my compost heap has turned into an ants nest - Help!

[pixie]

I was turning over my compost heap today for the first time in ages and discovered billions of ants in it, some of them carrying little egg things about (?their young). What do I do to get rid of them? Presumably if I don't get rid of them tey'll stay there and eat my plants when I eventually use the compst I'm making. Please help.

[SimonCole]

I see them as quite a good thing. They'll break your compost down and excrete nutrients. They'll probably move on when your heap gets older.

[Spikeybell]

I had the same problem, but once I started using the compost they seemed to move on, so I would not worry too much about them, let them do the hard work for you

[skegblade]

I'm glad mine's not the only bin with them. I'll admit I panicked when I saw them for the first time

[rustylady]

Ants don't actually eat plants - the real damage they do is by tunnelling under the roots and by farming aphids. They won't do any harm in your compost heap and may actually help by tunnelling and aerating it.

[Sue]

Hi
I've had them but they weren't so obvious in the ready compost at the bottom of the bin. I did notice when I stirring the compost that it was very nice and crumbly where they were so on the whole a good thing.
Shouldn't worry too much.
Sue