Larvae in my compost bin - Ask Extension
I have been composting in a bin for three years adding food waste (no fruit or animal products) garden waste and purchased topsoil. I have finally go...
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Larvae in my compost bin #294555
Asked December 25, 2015, 10:59 AM EST
I have been composting in a bin for three years adding food waste (no fruit or animal products) garden waste and purchased topsoil. I have finally got beautiful compost full of lovely earthworms. As I was turning it over recently I came across a huge colony of the larvae pictured below. Can you identify them and advise me as to what I need to do if anything to get rid of them? At this point they are about 1/2 inch long and very copious. I don't want to use any of the compost if they are plant eating insects. If I need to get rid of all my compost do you have a suggestion as to how to go about it?
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
This looks like one of the many fly larvae that show up in compost bins that become a bit too moist and contain a relatively high percentage of food scraps and/or proteins. The most common species that I have seen in the area, that readily inhabit compost piles, is Black Soldier Fly. I believe this is what you have.
Many people consider these flies beneficial and have found them very effective at helping to produce compost.
Please see:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-51_black_soldier_fly.htm
http://www.opb.org/news/blog/ecotrope/using-soldier-flies-to-compost-food-scraps/
