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lissalanae21 Joined: 6/19/2008 Location: Tulsa Ok Posts: 467	Posted: Aug/05/2009 6:41 PM PST How much insect life is normal in a compost bin? I have a 100 gal plastic storage bin with about 200 dime sized drainage holes drilled in the top sides and bottom. I have only turned my compost a few times all summer. But i did yesterday and a watermelon I threw in about a week ago as big a a cantalope that had developed blossom end rot burst open and was FULL of some sort of larvea. Also there were other flies and wormes and beatles in there. I thought it maybe wasnt hot enough which is hard to belive cause we have 100+ degree days and i put 6in of yard clippings on ever 2 weeks to keep things hot. I do water it twice a week also and add a ton of kitchen scrapes, plant trimmings from the garden, a small amount of wood ash from our fireplace, egg shells, weeds(once in a while), we lost a ton of veggies and fruit to blossom end rot a few weeks ago and about 5 melons and 15 zuch were tossed in so i know that there is enought stuff in ther to keep it going and with the exception of some larger sticks that hubby didnt know not to put in every thing about 3 inches down is soft rich black dirt looking compost. It dosent smell bad but i was worried after seeing the bugs. I havent woried up till now cause i know insects play a importain role in the breaking down of dead things but now im starting to worry if maybe i was wrong. Any help? Quote \| Reply \| Report

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lissalanae21

Joined: 6/19/2008
Location: Tulsa Ok
Posts: 467

Posted: Aug/05/2009 6:41 PM PST

How much insect life is normal in a compost bin?
I have a 100 gal plastic storage bin with about 200 dime sized drainage holes drilled in the top sides and bottom. I have only turned my compost a few times all summer. But i did yesterday and a watermelon I threw in about a week ago as big a a cantalope that had developed blossom end rot burst open and was FULL of some sort of larvea. Also there were other flies and wormes and beatles in there. I thought it maybe wasnt hot enough which is hard to belive cause we have 100+ degree days and i put 6in of yard clippings on ever 2 weeks to keep things hot. I do water it twice a week also and add a ton of kitchen scrapes, plant trimmings from the garden, a small amount of wood ash from our fireplace, egg shells, weeds(once in a while), we lost a ton of veggies and fruit to blossom end rot a few weeks ago and about 5 melons and 15 zuch were tossed in so i know that there is enought stuff in ther to keep it going and with the exception of some larger sticks that hubby didnt know not to put in every thing about 3 inches down is soft rich black dirt looking compost. It dosent smell bad but i was worried after seeing the bugs. I havent woried up till now cause i know insects play a importain role in the breaking down of dead things but now im starting to worry if maybe i was wrong. Any help?

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Insect life?

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