Compost insects

Compost is a veritable ecosystem, teeming with life! Insects are part of the compost fauna. They are an excellent indicator of the health of your compost.

For the most part, these insects are beneficial to compost life. As detritivores, they accelerate waste decomposition. However, some insects are indicative of poor compost balance and can cause problems.

Learn to identify the insects in your composter!

Insects beneficial to compost

Earthworms

If your compost is full of worms, it's a sign of good health. good health.

Worms play a vital role in composting:

• They play an active role in the decomposition of organic waste,
• They aerate and stir the compost.

The worms in compost are not earthworms:

• Earthworms are plow worms. They belong to the Lumbridaceae family. They live at great depths, digging vertical galleries to mix the soil. They bring down organic matter and bring up trace elements.
• Compost worms or manure worms are different from earthworms. They belong to the Eseinia family. Compostworms are epigeic worms. They live in the first few centimeters of soil, where they feed on decomposing plant matter.

Did you know? Compost worms eat the equivalent of their own weight every day!

Millipedes

There are many different families of centipedes (lithobias, iules, etc.), but they all have one thing in common: a multitude of legs. Measuring from 1 to 10 cm, these elongated insects are white to gray-black in color. When disturbed, they adopt a protective posture by curling up into a ball.

If there are centipedes in your compost, it means it's healthy! They are efficient decomposers:

• They feed on organic matter and help break it down into smaller pieces. 
• They release enzymes that promote the decomposition of organic matter and contribute to good compost quality .
• Their presence promotes better air circulation within the compost.

Sowbugs

If you spot small, shell-like creatures in your compost, don't panic. They're woodlice, and they're good for your compost!

Sowbugs belong to the crustacean family, with over 4,000 different species. They generally measure between 0.5 and 2 cm. Their carapace is usually yellow and brown, sometimes gray and transparent.

They are not harmful to compost, on the contrary: 

• They contribute to the decomposition of organic matter in compost. They prefer decomposing plant matter such as leaves, dead wood, mushrooms... 
• They play a key role in soil fertility and renewal.
• They help build humus from organic matter.

Let them work quietly in the dark.

Springtails

If you see tiny white beasts moving around in your composter, they're probably springtails- real composting pros! Their presence is an indicator of healthy compost.

Collembola are a vast family, with over 3,000 species.

They are very small: 2 mm on average. They have no wings. Subterranean springtails come in white, beige or brown.

Collembola play an essential role insoil balance: 

• They help decompose organic matter.
• They help transform them into fertile humus.
• They helpaerate the soil.

Cetoine larvae

Do you see large white larvae in your compost? Don't panic, they're the larvae of golden beetles. They're not a nuisance - on the contrary, they help to break down your waste! The adult beetles lay their eggs in the organic matter in May and June.

Be careful not to confuse them with cockchafer larvae! Unlike cockchafer larvae, beetle larvae cause damage in the garden. Particularly voracious, they feed on plant roots. Although their larvae look very similar at first glance, here's how to tell them apart:

• small head, small legs, big ass: cetoine larvae.
• big head, big legs, little ass: beetle larvae.

Ceteony larvae are also whiter than cockchafer larvae, which tend towards cream/yellow.

Soldier fly larvae

See any brown or black cocoons in your compost? They're probably soldier fly larvae. If they're quite impressive to see, there's nothing to worry about. 

Soldier fly larvae promote accelerated composting of waste:

• They consume a large quantity of food in a short space of time, transforming into adult flies. They are capable of reducing waste volume by up to 70% in just a few weeks! 
• They accelerate compost maturation.
• They provide compost with highly nutritious elements for plants.

Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails are attracted to fresh compost peelings, which they love to nibble.

If you have our vegetable composterthis can be a problem, as they tend to eat your herbs and vegetables. They are particularly fond of salads. They sometimes hide at the top of the composting column. Don't hesitate to remove them by hand and release them far from your crops if necessary.

Insects as a sign of unbalanced compost

The ants

Sometimes, ants arrive in large numbers in our composter. While they don't pose a problem per se in the compost bin, they can become a nuisance if they're near your home.

The presence of ants in your compost is a sign that it's too dry! 

How to get rid of it? Make sure your compost is moist, either by watering it or by adding moist waste (such as peelings or grass clippings)! Ants prefer dry soil.

Gnats

Is your composter overrun with midges? It's a sign that your compost is out of balance.

Here are 3 main reasons for the appearance ofpests like flies and gnats:

1. Compost that is too moist and acidic.
2. Compost that's too sweet (with the addition of fruit waste): as it ferments, sugar attracts midges.
3. Biowaste left in the open air before being put in the composter.

When our compost is indoors, it can quickly become annoying to see them flying everywhere!

Prevention is better than cure. To prevent the arrival of midges in your compost,

• Respect the balance between dry matter (cardboard type) (50%) and wet matter (peelings type) (50%). 
• Place your waste quickly in the compost to prevent midges from laying eggs, or store it in an airtight container.

Our tip: When you take your kitchen waste to the compost heap, cover it with an equivalent volume of dry waste. This will prevent midges from laying eggs and breeding!

How to get rid of midges? For a while, reduce or stop adding peelings (especially fruit). Add cardboard to absorb excess compost moisture and eggshell powder to regulate pH.

You're now an expert on compost bugs! 😉