Re: [compost_tea] Re: Worms in my ACT

From: Sikkema Family <kgacksikk_at_iserv.net>
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 22:03:19 -0400

J.B.,
Given my limited entomology course work and a summer job of identifying aqu=
atic insect larvae, your drawing bears a strong resemblance to larvae of in=
sects in the Order Diptera (i.e, true flies). Their size makes me think th=
ey are recently hatched from eggs and based on your statement that you purc=
hased the compost from a store, the unknown origin could be manure or anyth=
ing that might attract flies. Very likely, you have something that will gi=
ve rise to gnats, midges, or other small flies in a matter of a week or two=
 given the right conditions.
KA Sikkema
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 7:56 PM
  Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Worms in my ACT


  Thanks for your reply. To answer a few of your questions their size
  is fairly consistent, I do not use vermicompost, I use two varieties
  one of which was store bought in bag and the other in bulk from a
  soil yard. I noticed the worms yesterday but that does not mean
  they weren't there a day or two before. These worms seem to be
  eating the film on the side of the brewer that was left after I used
  a portion of the brew and left it running. They also do not seem to
  do much when placed on earth. There are some signs of them when I
  filtered a gallon of tea or so that appear to be dead. I have
  viewed them under a 75x microscope and they look very angry. I will
  try to give a better discription. They appear to have retractable
  feelers at both ends. The tail end seems to be mostly stationary as
  the head tends to be all over the place. I have sketched a picture
  and posted it in the photos section. Please don't laugh at my
  drawing. Thanks for any input.
  J.B.


  --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Ted Peterson"
  <ted.peterson_at_t...> wrote:
> I have found micronematodes in my tea. These are extracted from
  the compost. Worms as large as the one you are showing probably are
  earthworms and you may be getting them if you use vermicompost with
  worm eggs in it. They could be some other type of worm but the
  color looks a lot like earthworms. However, I could be
  misintrepting what you are getting so a few questions might help you
  and me and others to discern what these are.
>
> Are there different sizes of these worms? Do you use
  vermicompost? How much of the compost is manure? How old is the
  compost? Do you have worms in your compost? Is you compost on worm-
  rich earth? How long have you noticed the worms? What do you mean
  by devouring your biofilm? If you take the worm out and put it in
  some earth, what does it do? Do you find dead ones in your tea?
>
> Anyway, this may help get a handle on the type of worm you are
  seeing. Like I said, I find micronematodes in my tea all the time
  but they are not too common. I'll get a couple in a sample and I
  have to brew a long time to see some real action. These worms eat
  the bacteria/fungal biomass and digest the amounts in a sample in
  about 4 to 6 hours. I have watched and timed it with observations
  every 30 minutes. You could have the same thing but I haven't seen
  them without a microscope. I have seen segmented larvae but mostly
  these are dead.
>
> Ted Peterson
> EW/SOE
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: deepseajb
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 9:25 AM
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Worms in my ACT
>
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "deepseajb" <deepseajb_at_y...>
> wrote:
> > I have used a new compost for my tea, and have noticed these
> little
> > worm like things devouring the bio-film in my brewer. Is this
  good
> > or bad thanks for your input.
> > J.B.
>
> I have posted a picture in the photo album maybe that will help.
> Thank you
> J.B.
>
>
>
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Received on Sun Apr 25 2004 - 23:31:19 EDT

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