Big clumps of worms in compost (especially around the lid)

Hi

I opened my compost bin (plastic type) the other day and there were huge amounts of worms congregated on the inside of the lid. So of them were in big clumps - the size of a fist. I'd estimate in total there were maybe 6 large handfuls of worms.

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera to hand that day. I went back a few days later and there were a lot less, just the one large clump, so I took a photo of that and will attach below. But bear in mind this is maybe 15-20% of what was there on the previous visit.

I should add that this is a resting / full bin and nothing had been added for a month or two. I do get worms around the lid on my "in progress" bin, but nowhere near to that extent

So...

Is such a huge amount of worms normal?

Why are they all hanging around the lid like that?

Does any of it tell me something about what I'm doing right or wrong with my compost?

Many thanks

 

Mine is often like that too. I think it gets too warm for them. A lot of my worms escape out of the ventilation holes and fall down into the insulating jacket. And then the foxes smell them and dig at the jacket, which is now in shreds ...

 

Animals only do what will benefit them, and your worms have found a nice place to live for the winter. They will, as Escarpment says, do what is needed to make life more comfy if that is what they need. Be happy that your garden is a source of happy earthworms. It’s a good sign.

 

Yes, agree with @Escarpment and @Tidemark. The best compost I ever made was in a big black plastic compost bin and it was always teeming with earthworms. I wasn't very good at adding green and brown material in the right sort of quantities either, but the compost was lovely crumbly and black - the sort that I would pay good money for!

 

Mine is also full of woodlice and those big leopard slugs. All doing a great job, my compost has been superb this year.

 

Oh I do like those leopard slugs. So handsome and so useful - the gardener’s friend!

 

They eat other slugs don't they?!

 

They are brandlings not earthworms as such and mostly only live in organic matter.

Maybe the compost is heating up, which I doubt they will like, and are trying to get out of the lid to cooler temperatures.

 

It is strange about the term Brandlings though, because they do live in the earth don't they?!

 

They call them tiger worms round here. Watch out! Here come the tiger worms!

 

They are a different worm to the ones you find in your lawn.

 

So they say, not seen it happening yet, but my problems are mostly snails.

 

Same with me, @pete. Maybe they eat snails too? I can hope...

 

The congregation of brandlings (or Tiger worms, a similar species)above compost is generally due to the compost being too wet, rather than too hot. (they know heat rises!) A simple expedient is to place a handful of hay or similar on the upper layer of the compost as a retreat. This is the best way to transfer stocks of worms(which will have multiplied )in to a new container for the next batch of compost. If you have a 'worm farm' type container, remember to drain it regularly; you can use this 'vermitea' as a plant stimulus , as a primer to boost soil organism populations in pots, beds and compost heaps prior to spreading. It is also used to soak bio-char before spreading.