefishin
17 years ago
When I get to the bottom of my compost pile with my front scoop bucket, I find numerous holes where the large earth worms make their burrows and go down beneath the pile. Not all worms burrow, I think that the red wigglers may be more at risk from heat or dry conditions than the large ones that burrow to escape.

If the part of the pile where you buried fresh scraps was not just entirely too hot, they may have just collected there to dine. I have seen that happen after I had buried a bucket of kitchen scraps, several times.

Life cycles go on and on, and if a number of them succumbed, they probably left eggs or cocoons that will produce another generation. Good luck with it all.
Bill P.
kqcrna
17 years ago
junegem: Yes, the new batch is in the Biostack. I got it last fall, got a batch going, and just let it sit all winter undisturbed. I spread that batch in late winter/early spring, and started another in the bin. That one that I started in late winter is the one now curing in my garbage can, and the batch that I started on Saturday is my 3rd batch in the Biostack. I used to start a batch in spring, add stuff thru fall, let it sit thru winter, spread in spring, and start over. One batch/year. It was next to impossible to turn and aerate that old bin.

But with the Biostack I get it to heat and cook, am able to turn regularly. Materials break down so much faster. I think I'll be able to produce a lot more compost. And, well, it's just fun. The compost thermometer is just the icing on the cake.

Karen
pablo_nh
Original Author
17 years ago
kimmsr- it was 120-130 in the bulk, and I would guess near 100 near the surface where they were.

I strongly believe that I threw them in with additions of other material when the pile was already hot. Losing a few worms- not such a big deal (except that since they can live for years- they are sort of like pets). It just made me think about the recurring question on worms in hot piles.

Worm observation in compost pile

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julianna_il

Kimmsr

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Worm observation in compost pile

Comments (8)

julianna_il

Kimmsr

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