[Beetroot queen]

Noticed yesterday one of our compost bins is alive with ants and woodlice, the woodlice have laid larvae and the ants are carrying them off to the place that ants go.

My question is, can you have too many bugs of one type and if this is a problem what do I do  next

[rockyracoon]

Looking forward to the response on this as I was going to post a similar thread, my compost bin is full of ants.

[Beetroot queen]

Just had a quick google expecting too be told that my bin was lacking in browns or it being too wet and found something that said its would indicate it being too dry 

Not really one of the options I had expected

I must say I was quite fascinated and stood for a good five mins with my head over the compost bin 

[8doubles]

If its a dalek type bin it pays to put a bucketful of water in occasionally and that will move the ants on.

[Beetroot queen]

If its a dalek type bin it pays to put a bucketful of water in occasionally and that will move the ants on.

will that work for the Billy Bakers too 

[viettaclark]

Woodlice ain't no problemo! They only eat dead wood. Lovely little clear-up wrigglies.

[8doubles]

If its a dalek type bin it pays to put a bucketful of water in occasionally and that will move the ants on.

will that work for the Billy Bakers too 

Woodlice like it damp so will not be affected as much as the ants. Unfortunately they do have a munch on seedlings and soft fruit as well as rotting vegetation , i let them live unmolested in the heap if they behave.

[sunshineband]

If its a dalek type bin it pays to put a bucketful of water in occasionally and that will move the ants on.

will that work for the Billy Bakers too 

Are Billy Bakers woodlice then? I've never heard that name before.

They are cheeselogs round here 

[Beetroot queen]

If its a dalek type bin it pays to put a bucketful of water in occasionally and that will move the ants on.

will that work for the Billy Bakers too 

Are Billy Bakers woodlice then? I've never heard that name before.

They are cheeselogs round here 

Yep Billy bakers are woodlice 

[8doubles]

Woodlouse aka,



This is where i was going to copy the local names for the woodlouse taken from Fauna Britannica by Stefan Buczacki but as there are 160 of them you will need to get the book and read it yourself . 

[Flowerpower136]

We call em Charlies!

Ants like it bone dry, so a wet heap might make them move elsewhere.  Are they living in it though? or just using it as a food source. ie takeaway Charlies?

Due to chickens I have the opposite problem, not a living thing to be seen in there, they're even removing all the greenstuff I put in.  I'm just left with a bunch of dry twigs.

[green fingers]

8doubles.  I have ants in my bin too and found out it was because itr was too dry.  I have regularly added water and believe me - it doesn't move the ants on

[8doubles]

8doubles.  I have ants in my bin too and found out it was because itr was too dry.  I have regularly added water and believe me - it doesn't move the ants on

If at first you don`t succeed ......................................try a bigger hammer bucket.

[viettaclark]

I'm sure ants don't do any harm.....if they do nest they'll make the compost all crumbly and fine. Woodlice are normal.
What worries me is wireworms and other nasties which are still there when you use the compost on your plants.
Solution....spread out the compost on a big sheet of plastic and let the chickens have a feast. Then sweep it up (goes everywhere) leaving the sticks and big stuff the chooks have riddled out and you have bug free, sieved (?) compost to put on the beds.
Course...you need a couple of chickens.....

[Jai]

My missus calls woodlice 'Willy bow's'! Dont know why