Compost with no worms but loads of flies

[Sunny Nook]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what's going on with my compost?

Last year when I got some compost out to spread on my garden, there were loads of small pink worms (and a few flies when I took the lid off). Yesterday, still loads of flies (which took a real shine to me) but no worms whatsoever.

First questions is: why so many flies?

Second question: why no worms ?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Sunny Nook

[burnie]

Can you describe your bin,is it open at the bottom?

[lynda66]

the flies are attracted to rotting vegetation, the worms are probably hiding

[Sunny Nook]

Hi,

It's a plastic (conical) bin with lid and removeable flap at the front to take out the compost. There's no bottom to it, it's just sat on the ground.

Thanks.

[burnie]

Are you putting in anything cooked?that would attract the flies.I used to put some old news paper at the bottom before starting a new heap,once you've had a good heap leave a little of the compost in the bottom as a starter.

[lynda66]

mines full of fruit flies, they swarm all over any fruit/veg as it rots, and they seem to like the warmth of the compost, cos they only come out when i open it.

[Sunny Nook]

Thanks for the replies, nothing cooked going in the compost bin. Maybe the flies are fruit flies, I don't know, will check them out, they're only small and only come out when I take the lid off.

[lynda66]

sounds like fruit flies.

[Flytrap]

I get a face full of them evertime I take the top off my dalek. I do put lots of kitchen scraps in though (fruit and veg peelings etc.) They always seem to fly into my ears for some reason. Must be the rotting vegetation in them
As I'm quite new to composting, I like to get my head right in there to have a good look and see what's going on. All very facinating. Will be emptying the contents of my first bokashi bin in there sometime soon. So that should be interesting too.
Just been reading about how compost heaps/bins can really improve the numbers of different animals into a garden (mostly insects/bugs etc.) but also sloworms and other reptiles.
So we call all add fruit flies to our list. I may have a dig around in there and try to identify how many differnt species live in my compost bin, could be a big task though.
Flytrap

[lynda66]

genetically fruit flies are very interesting ..... honest

[coreopsis]

Patience has never been my good side so when I run off the space in the compost bins (2 330 litres and smaller bucket)decided that it was the time to do something about it.I dug all the stuff(I put only raw veg and fruit,empty loo rolls and garden waste)into the ground in the spring time,covered with some soil and water well(worms like it moist).After 6 months I turned the soil over and had plenty of fat beauties chewing on the remains.Next year I'm going to repeat the manouevre(1 bin and smaller bucket full already)