Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: shed head on April 30, 2013, 11:57

Title: Maggots in my compost
Post by: shed head on April 30, 2013, 11:57

Hi All

I left the lid off my compost tumbler as it was a little too damp and wanted to dry it out.
This morning i noticed a couple of small white maggots inside :ohmy:
I have only ever put veg waste in there, no meat or dairy.
Any ideas why they are there and how to get rid of?

x

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: DD. on April 30, 2013, 12:00

You only need a small fly to get in and voila! - loadsa maggots.

Personally I don't mind creepy crawlies in the mix, it speeds up the process as they eat what you put in and pass it out as errrr - compost.

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: shed head on April 30, 2013, 12:23

No worries then  8)
Ta DD

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: richy on April 30, 2013, 17:55

Maggots eat dead meat, they simply do not eat veg, maybe bread went in the bin? they eat that, but certainly wont thrive on it.(I used to breed them for a local fishing shop)

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: ConfusedGardener on April 30, 2013, 19:31

Quote from: richy on April 30, 2013, 17:55

Maggots eat dead meat, they simply do not eat veg, maybe bread went in the bin? they eat that, but certainly wont thrive on it.(I used to breed them for a local fishing shop)

Ever heard of "fruit flies"?

There are hundreds of species of fly in the UK. Not all flies feed on meat.

I just opened my dalek today, and dozens of flies flew out!

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: shed head on April 30, 2013, 20:24

Defo no meat went in the bin...I do have a lash in it daily though :wacko:
Could that be the problem?

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: richy on May 01, 2013, 19:08

Quote from: ConfusedGardener on April 30, 2013, 19:31

Quote from: richy on April 30, 2013, 17:55

Maggots eat dead meat, they simply do not eat veg, maybe bread went in the bin? they eat that, but certainly wont thrive on it.(I used to breed them for a local fishing shop)

Yes ive heard of them, have you ever seen thier larve?

Ever heard of "fruit flies"?

There are hundreds of species of fly in the UK. Not all flies feed on meat.

I just opened my dalek today, and dozens of flies flew out!

Title: Re: Maggots in my compost
Post by: ilan on May 01, 2013, 20:56

They may be smaller than the normal sized maggots and will simply be from a different specis than the larger blue bottle flys I often get them in the mix shows its not getting that hot though