Flies in compost are not dangerous, but they are annoying, especially if the compost is close to the house. The problem mainly occurs with thermal composters and compost in the bucket. How do you control flies in compost and how do you prevent an infestation?
How can I control and prevent flies in compost?
To combat flies in compost, you should reapply the compost, add dry and wet materials alternately and ensure that food scraps are disposed of correctly. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to mix different compost materials and use ecological odor control agents.
Fighting flies in compost
If you discover a lot of flies in your composter, you don't have much choice but to refill the compost.
To do this, remove the hood of the composter and place it next to its previous location. Then re-layer the compost material by adding moist and dry materials alternately.
If no dry materials are available, you can add plain printed newspaper, cardboard, torn egg cartons or some bentonite between the individual layers.
Compost is too moist or incorrectly stocked
A few flies can be found on every compost, whether in the compost heap outdoors or in the composter next to the terrace. If the infestation is very severe, this is a sign that the compost is too wet and / or things have been thrown away that do not belong in the compost.
The compost always has to be a little moist in order to provide a good location for the beneficial insects. However, excessive moisture leads to the formation of rot and thus attracts flies.
Disposing of cooked food leftovers and especially meat products is also a cause of a severe infestation with flies and their maggots.
How to prevent flies in compost
When filling the composter, make sure that you mix as many different compost materials together as possible. Dry and moist substances should be filled alternately. You can add the following materials between the usually very damp kitchen waste or grass clippings:
- newsprint
- Egg cartons
- Bark mulch
- Leaves
- Wood chips
Damp compost not only attracts flies, but also starts to smell. To prevent unpleasant odors, there are ecological pesticides available in stores (€14.00 on Amazon) that break down odors and prevent flies from laying eggs.
Tip
Unlike flies, woodlice are definitely desirable in compost. They decompose coarse compost components and thus make a decisive contribution to the creation of good humus.
