Dalek infested with fruit flies

[IndigoElectron]

There are hundreds of fruit flies in my compost bin, every time I take the lid off I get a face full. I've done some research and think it's because I didn't wrap up my fruit and veg waste in newspaper before putting it in, and I haven't added enough browns.. I've learned my lesson now but is there anything I can do? I was thinking I should leave the bin alone and hope they go away, and use my second bin instead, but I am worried when the weather gets hot the problem will get much worse. The bins are near the back door and I think the neighbours will start complaining soon (can't say I blame them). Advice on the Internet seems to be add more browns and they will go away, but I'm scared to take the lid off now! Any advice is appreciated.

[Two_Sheds]

Just add a top layer of browns so the flies can't lay in the fruit.

Then start wrapping your scraps in newspaper

[IndigoElectron]

I tried that, put a load of brown paper in, but the flies are still there :-( I'll try adding some more. Thanks for the advice.

[iGrow]

Leave the lid off the bin for a couple of hours each day until the problem disappears.

[IndigoElectron]

How will that help though? Surely it will just mean the garden will be full of flies!

[Keeks]

Put a layer of lawn clippings in the bin to cover the food waste if you have some


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[Nannysally99]

I always wrap my food recycling, but still manage to get the odd hundred fruit flies. I just lift the lid every now and again to set them free to find fruit elsewhere lol. I did find that a layer of grass has helped the whole composting process as well.

[IndigoElectron]

No lawn so can't do the grass idea. I'm reluctant to let them out of the bin to find fruit elsewhere, the bin is right next to my back door so I worry the 'elsewhere' would be mine or my neighbour's kitchen! Thanks for the advice but I think I'll need to think of something else.

[mothhawk]

I found, quite by accident, that the best thing for getting rid of fruit flies in a dalek is to encourage ants in there. They eat all the fly grubs.

[IndigoElectron]

Ah, now we have ants in abundance! How did you persuade them to go and live in the dalek?

[mothhawk]

I dumped a bunch in accidentally one time that were clinging to the roots of a plant I'd pulled up. I left the lid off in the hope they'd find their way out again, and by the end of the week they'd set up a trail down the side of the dalek and back to their nest in the garden. The next year there was actually an ant's nest inside the dalek till I spread the contents round the garden in autumn. I've got my eyes peeled for a nest this year, 'cos I've got the dratted little flies too.

[Keeks]

When you get fruit flies it is a sign that the bin is a bit too wet from food waste. You need to dry it out by adding shredded paper/cardboard or dried leaves.
This will take time though and not a quick solution. Leaving the bin open also helps, especially in the winter when the frosts Also kill them.

The grass clippings just covers them and their food source. It's quicker but doesn't always work tho.




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[iGrow]

If you leave the lid off the flies escape which helps to feed other wildlife.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks everyone.

[Two_Sheds]

Surely it will just mean the garden will be full of flies!

I'm reluctant to let them out of the bin to find fruit elsewhere, the bin is right next to my back door

fruit flies aren't the same as house (garden) flies. They feed on rotting fruit mainly: they'll infest the kitchen only if the fruit is rotting (or if you're making wine)

Put a layer of lawn clippings in the bin to cover the food waste if you have some

yes, that works well. Ask your neighbours for their fresh clippings.

ants ... How did you persuade them to go and live in the dalek?

You really don't want ants in the dalek. Ants like dry surroundings. Decomposition bacteria need moisture.
So if your compost is dry enough for ants, it's too dry to rot down.

Don't over-complicate this: tackle the fruit flies by wrapping your scraps in 2 sheets of newspaper. You'll soon have buried the problem (I compost dog poo, and still have very few flies in the dalek)