Are Flies Bad For Compost?

There are many options for preventing flies in your compost pile. One option is to cover your compost with a lid, but some people have success with a lidless pile. Other solutions include putting some brown material on the top of your compost pile, and burying your kitchen scraps deeper in the pile. This way, flies won’t have a place to land and flies won’t be as attracted to them.

Another option is to keep flies away from your compost pile altogether. Fly larvae can reduce organic waste by two-thirds in a day. Soldier fly larvae also make a great food source for backyard birds. While the average gardener would prefer to keep flies out of their compost pile, these creatures can actually be beneficial.

In addition to being a nuisance, flies in your compost pile can increase the microbial activity in your pile. These insects can also cause uneven rotting and increase the risk of water pollution. They may also spread infectious diseases. A poorly maintained compost pile can attract many species of flies, including fruit flies and house flies.

While fruit flies don’t cause a great deal of damage, too many fruit flies in your compost pile can cause a lot of trouble. These insects lay their eggs in vegetables and soft fruits, and within a few days, they hatch and turn into maggots.

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