It can be frustrating to deal with fruit flies in compost piles. These easy tricks will substantially reduce their population.
The Buzz on Getting Rid of Flies in Compost
Nothing ruins the joy of composting quite like opening your bin or pile to find it swarming with pesky flies. While a few flies here and there are harmless, a major infestation can quickly get out of hand. So how do you nip the problem in the bud and get back to smooth composting? With the right techniques, you can banish those bothersome bugs for good.
In this article we’ll cover
- What attracts flies to compost
- Preventing flies before they become a nuisance
- Effective remedies to eliminate existing fly infestations
- Natural repellents to deter flies from your compost
- When flies can actually benefit compost
Arm yourself with the knowledge below to declare war on compost flies!
What Attracts Flies to Compost?
Flies are drawn to compost bins and piles for several reasons:
-
Decaying organic matter provides food for flies and their larvae. Materials like rotting fruit and vegetables, dead animals, and dog or cat feces are irresistible to flies.
-
Warm, moist conditions are ideal breeding grounds for flies to lay eggs which hatch into maggots.
-
Stagnant, anaerobic compost lacks airflow and emits ammonia gases that attract flies.
-
Smells given off by improperly made compost act like irresistible fly magnets.
The main culprits are house flies, blue bottle flies, and fruit flies that invade compost looking for the perfect nursery and snack bar.
Preventing Fly Infestations in Compost
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to keeping flies away from compost:
-
Bury food scraps under 10-12 inches of compost so flies can’t access them.
-
Turn and aerate compost regularly to prevent anaerobic conditions.
-
Monitor moisture and add dry materials like leaves if compost gets too wet.
-
Use fine mesh to cover open bins and block access points.
-
Place a layer of straw or sawdust over compost to mask smells.
-
Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs that prey on fly larvae.
-
Apply natural repellents around the compost area.
With proper compost maintenance, you can avoid becoming a fly B&B!
Eliminating Fly Infestations in Compost
If you already have an army of flies buzzing around your compost, here are some tactics to fight back:
-
First, troubleshoot the compost pile to fix any issues and make conditions less hospitable.
-
Introduce predators like birds, frogs or spiders to naturally reduce fly populations.
-
Set fly traps around compost bins and bait them with sugary liquids or rotting fruit. Trapped flies won’t be able to continue breeding.
-
Release parasitic wasps that lay eggs inside fly pupae, killing them before they reach adulthood.
-
Apply natural insecticidal sprays based on ingredients like neem oil or pyrethrins to kill adult flies.
-
Turn and stir compost pile frequently to disrupt fly life cycles.
-
Remove and dispose of infested food scraps, manure or other problem materials luring flies.
With a multi-pronged defense, you can staged a strategic counterattack on invading flies.
Natural Fly Repellents for Compost
Some simple, natural solutions can also help repel flies from your compost area:
-
Sprinkle powdered turmeric, garlic, chili pepper or dried peppermint around bins.
-
Place bowls of apple cider vinegar near compost to trap flies.
-
Set out cans of camphor or citronella oil, which have strong scents that deter flies.
-
Plant marigolds, mint, basil and other herbs around compost piles as repellents.
-
Spray compost bins with diluted neem oil extract made from pressed neem seeds.
-
Create traps with non-toxic fly sticky tape around the area to catch flies.
These safe, natural ways to repel flies will keep composting pest-free.
When Flies Can Benefit Compost
While excessive flies are definitely a nuisance, having some flies in your compost can actually be helpful:
-
Fly larvae break down and consume organic waste, accelerating decomposition.
-
The presence of flies signals that beneficial composting microbes and fungi are present and active.
-
Flies aerate compost by creating tunnels and pathways as they move through piles.
-
Fly pupae provide a nutritious, high-protein food source for birds, reptiles and other predatory creatures.
So if you spot just a few flies buzzing harmlessly around your compost, there may be no need to panic!
Winning the War Against Compost Flies
In your quest to make great compost, don’t let pesky flies ruin the party. Stop them before they start by keeping compost balanced and fly-unfriendly. If swarms descend, fight back with traps, natural repellents and other removal tactics. A dash of prevention combined with a pinch of persistence will help you manage compost flies. Get ready to send those winged pests packing for good!
Fruit flies in compost – ick!
I have to admit, when I first started composting, I was horrified to find bugs in my pile. I didn’t want earwigs and sow bugs in there! What I didn’t know was that those bugs were all necessary for the body to break down. Some bugs commonly found in compost actually feed on the decaying matter, while some feed on other bugs.
The main animals that eat the organic matter in a compost pile are earthworms, mites, snails, slugs, nematodes, and sow bugs.
The bigger bugs in the pile, like centipedes and beetles, are secondary or tertiary consumers. This means that they eat the primary consumers and are part of the life cycle there, even though they aren’t actually breaking down the compost.
(Check out the compost food chain that’s shown on this page about invertebrates in the compost pile if you’re really interested in the science of your compost heap.)
The 5-Gallon Garden
Not sure how to garden or don’t have much room? The 5-Gallon Garden will teach you how to grow food in the space you have. Get started with your garden today!.
Take a Peek Inside My Book!
You can read a free chapter from my book Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living. I’ll also send you my free weekly newsletter, which has gardening tips, recipes, and a look at what’s going on around here, both crazy and fun.
How to get rid of fruit flies
Even though I know bugs are a normal part of the process, I still don’t like the fruit flies that live in my compost pile. When there are too many of them, they fly up in a cloud every time I add something new to the pile, as if they were determined to get into my nose.
And it’s not just that. Fruit flies can wreak havoc in the garden. The females lay their eggs just under the skin of soft fruit. There’s nothing worse than cutting into a tomato to find little squiggly maggots. Well, I take that back. Worse is biting into a piece of fruit to find little squiggly maggots.
Getting rid of fruit flies after they’ve taken over the pile is harder than stopping them from getting there in the first place, so I do what I can to deal with the problem. [Read about getting read of fruit flies in the kitchen here. ].
FLIES IN YOUR COMPOST?
FAQ
How do I get rid of flies in my compost bin?
Why does my compost have so many flies?
Are flies good or bad for compost?
How do I get rid of compost flies?
Here are some ways to get rid of and control compost flies: Firmly cover the compost bin with a lid: Ensure that your compost bin has a lid. Close it tightly after every waste disposal. The eggs and the maggots inside the bin will not survive the heat and new flies will not emerge from your compost.
Are there flies in your compost bin?
Flies that you are likely to encounter around your compost pile include fruit flies, houseflies, vinegar flies, and soldier flies. The following are ways you can reduce or totally get rid of flies hovering around your compost bin. Compost bin management is a crucial step to getting rid of flies.
How to keep flies and maggots out of your compost bin?
These are the type of flies and maggots that you want to keep out of your compost bin. One or two isn’t a problem. It’s the infestation that you want to avoid. To keep house flies out of your pile, simply bury your food scraps further down in your compost pile or cover with a brown material.
How do I prevent fruit flies in my compost?
Another way to prevent fruit flies is to make sure your compost is properly balanced. This means adding a mix of “green” materials (like fruit and vegetable scraps) and “brown” materials (like newspaper, cardboard, and straw). The ideal ratio is about 2:1 brown to green.
Do flies eat compost?
As flies both breed fast and are attracted from outside the compost bin, it’s often a very temporary solution. Insecticides can harm beneficial microorganisms in the compost bin or heap which can help the composting solution.
Should you bury flies in your compost pile?
They are usually attracted to food scraps, so burying them deeply might prevent an infestation. Having one or two flies around your compost pile is pretty normal. However, the issue arises when they lay eggs, especially because the conditions are ideal for their further growth and development.