- Maggots and larvae in compost - where do they come from?
- Fight maggots in compost
- Sieve the compost well before use
- Prevent maggots in compost
If there are thick white maggots in the compost, this is disgusting for some gardeners. However, maggots are not only an aesthetic problem, they also indicate incorrect filling of the compost. This is how you fight maggots in the compost and prevent an infestation.
Maggots in the compost are not a good sign
Maggots and larvae in compost - where do they come from?
The term maggots covers a large number of different insect species. This includes flies and all beetle species.
They lay their eggs in the compost. There they first develop into maggots and later pupate into larvae.
While flies are primarily just a nuisance, beetles can be a real threat to the garden - especially when they occur in large numbers.
Fight maggots in compost
Larger maggots can be picked out by hand or dug out with a spade and then destroyed. If the infestation is severe, cover the compost with a thick layer of dry material. Leaves and grass cuttings, for example, are suitable for this. This stops air circulation and the maggots die.
Make sure the compost is kept dry as this will also dry out the maggots.
In the interests of garden health, you should avoid using substances such as burnt lime, vinegar and salt and other household products. They do more harm than good.
Sieve the compost well before use
If you have discovered thick white maggots in the compost heap, you should sift the compost well before spreading it in the garden. The maggots are filtered out and can be fed to birds, for example.
Prevent maggots in compost
Prevention is not always possible. In particular, beetles such as the rose beetle, May beetle or scarab beetle lay their eggs in the compost, where they grow into maggots.
On the other hand, you can prevent an infestation by fly maggots by filling the compost correctly. Animal waste such as:
- leftover meat
- sausage
- animal waste
- dog poop
- litter boxes
- cooked leftovers
tips
Before putting garden waste on the compost, inspect it well for possible pests, maggots and larvae. Especially with roots there is a risk that you will carry the dangerous vine weevil to the compost.