Better Vermicomposting - With Isopods
Overview
Virtually everyone involved in worm composting (or really, composting in general) is at least vaguely familiar with isopods. They tend to be fairly common in composting systems, especially outdoors, yet they are often mostly ignored, or worse, viewed with disdain. What many (if not most) people don't realize is that they can be powerful composting allies, especially when you make a real effort to cater to their needs and preferences!
I created this page to shed some light on the topic of working with isopods to improve your worm composting efforts!
Quick Facts
Although often referred to as "bugs", isopods are actually crustaceans (Class Malacostraca), much more closely related to crabs and lobsters than to insects!
There are about 10,000 known species worldwide, but approximately half of those live in aquatic environments.
On land, they play an important role in the breakdown of organic matter, especially tougher, high C:N "browns".
Isopods are a popular "clean up crew" organism for those who keep terrariums/vivariums - and a popular live food organism for reptiles/amphibians/bird keepers (among others).
Unlike composting worms, isopods don't deposit eggs/cocoons. They carry their fertilized eggs in a brood pouch ("marsupium") where they develop and are eventually release as miniature versions of the adults.
Some species are able to reproduce via parthenogenisis - an asexual form of reproduction that can result in even more rapid population growth.
Many people associate "rolly polly" with "isopod" - but there are likely far more isopods that can't roll up in a ball than can! (The technical term for this ability is "conglobation", in case you're looking for a fun dinner party conversation starter!)
This purdy 'pod is known as a "Dairy Cow" (a popular variant of Porcellio laevis)
Vermicomposting - the "Normal" Way
One of the most common ways people jump into the (wonderful) world of worm composting is by starting up some form of "worm bin". Very often, these are fairly small in size and made of plastic.
These bins tend to retain moisture really well and have somewhat limited airflow. On the positive side, when well-managed, the worms tend to do just fine and you can end up with some fairly decent vermicompost.
The problem, though, is that they are often overfed with water-rich food scraps, and they end up swampy, and overrun with less desireable organisms like fruit flies and mites. This not only reduces the enjoyment of the process, but it slows everything down and often results in a very inferior end product.
There are of course plenty of ways to improve your vermicomposting! I've been preaching about the value of excellent aeration, using more natural (including "living") materials, and opting for less-fancy - yet, ironically, often more effective - systems.
But, my deep dive into the world of isopods has revealed an entirely new perspective on "optimized vermicomposting"!
A Reese Peanut Butter Cup Connection?
For decades I've been immersed in this weird and wacky world of worm composting, where amazing people are doing all sorts of fun and interesting things with worms (and I like to think I've been one of them).
What I didn't really realize (until recently) is that there is this whole entire "other world" of people interested in keeping isopods - as pets, to sell for profit, as "clean up crew" organisms in terrestrial tanks...you name it.
In a lot of ways - on average - these two worlds are pretty clueless about one another! A lot of isopod people are pretty clueless about how composting worms can benefit what they are doing. A lot of worm people are similarly clueless about the full potential of what isopods can do for them.
Seeing all the potential from both sides, I was reminded of a cheesy commercial from my childhood!
Yep, I am in fact that old! lol
What Isopods Can Do For Worms
Mix, fragment, aerate the habitat.
Deposit their own "wastes" that can serve as a food source.
Take care of tougher "browns" the worms aren't really designed to process, along with other materials worms can't do much with.
They can work in much drier conditions than the worms are capable of (meaning that even drier materials can end up getting processed)
Just generally, the preferences and requirements of isopods can also improve the vermicomposting process. You are using a system with (usually) much better airflow, a wider diversity of natural materials, additional calcium/mineral supplementation, reduced load of food wastes, far less chance of anaerobic conditions.
This is still speculation, but my hunch is that combining isopods and worms in an intentional way can lead to a higher quality end product. Apart from the more optimized (for effective vermicast production) conditions, you've got a wider diversity of feedstock, thus more than likely a wider diversity of microbes and beneficial compounds in the final product.
What Worms Can Do For Isopods
Take care of waste materials (preventing build-up and toxic conditions)
Provide the isopods with a rich "bio-active" (full of life) habitat and food source (a lot of isopod keepers actually buy castings to add to their systems).
Help them process water- and nutrient-rich waste materials more easily (less chance they will rot and cause issues).
Help to ensure that there will always be a damp zone (and adequate humidity) in the system.
In a lot of ways the worms can serve as a sort of "clean-up crew" for the isopods! For actual isopods keepers, this can help to extend the life of their systems (i.e. amount of time before a system reset is needed) quite a bit.
Iso-Worm Castings
What's funny is that I've been vermicomposting since early 2000 (yep, a looong time), yet my interest in worm castings (aka vermicompost / vermicast) has always been been secondary to my interest in the animals involved and the process as a whole.
With this new "iso-worm" direction, I'm definitely still fascinated with the critters (as you can likely tell), but the difference is that I've been focusing on the end product a lot more than I normally would! What's surpsing to me, is that there really doesn't seem to be very much in the way of information online about the use of isopod castings - certainly nothing remotely close to worm castings! Even millipede poop seems to get more coverage!
I have a hunch that the combination of isopod and composting worm activity could result in a form of castings/compost with some unique properties and benefits. Bare minimum, I think it should be at least as good as quality vermicast. The diversity of materials (and more significant input of natural "browns"), along with the highly aerobic conditions, and of course the usual "magic" of the worms just feel like a pretty special combination to me.
At the time of creating this page, I've been in the process of starting to harvest and test out this material. One thing I can say for sure is that it looks and smells amazing - and it screens beautifully.
Stay tuned for more updates on this front!
The Isopod Success Playbook
My early successes with isopods came about "accidentally" for the most part. I had some very neglected worm bins that had been loaded up with fall leaves just for the sake of giving the worms something to feed on over time. The bins were sitting in a warm location, mostly undisturbed for weeks on end.
It wasn't until more recently - when I finally did a deep dive into the isopod keeping hobby (yep, this is actually a thing) - that I got a good handle on the full range of factors that can play a key role in isopod success.
Excellent Airflow - I always recommend really good airflow for successful vermicomposting, but for isopods this is a factor that's even more important. Although you won't likely see this recommended in the isopod keeping world, I suggest keeping them in lidless systems (loose covers can still be valuable; and this assumes you aren't working with a talented climbing species). If you are using fully enclosed bins, it's best to use actual vents (not just small holes).
Lots of Natural "Browns" - Isopods absolutely love dead (brown) leaves, and various woody materials such as dead tree bark (if it has lichen on it - even better). The same sort of stuff you find on a forest floor. More-processed "browns" like corrugated cardboard and (ideally, brown) paper should get processed over time, but isopods tend to wait until they've aged quite a bit (likely when they've become colonized by microbes) before actively feeding on them.
Dry Zones / Damp Zones / Humidty - Isopods can seem like little divas when it comes to their moisture preferences - and this is likely one of the big factors that results in limited success for a lot of people. You need to provide a high-humidity environment overall, but there (usually) needs to be distinctly dry (by vermicomposting standards), and distinctly damp areas available to them. The good news is that it sounds a lot more complicated than it really is!
Warmth - One of my early surprises was seeing just how well isopods thrive in really warm systems. All my life I've associated them with cool-ish environments - under logs, in the bottom of leaf piles etc. For most common, temperate varieties this really just translates into keeping them in the same optimal range as for composting worms (20-30 C / 68-86 F ish). Like worms, many of the ones I recommend working with do just fine when temps are somewhat cooler as well (so don't worry too much about getting this exactly right).
Calcium Source - Isopods have a pretty substantial exoskeleton to maintain (some varieties more than others), and calcium plays an important role in that. My hunch is that low calcium levels in a system is another very common reason for isopods not really becoming super abundant.
Protein Source - This one was a big surprise for me. I've always thought of isopods as being exclusively consumers of dead plant matter - but they actually do need protein-rich foods (to reach their maximum potential) as well. While you can add various forms of meat protein (in moderation), the good news is that plant-based protein sources like legumes are well-received as well.
Water-Rich Foods - This one is (surprisingly enough) much more of a low-key "requirement" for isopods, but definitely very helpful, especially when you get composting worms involved! There are a variety of typical fruit/veggie wastes they will actively feed on, and - unlike worms - they literally have the ability to munch on them, regardless of the level of decomposition. One major favorite seems to be basically anything from the cucumber family - but there is a wide array of other options. Apart from offering some additional nutrition, these can also serve as an important slow-release moisture reserve in your system - and with worms in the mix, there is a lot less concern about "overfeeding" (but it still should be be less than what gets added to a "normal" worm bin).
Places to Hide - This one goes hand in hand with the "lots of natural 'browns'" recommendation. Apart from things like leaf litter that they can actively feed on, it is highly valuable to include some bigger, bulkier, more solid "browns" that the isopods can actually hide under as well. Prime examples include chunks of wood (ideally older, semi rotten stuff), dead bark (this is amazing), even things like avacado rinds and coconut shells. Make no mistake, they will gnaw on these and break them totally down over time (effectively "eating themselves out of house and home"! lol), so be prepared to add replacements as well
A Certain Amount of Neglect - Similar to composting worms (but likely even more so), isopods are at their best when you mostly leave them alone. Don't let this discourage you, though. Similar to Red Worms, there are definitely common varieties that are pretty tolerant of being disturbed a fair amount. Ask me how I know! ;-)
What Makes Isopods "Fun"
I've been a lifelong biology geek and nature nut, so I'll admit that my opinion is pretty biased. Nonetheless, I will say that this new isopod focus has helped to make vermicomposting even more fun for me!
Here are some reasons why:
So Many Varieties - Unlike composting worms, there are countless isopod varieties to choose from.
Easy to Find - Not only are there countless varieties, but there are many you can find in great abundance in your local area.
Much More Visible - Isopods do enjoy their privacy, but they are still much more mobile than worms, and a lot less bothered by light. So, it's much easier to observe them (especially if you house them in some form of clear tank).
Different Feeding Habits - Composting worms are great for processing a lot of different organic wastes, but isopods open up a whole new world of possibilities (especially when you start playing around with more voracious varieties). I know I talk about it a lot, but just the fact that they are so good at breaking down very resistant "browns" (no small feat) seems amazing to me.
Their "Live Food" Potential - Isopods are highly regarded in the terrarium/vivarium keeping world, not only for their talents as "clean-up crew" all stars, but also as live food organisms for reptiles and amphibians (among others). My son regularly feeds them to his pet bass, and I've been chatting with people about the exciting possibility of certain types being a great supplemental food for poultry and other foul.
Quirky Business Possibilities - If you happen to be entrepreneurial like me, you might be interested in the business possibilities associated with isopods. It is amazing just how much $$ some varieties can be sold for! Even my "Dairy Cow" isopods (widely available for sale, and easy to raise) cost me more than $1 each (but I now have countless more than I started with)! Apart from isopods themselves, there are also a wide range of accessories and supplies that can be sold (e.g. have you ever bought a box of fall leaves for $50?...nope I didn't think so - but some people have! lol)
Ready to Have More Fun With Isopods?
If this is a topic that seems exciting, or even mildly interesting, please consider signing up for my e-mail list (technically a sub-list of the "Compost Guy" e-mail list). It's easy, and breezy and fabulously free of charge! lol
I look forward to seeing you on the inside!
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Some Common Varieties of Isopods
Apart from spending some time getting familiar with the topic, one of the first things I recommend is doing a little survey of your yard (or nearby green space) to see what sorts of "wild type", local isopod varieties you can find.
There are lots of fun varieties you can raise indoors as a hobby (etc), but if you want to get serious about actually using them for waste processing, I strongly urge you to only work with local varieties (unless you exclusively plan to use your compost indoors).
What's great is that there a lots of cool and interesting (and talented) varieties available in most locations! Below is the start of an ID guide for helping you recognize some of the really common ones. Once you start collecting - please take pictures and send them in! I can help you identify most of the usual suspects, and can likely at least help you narrow down possibilities for others.
Armadillidium vulgare (common "rolly polly", "basketball bug")
This is undoubtedly one of the most common varieties of isopods in the world, and very often the one that people think of instantly when they see/hear the term "isopod". These can be a fun variety to work with, but I myself have had mixed success with them. I also feel they don't offer nearly the same "live food" potential as some of the other common varieties included here, since they have a much thicker, armor-like exoskeleton. Solid gray is a common color, but these guys can definitely have some interesting variations, so I recommend using the body shape (and ability to roll into a ball) as a primary indentifier.
Oniscus asellus (Common / Skirted Woodlouse)
This is another very common variety, especially in temperate regions around the world. It bears some resemblence to Porcellio scaber (see next one), but is actually very easy to distinguish once you get the hang of it. It tends to be somewhat flatter and wider, with a smoother exoskeleton. It also has some pretty distinctive coloration(e.g. the lighter "skirt" around the outside) as well. I've read that these isopods prefer somewhat cooler temps - and they may reproduce more slowly than P. Scaber, so that may make them not quite as promising a choice.
Porcellio scaber (Rough Woodlouse)
This is the variety that really got things rolling for me in terms of having success with isopods - and by far and away it's the one I have the biggest population of. Like the others listed above, these are very common in many parts of the world, and I highly recommend them if you're able to find them in your local area. One of their key features is a somewhat dull (typically gray-ish) coloration, and the noticeably rough texture of their exoskeleton. If you find an isopod that has a shine to it, you can likely rule these guys out. In my experience, this is an isopod with serious breeding and feeding potential.
Philoscia muscorum (Striped / Fast Woodlouse)
This is a species I am keenly interested in. I seem to find them everywhere, including a lot of them in my backyard composters. I have a sneaking suspicion that they could be a good candidate for composting (with Red Worms) - something I am testing out in one of my "Iso-Bucket" systems. They are very distinct in appearance - looking a lot more like an insect than any of the other common local varieties I've found. They have an obvious shine to them, and a mottled brownish coloration. The dark head reminds me of a big eye when I see them (like a cyclops lol). As one of their common names suggests, they are also pretty fast moving.
Porcellio spinicornis (Brickwork Woodlouse)
This is another one I'm wanting to experiment with. They are quite common, and based on the Porcellio genus, my hunch is that they could do quite well in the sort of hybrid systems I've been using. I find their appearance is almost like a combination of P. scaber and O. asellus (but they look more like the latter), which unfortunately has the potential to lead to some misidentification. They do tend to be thinner than O. asellus, and the yellow spots down their backs tend to be quite distinct.
Stay tuned! More content to come!
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