Outdoor worm bins are perfect environments for soldier fly larvae to develop, resulting in the appearance of maggots in vermicompost. Not every grower thinks of maggots as a benefit to composts. But let's look into why you have so many and how to strike that much needed balance. To ensure that maggots are working for you, and not depleting your pile, you have to control their numbers. Well, let's answer that and then get into why they're in there in the first place. Maggots in Compost Good Or Bad? However, your compost needs steady airflow. and crank up the browns until you don’t notice them anymore. Their incessant eating at this stage helps reduce the size of the compost pile and accelerates the process. At the larval stage, these maggots are priceless. The browns topped with a layer of soil helps to keep the food material where the maggots cannot find them easily. Lime usually dries out the maggots and causes them to die of water pressure deficiency. A couple of days into home composting, and you will spot these wiggly creatures in your compost bin. Does A Home Composter Take Up Too Much Space? I try to aerate occasionally but the compost is so dense and compacted that it's really really difficult to stir around so that the bottom gets air. First, attach fine screens to your air holes, no matter where they are, and mend any gaps all the way around. A Small Beginning to a Long Relationship…. We understand that they take some getting used to and they could leave you feeling repulsed … As long as the environment is warm and comfortable, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) will process compost faster for you in a matter of days. The main culprit is usually having a lot of green waste and other vegetable matter with high water content. The BSF maggots or larvae help in breaking down the organic matter at a remarkable speed – even faster than earthworms! Like any good mama, females seek out nutrient-rich environments to lay eggs, and what environment is more nutrient-rich that an active compost pile? If you’ve come across these writhing wiggly guys in your bin, you’ve probably asked yourself: is a term given to the larval stage of a fly. We proudly make in India, for India. She loves the science of decomposition and teaching the next generation about the value of self-sustenance through nurturing nature. For the writhing, wiggly larvae lovers among us, the sudden appearance of maggots is great news because they can be an incredibly beneficial guest in your pile. Then pour in a mixture of hot water and a half-full cup of hydrogen peroxide to instantly kill them. You will find flies in your compost because it's filled with food wastes, which is their natural food. While they eat, they grow and exude chemicals that discourage other flies from helping themselves to your compost. Potworms are small white worms commonly found in soil. How to Start a Food Forest – The Ultimate Low-Maintenance Garden, How to Choose and Care For a Living Christmas Tree, Growing Berries: How to Plant a Berry Patch (Strawberries, Blueberries, etc. Maggots, or compost-dwelling soldier fly larvae, breed in compost bins because they thrive on the nitrogen-rich products of the decaying process that produces good compost fertilizer. I use a thick plastic compost bin with a lid (small holes on side for aeration) - purchased not made myself. However, not all flies’ larvae are called maggots. Turning your compost pile regularly will prevent the creation of moisture pockets where maggots thrive. Or their presence simply derails the progress of your compost. For many, these pests in vermicompost have come to be associated with filth and disease, but the truth is that many are complementary to your worm bin. How to Get Rid of Maggots in Your Compost. Daily Dump Designs Your E-waste Solutions! You can also cover the compost bin with a mesh screen for an extra layer of protection. Also known as “the window fly” because it has a transparent section at its abdominal region, the Black Soldier Fly is native to Latin America. This is a ratio you have to feel out over time, you can't actually visually gauge this balance. Disclosure. Now since it is summer there a ALOT in there. But, did you know that you can get rid of them completely? I have developed enough interest regarding plants that these things do not bore me anymore; instead this has become my passion. It is said that they can eat up 95% of a household’s wet waste! But you might still want to get rid of them because you either; Maggots can be eliminated from your compost with very little effort. Gardening When You Don’t Really Know How! As you can imagine, I eventually discovered maggots in the compost bin (my other one has a screen keeping flying insects out of it's air window). bad for compost because they devour a lot of valuable nutrients along the way. What are the tiny white worms in my compost? The BSF maggots or larvae help in breaking down the organic matter at a remarkable speed – even faster than earthworms! In fact they help to keep away the housefly and other flies. Nowadays, you will find electric outdoor flytraps that can help you to trap the flies and get rid of them. I also wanted to try one out in the open air, so I formed a composter bin out of chicken wire so it'd get maximum air flow and I could turn it with a pitch fork. Add more brown material and less greens, meaning more leaves, grass, newspapers and less vegetables. Lots of stirring (air) and adding Remix powder (dry component) will reduce their numbers. The most common maggot that you’ll find in your compost is the larvae of the common Black Soldier Fly, hermetia illucens. Maggots in Vermicompost Keeping a worm bin can force you to come to terms with the varied creatures that help break down living tissues. These larvae are so good at composting there's actually entire industries surrounding BSFL farming, like grub composting, worm farming, and even using them as pet food. We're talking dried leaves, dead grass clippings, shredded newspaper, wood chips, hay, and other carbon heavy materials. The Black Soldier Fly Maggots are prolific creatures that appear in all compost heaps – they are nature’s scavengers and good for composting. These larvae are a great source of protein and nutrients for many animals, which is why they’re farmed and sold in pet stores. Yes, to a degree. Cover them with brown layers. To effectively get rid of maggots, you need to understand why they are in your compost in the first place. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Vermicompost with maggots of any type is almost certainly too wet, so the first thing you’ll want to do is dry out the top of the bin. Be aware that this method will make it more difficult for the good microbes to do their job. Looking like tiny, white, wriggling worms, fruit fly maggots are an unsightly but harmless nuisance in worm composting bins. If you follow the above tips, you can ensure that your compost bin is free from these pesky maggots. I imagine your story is similar to mine. The environment in your compost is moist, warm, and potentially safer than outside. No. - Designed by Thrive Themes | Powered by WordPress, www.TinyPlantation.com is a participant in the, www.TinyPlantation.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Vermicomposting is a great way to put your kitchen scraps to work growing compost worms and creating lots of castings for your garden.Although it seems like a straightforward pursuit, all isn’t as it appears with vermicomposting. People talk about trying to find a balance between "greens" and "browns," where browns would include dry vegetables like potatoes, hay, some wood chips, etc. It’s tempting to empty the whole mower catcher in, but you have to layer brown in-between loads of cut grass. If you find this article useful and informative, you can share it with your family and friends. (& How to Use Each), 28 Apartment Garden Ideas That Will Activate Your Green Thumb, How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats - Quickly & Permanently. 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