Too Many Flies In Compost: Causes And How To Combat Them?

What Made The Flies In Compost?

Worried about too many flies in compost? If you don’t build your compost pile properly, you may end up with lots of flies around it. If it stinks and it’s full of maggots then you are doing it wrong. Thus, certain types of flies are known to transmit many human diseases, so keeping them around compost is not only annoying, but it’s also detrimental to you and your family’s health. While often you don’t want them as your guests, there are certain situations where certain species should shine. Use the right fly species, and your compost should be one of them. You can usually find them near rotting food. They are decomposers and thus help microbes speed up the process of breaking down organic matter.

On the other hand, with proper composting, you shouldn’t see too much of them. In fact, good management of your compost pile is not only a great way to create more black gold for your garden, but it’s also the best way to keep these unwelcome insects to a minimum in your compost. Compost is an excellent way to protect the environment and enrich your garden, protecting your plants from drought or frost by enriching the soil. Don’t let these flies stop you from doing your part for a healthier, greener planet!

Types Of Flies In Compost?

Vinegar Flies

The vinegar fly is a tiny species that is often confused with the fruit fly, but they are not the same species in the traditional sense. Instead of feeding on the fruit itself, they are attracted to the yeast associated with rotting and fermenting fruit. They are harmless and their larvae feed on microbes. When maggots process these microbes, they feed the bacteria to aid the decomposition process.

House Flies

Houseflies are disgusting little animals that carry disease due to the hair on their legs. These are the types of flies and maggots you want to keep away from your compost bin. One or two is no problem. This is the intrusion you want to avoid. To keep houseflies away from your pile, simply bury your leftovers in the lower part of the compost pile or cover them with a brown cloth.

Fruit Flies

As mentioned earlier, these vinegar flies are very similar. However, instead of feeding on the yeast and fermented juices of rotting fruit, they feed directly on the fruit. While fruit flies are annoying, they are relatively harmless. Their maggots also feed on microbes in the compost, feeding on bacteria after processing. While they may not be the most useful species, they are certainly not the worst insects.

Soldier Flies

These are the most useful for your compost, but they also look the scariest of all flies.
Soldier flies look a lot like wasps. Maggots are big, brown, scaly things that can easily leave the least squeamish person wondering what kind of creature has invaded their compost bin. As gross as these things look, maggots are known to be good at breaking down organic matter. Additionally, they inoculate the compost with beneficial bacteria.

How To Address Fly Infested Compost Bin?

• Bury Rotten Fruits And Vegetables: Instead of placing rotting fruits and veggies on the surface of the compost pile, bury them in the compost so the females can’t lay eggs in it and multiply. When manure and rotting vegetables are off the ground, flies can’t easily access them.

• Frequently Turning Your Bin: Start by turning the pile daily and raking it away. If brown and green are mixed together, it will speed up the breakdown process and help protect the green litter from flies. Continue mixing these during the addition of waste and agitation to break down. Do this until the larvae die and the flies move on.

• Emphasize Brown Waste: Cover with brown scrap after adding green scrap. Even if the lid is closed most of the time, do not expose the green waste to the air. Always bury green or damp ingredients with brown ones covered with a layer of soil.

• Covering Your Bin: The first and best way to keep flies away from your compost is to make sure the lid on your compost bin is good and tight. Do not open the trash bin while gradually filling it. Close it firmly after each addition. This cuts off access to compost.

• Wrap Green Waste In Brown Waste: You can also try wrapping green materials in brown materials, such as newspaper or compostable food wrapping paper. This packaging keeps flies out of fresh green waste.

• Raise The pH level: Try increasing the pH of the compost. You can do this by adding 1 C lime to 25 cu. feet of compost, pine needles, or citrus peel. This will make the pH of the plant too high. Make sure you use a tester to test the pH.

Takeaways

Having annoying flies on your compost can be just as detrimental to your composting efforts as it is to your overall regimen. These nasty little bugs, whose eggs spawn hundreds or thousands of maggots, are not the kind of bugs you should see around your compost pile. If you do it right, at least not. Flies are not going to hurt your compost, but they may be a sign that your balance of the materials is off. One or two is no problem. It is the intrusion you want to avoid. While some flies are useful, pest infestations can still be a nuisance.

Moreover, compost is great for your garden, but you have to do it right. There is only a more efficient way to keep it going. Each composting method has advantages and disadvantages. From lack of space to bad smells, and pest infestations. Indeed, composting isn’t easy. The problem is that only a few have the perfect conditions to make the ideal compost. However, by managing it correctly you can prevent problems like pest infestations to stop you from creating a black gold for your garden. Follow the tips above and keep going!