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More and more of you are asking us for advice on how to eliminate flies and midges from your vermicomposter.
In this article, we come to your rescue by giving you all the best practices to, first of all, limit their appearance as much as possible and preserve your peace of mind.
But if the midges are already there, we' ll help you get rid of them.
Flies and midges: how to protect your vermicomposter?
- Don't wait to dispose of your garbage !
In general, flies lay their eggs on waste that has begun to turn a corner. This is particularly true of fruit and vegetables in summer.
Quickly depositing your fresh waste in your beloved vermicomposter allows the worms to ingest it without giving the flies time to lay eggs on it. Remember to cover your compost well with the wetting mat and close the lid of the vermicomposter tightly. If the lid is saturated, store the waste in a dedicated container in the fridge.
In hot weather, keep sugary waste to a minimum
Everyone loves sugar, including flies, which like to lay their eggs on a peach pit or other fleshy tomato skin! Juicy melon seeds or pulpy flesh left on peelings are also a real treat!
Just don't put too much on at once, so as not to tempt flying pests (remember to chill the surplus in the meantime).
If you have a sweet tooth and can't resist eating fruit this summer, we recommend that you always bury your waste in the bottom of your bin and cover it with paper or cardboard. This way, midges will be much less attracted by the smell of decomposing waste.
- Control humidity in your bin with cardboard
Adding cardboard to each waste deposit is essential to naturally regulate the humidity level in your vermicomposter. Cut it into small, scattered pieces. Plan to deposit around 50% of your total waste intake.
If the humidity level is too high (wet feeling), slow down the waste input for a few days and cover with paper/cardboard to prevent midges.
- Ventilate your bins
As midges are attracted by heat, humidity and darkness, remember to check the air vents in your vermicomposter from time to time. These are located on top of the lid and in the collection tray. Clean them as needed with a small brush if the holes are clogged, and remember to leave the tap open at all times. It helps regulate humidity by evacuating worm tea, but also allows a little air to enter the vermicomposter.
Keep your vermicomposter cool
In summer, a place away from direct sunlight allows your vermicomposter to cool down naturally and control the maceration of waste. In fact, the fermentation of sugary juices encourages the appearance of midges.
Who are these flying inhabitants and how can you get rid of them?
Drosophila fly
Also known as fruit fly or vinegar fly, this is the most widespread and easiest to eliminate:
- stop eating fruit (or wrap it in paper, flies don't like to search)
- open the lid of your vermicomposter often, but not for too long, to make them fly away
- also check and clean the edges of your work trays and the inside of the lid. This is where drosophila lay their eggs (small white capsules).
Psychodidae
Known as butterfly flies or sink flies, they love cool, damp ecosystems.
In their case, perform a "clean-up operation" by emptying your vermicomposter
- dry it out as much as possible where you can. The main source of moisture is the juice container, so rinse it thoroughly with a sponge to dry it out.
- then prevent the juice from stagnating by always leaving the tap open. If vermicompost lines the walls, remove it.
Sciarid fly
Known as the "potting fly", this is the most annoying of all, as it flies very little and can reproduce for an entire cycle in the bin. They like acidic substrates, so remember to regulate the pH of your vermicomposter by adding finely ground eggshells.
That's it! We hope you'll find these simple steps useful to prevent the appearance of midges in your vermicomposter!
These tips were put together with the invaluable help of Christian, aka Lombricolo, the moderator and host of the Vers La Terre forum www.verslaterre.org. We'd like to thank him!
Have a great end of summer, go back to school and don't dream of flying little beasts!
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