Hello,
My compost that appeared to be ready (it smelled good and things were mostly broken down) to use in the garden this spring seemed to have an...
Knowledgebase
worms/larvae in my compost #877877
Asked July 19, 2024, 4:51 AM EDT
Hello,
My compost that appeared to be ready (it smelled good and things were mostly broken down) to use in the garden this spring seemed to have an inordinate amount of all different colored worms and larvae. Not good earthworms either. Do you know what those worms could be? Some looked like fungus gnat larvae. They were little tiny white things in the soil. I've composted kitchen scraps and dried grass for years and have never seen these worms/larvae in my soil. Do you know what these could be and are they harmful to my garden. I know fungus gnats are but what else could they be? I know what root maggots look like but they weren't in there. Any help you can provide and hope that my garden will be okay if I use this soil will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Northwest Arctic CountyAlaska
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. The worms you are seeing are likely pot worms scientifically called Enchytraeidae. They are small whitish or translucent worms similar in size and shape to fungus gnat larvae. They are related to earth worms and are beneficial organisms for breaking down organic matter, decomposition and nutrient cycling. It is unlikely they will cause damage to plants in your garden.
They appear in soils or compost with high amounts of organic materials and tend to increase in population under wet and/or low pH conditions. Any chance your compost was more acidic or moist this year? If you suspect your compost has become more acidic you could add agricultural lime (calcium carbonate) or crushed eggshells as they are also high in calcium.
Thank you so much! What a relief. My compost was especially wet and organicy this spring. It smelled a little ripe still. Maybe those little worms weren't done breaking things down. I'll add lime and eggshells and see what that does. Thank you!
