Composting and Insects

Cold Composting

Cold composting consists of composting vegetable waste from the kitchen or garden and grass clippings. The vegetable waste contains more water than yard clippings. This extra moisture greatly slows the decomposition process and the temperature of the heap remains cooler, thus the term cold composting. Composting piles that contain moisture usually contain large numbers of redworms and insect larvae. Common redworms are sometimes added to the compost heap to aid in the decomposition process.

Insects In Your Compost Heap

There are a number of different insects that live in cold compost piles that contain vegetable material. The presence of these insects is positive since they aid in decomposition of the material.

When you first add kitchen vegetable matter you may get a large number of fruit flies until decomposition of the vegetable matter begins. Fruit flies lay their eggs in fruit and vegetable waste. Their maggots feed on the bacteria and fungus of the decomposing vegetable matter. A variety arthropods and small insects, like sowbugs will set up housekeeping in cold composting heaps. These insects feed on the bacteria and fungus that are present in the cold compost heap. Do not try to control these insects with insecticides since this will interfere with heap's equilibrium and slow down decomposition. These insects speed the decomposition of vegetable waste and grass clippings in the heap. Never put meat, fat, or oils into your compost heap. These will rot and cause offensive odors and will attract house flies and scavenging rodents.