Return of the Slime Mold -- Part II

The slime mold is not a plant or animal; it is classified as a Protist simply because no other definition fits. Today, I was able to m

Return of the Slime Mold -- Part II

The creature is not a plant or animal; it is classified as a Protist simply because no other definition fits. Today, I was able to make a video of its movement.

After my first article, the slime mold disappeared from my Aerobin composter. Did it die, or was it shy? I don’t know why. One day, it was there, and the next day, it was gone.

The environment within the Aerobin is constantly in flux. Ideally, it should be a hot mess. As the organic matter decomposes, heat is released and trapped by the Aerobin's insulated walls, speeding up the decomposition. There have been times when I open the composter, and it feels like a warm oven. That is good.

But composting in the Aerobin is like starting a fire. You start with kindling, get a flame, and add small amounts of fuel to the fire, trying not to smother flames. Okay, that is a terrible analogy, but the point is that sometimes my composter’s flame goes out. I open the lid, and a thousand fruit flies emerge at the top of a cool, heaving mess of slugs, millipedes, and worms. Read more on Medium