A reader just contacted us about some black insects he found in his vermicomposter. He wonders what they are, if they are harmful to his composting worms, and how he can safely remove them.

A vermicomposter is a compost box that uses worms, such as red wigglers, to aid the process of decomposition. The mixture of decomposing food, food waste, soil, and worm castings create a supreme mixture of organic fertilizer.

We don’t know the specifics of our reader’s vermicompost, but we do know what the insect he found looks like. It is a shiny black, round creature with four legs and possible wings. Its underside is light brown. We are quite confident that this is a beetle.

It is very common for people to discover additional creatures, including beetles, living in their compost bins other than the designated composting worms. These critters are actually often considered beneficial to the composting process because their feces contain crucial microbes that assist in breaking down organic material.

Therefore, our reader shouldn’t worry about getting rid of these beetles in his compost bin. To make sure the beetle population doesn’t get out of hand, our reader should keep appropriate moisture levels, and shred the compost matter before placing it in the bin.

To summarize, a reader discovered some small black bugs in his vermicompost. We informed him that these are beetles, but that they are not harmful to his composting environment.

Summary

Article Name

Black Beetles Found in Vermicomposter

Description

A reader just contacted us about some black insects he found in his vermicomposter. He wonders what they are, if they are harmful to his composting worms, and how he can safely remove them.

Author

Dori Franklin