Why is there so mnay bl**dy fruit flies in my compst bin and how do I get rid of the b*ggers

[LowFatMilkshake]

I hate putting stuff in our compost because of all the flies and now they are starting to appear in doors as well

How can I make the compst less fly friendly??

put on soil, paper etc. your compost is too "green" iykwim
and you need some browns

see here

Egg boxes work quite well. Torn up and sprinkled on top.

you get some old glass jars and put a very ripe banana in the bottom cover with cling film and poke a few holes in it. The little buggers fly in to get the banana but can't get out - change it every few days. I used to put one next to the compost and the bin

not a whole banana just a mouth full!

Thank you for these suggestions DH will be pleased as the compost bin was my idea and I am being blamed for the flys!

Apart from being unsightly....are the flies really bad.

I thought they were aiding the composting process?
Please correct me if I am wrong

I open the bin up and spray fly spray in. Usually works for a few days.

And when the bin is empty I squeeze bleach around. Again, it makes a difference.

Have thought about those bin cleaning services but you need to subcribe I think. You can just book it as and when.

Our bin is huge and is not even half full, and I doubt if compost is ready yet although we've been filling it for a year now. I'll be adding more 'browns' tonight.

The flies are awful it's not the site of them it's the cloud of them that attack my face when I open the bin.

Also when they've come in the house they always end up in our Saturday night glass of wine - 2 weeks in a rowe DH and I had to throw a full glass down the sink the flies have to go!

Bought DH a fly swatter this morning!

the fly babies (i hate to use the M word, but even fruit flies have larvae) are part of the composting process, they digest the fruit and veg you put in. If you kill them then it won't compost - and they will come back anyway because they are so happy in your lovely warm fruity foody bin.

But you shouldn't have so many, follow Bundle's excellent advice and add more non-fruity stuff and if you can mix it up a bit. if you get the right balance then you should't be too infested but it is a bit of an occupational hazard at this time of year. Shredded paper is excellent, get a paper shredder if you don't already have one.

oh and don't forget urine is an excellent accelerant allegedly..