A traditional bin has various things that you would find living in it right from the smallest creatures to the larger ones. The creatures are popularly called macro-organisms they are extremely beneficial to the composting pile because they break it down physically by tearing and chewing upon them, they also suck the materials and make them smaller pieces. These materials are then excreted by these organisms making it digestible for all the microorganisms also called microbes that digest the excrement.
If you’re in search of compost creatures we always recommend using a compost bin that is cold because the heat that it generates initially is not an environment that is friendly for many creatures. The moment the pile cools down it reaches the maturing stage becoming friendly to plenty of bugs.
What you would find in the bin can be ossified into three groups; primary, secondary & tertiary. This is purely based on what these creatures consume. In the primary segment, the consumers are known as microorganisms, they usually consume organic residues. In the second segment, the creatures here consume the primary segment consumers, and finally, the tertiary creatures consume the secondary ones. Look at the bifurcation that I have made below and it will help you understand it better.
| Level 1 – primary | Level 2 – secondary | Level 3 – tertiary |
| They consume organic residues | They consume primary creatures, from level 1 | They consume secondary creatures from level 2 |
| They include microbes like actinomycetes, fungi, bacteria, white worms, pillbugs, woodlice, slugs, snails, millipedes, fruit flies, earthworms mites, and nematodes | These creatures include soil flatworms, rotifers, protozoa, nematodes, winged beetles, mites, and springtail | These creatures include pseudoscorpions, predatory mites, centipedes, Rove beetles, earwigs, and ants |
If the soil consists of microplastic it will cause a significant amount of damage to the soil and the creatures in it, maintaining the fertility will then become difficult. Nematodes, microarthropod, springtails, roundworms and might auto threat that arises from sending basic ways that are oil-based. It poses a serious threat to the food web of the soil.
These are some of the smaller creatures that you would find in your compost pile however, there is various other wildlife that includes grass snakes, slow worms, newt, toads, and frogs that can also find their way in the heap. Toads and frogs are occasional visitors that tend to use the heap to hibernate in the winter therefore you must be careful if you plan to turn the pile.
Slow worms make a meal from slugs and your compost pile offers an excellent lunch spot especially if the pile is dry. When it comes to grass snakes at times you would find that they have laid their eggs within the bin. So, when you dig into your compost pile and you come across their eggs that are leathery, I recommend that you start another heap and avoid disturbing these eggs until summer.
Well guys this is all for this article and I do hope you have received much clarity in understanding what can be found in a compost bin. Thanks for stopping by.