Glossary

Anaerobic: An undesirable process of decay that occurs when insufficient oxygen is present, which usually generates a foul smell in your worm bin. This may be harmful to composting worms, if it is pervasive.

Bedding: Moist material in which can help maintain fluffy and oxygenated surroundings in which the worms live and feed.

BSF: The adult form of the Black Soldier Fly. Harmless, but some find it frightening. See BSFL.

BSFL: Black Soldier Fly Larva. A maggot, used by some as an alternative to earthworms in composting. May arrive in a composting bin uninvited.

EA: Eisenia andrei - commonly known as red worm, red wiggler, red wriggler. Very closely related to EF, and difficult to distinguish from that species; it is a more uniform and darker red, and has a more subtle striping pattern than the "tiger stripe" for which EF is known.

EE: Eudrilus eugeniae, commonly known as the African Nightcrawler (ANC). A voracious, but temperature-sensitive, tropical earthworm.

EF: Eisenia fetida - commonly known as tiger worm, brandling worm; also (like EA), red worm, red wriggler, red wiggler. With its close relative EA, this is the most commonly used worm for vermicomposting in the US. Tolerant of large changes in temperature and pH.

EH: Eisenia hortensis (European Nightcrawler). Prefers conditions similar to those enjoyed by Eisenia fetida, but perhaps wetter.

Fungus Gnat: A tiny black fly; this is a commonly seen inhabitant of compost bins, fond of molds and mildews. Highly annoying indoors, though probably harmless.

Isopods: Pillbugs and sowbugs. Though they walk on land and look like insects, these are actually gill-breathing crustaceans. Isopods are harmless, or possibly even beneficial, compost bin denizens that favor leaves and twigs.

Land Planarian: Various species of terrestrial flatworm, typically from 3 to 9 inches long, with stripes running lengthwise down the body, and with a lobed head reminiscent of that of a hammerhead shark's. These are invasive pests in the USA. Voracious ibs predators of earthworms, they are evil incarnate to the vermicomposter. Do not kill these by cutting up in pieces, as pieces can regenerate into complete, independent flatworms; kill by drying, heat, or maybe launching them into space.

Leachate: The liquid in the drain bin (vegetable matter is 85-90% water). Pour into the garden, but not directly on plants. Many people incorrectly refer to this as worm tea.

Mites: Tiny, but numerous, natural denizens of a composting bin. Two common varieties are the White Mite and the Red Mite. The mites found in composting bins are not harmful to garden plants.

PE: Perionyx excavatus. Indian (or Malaysian) Blue Worms. Smaller than EF and not suitable for fishing bait. Reproduce rapidly and consume OM rapidly. These worms don't tolerate cold temperatures, but work well in the southern parts of the US and in tropical regions.

Pot Worm: Tiny white worms that may inhabit extra moist and slightly acidic worm bins. Also called White Worms. Not themselves harmful, but their appearance in very large numbers may indicate overfeeding, especially with acidic or starchy foods.

Red Mite: These rust-colored or brown moving specks are predators of the annoying Fungus Gnat, and reportedly also eat fungus itself. No threat to worms, these self-invited guests should be welcomed.

Springtails: Very small, white, cigar-shaped, insect-like creatures capable of short jumps. These are harmless decomposers, naturally found in compost bins.

Stackable bin: An extrapolation from the Rubbermaid bin style. Multiple bins are stacked, with holes drilled in the floor of each. Feeding is done at top, with older compost in the lower bins. Worms are intended to migrate upwards towards the food, leaving the oldest compost, at the bottom, hopefully devoid of worms for easy harvesting.

UCG: Used coffee grounds. Opinions vary as to whether this is good worm food, or merely acceptable.

VC: Vermicast or vermicompost. Although these are technically not the same thing, the acronym is frequently applied to both.

VCT: Vermicompost Tea or Worm tea, a liquid with a very high concentration of beneficial microbes made from steeping vermicompost in water with air bubbling through it for a day or two.

Vermicompost: What's usually harvested from a bin. Includes vermicast (pure worm poop) plus small bits of organic matter. These are often bits of bedding that clumped together and didn't get completely processed. To get vermicast, businesses strain the vermicompost and/or let the worms process it twice.

Vermiponics: A somewhat automated cyclic system in which plants grow in a particle-based medium, such as gravel or clay pellets, flooded with water enriched with nutrients from the process of vermicomposting.

White Mites: Tiny, round, yellowish white creatures that live on the compost surface. These are decomposers that particularly favor wet food like melons. A normal sight in the bin, but a huge population of these indicates overfeeding.