Flies like compost because it guarantees them a constant food supply and a suitable place to lay and hatch their eggs. The pesky insects are not just a nuisance at home but they also carry disease vectors that can be harmful to people and pets. If you maintain your compost properly, it will not attract flies or spread the diseases associated with them.
Are flies in compost good or bad?
Flies in compost are good because they help the decomposition process alongside other microorganisms to speed the breakdown of organic material in your compost. However, not all species of flies are good. Houseflies aren’t good but vinegar flies that are attracted to the yeast from ripening fruit are good.
Vinegar flies and black soldier flies help with the decomposition process. But an infestation of these flies in your compost requires urgent intervention because they lay eggs and multiply really fast.
Black soldier fly larvae usually infest compost bins that have large holes in them, so you want to make sure you check on that if you’re dealing with their infestation.
Any type of flies, including tiny fruit flies, may move from filth to food, potentially causing food poisoning and life-threatening diseases.
Why are there many flies in my compost bin?
Your compost bin will attract many flies if there is no proper compost pile management in place. Here are reasons your compost bin attracts flies:
Uncovered and leaking garbage cans
Uncovered garbage cans offer a convenient location for flies to lay and hatch their eggs. A few flies can multiply rapidly inside the decaying matter in your garbage tin. Although flies live between 15 and 30 days, females will lay up to 150 eggs in a single batch.
In uncovered and leaking garbage cans, where flies find food and shelter, they can lay up to six batches of eggs in just a few days. The eggs will turn into adult flies in about 3 weeks, increasing fly infestation in your compost bin and home.
Disposing meat, chicken, and fish bones in the compost
Meat, chicken, and fish remains will become rancid in the compost and emit foul odors. The bones and remains will attract various pests e.g, houseflies, to your compost bin.
If your house produces many fish and meat remains, you will need a closed compost or mix the remains with plant waste before burying them at the center of the pile.
See also: Are tea bags compostable?
Rainwater percolation in the compost
Flies do not like dry compost. Although water is essential for compost decomposition and temperature regulation, too much of it from the rain may hurt your compost. According to Aggie Horticulture College Station, compost moisture exceeding 60% discourages aerobic decomposition and promotes anaerobic bacteria.
Rainwater ferments the compost materials and attracts fruit flies and filth flies due to the rotting and carbon dioxide byproducts. The flies will quickly breed and multiply on the decaying fruits and organic matter in your compost.
Absence of the flie’s natural predators
Flies also have their natural predators. If many flies are coming from outside into your house, it means there are no frogs, spiders, or birds to feed on them near your compost bin’s location. Other predators feed on flies at their different life stages. For example, some parasites and parasitoids are effective predators against the eggs, larvae, and pupae of flies.
The absence of these predators means a successful life cycle of flies and many flies in your compost bin.
Piling of waste
Piling waste without a proper waste management plan is another leading cause of flies in compost. Just piling waste increases fly food, temperature variations, and an uneven rotting that will encourage flies in your compost bin or worm bin. It also increases the likelihood of water pollution and the spread of infectious diseases.
Common types of flies in compost bins
Poorly maintained compost bins will attract several species of flies. The most common types are house flies and fruit flies.
Here is a brief overview of the common types of compost
Fruit flies
Fruit flies are mistakenly known as vinegar flies. You will identify them by their red eyes, tan bodies, and black abdomen. These pests are usually so tiny, with adults growing to about one-eighth of an inch. Fruit flies may seem to appear out of nowhere but that’s because they breed and develop so fast around rotting fruits and vegetables in compost.
Fruit flies are common where there are sugary substances like overripe fruits, alcohol, or spilled soda. Kitchen scraps that contain banana peels and other fruits can easily attract these compost flies.
The germs they transmit such as E. coli and Salmonella can cause food poisoning and even be life-threatening. The good news is that you can easily get rid of such little flies using a fruit fly trap.
Houseflies
Houseflies are the most common type of compost flies. They are longer and bigger than whiteflies and vinegar flies. House flies are attracted to rotting organic filth such as rotting animal organs and feces in compost. They land on filth and may also land on human food, potentially causing food poisoning and dysentery.
White flies
Whiteflies look like tiny triangular white moths, measuring about one-twelfth of an inch. The mostly encountered whiteflies in compost are Cabbage whitefly and Greenhouse whitefly. They will feed on the sap in freshly disposed of plant material but will move to feed elsewhere as soon as the materials are dead.
Whiteflies are not harmful to people or livestock. However, if they increase in numbers, they may cause significant damage to your plants and vegetables.
Soldier flies
Soldier flies are about 5/8th inch long with bluish-black bodies and dusky wings. They easily resemble wasps but they’re not. Like houseflies, they are attracted to compost for food. However, they are not harmful. Instead, they can be very beneficial in breaking down household garbage. Soldier flies make it easy for worms to reduce the volume of the compost without producing an odor.
Despite showing some good qualities, you should get rid of flies in your compost because they are a nuisance and a threat to your health.
How to get rid of and control compost flies
A well-kept compost will not only discourage flies but also ensure your yard is not occupied with a foul smell.
Here are some ways to get rid of and control compost flies:
- Firmly cover the compost bin with a lid: Ensure that your compost bin has a lid. Close it tightly after every waste disposal. The eggs and the maggots inside the bin will not survive the heat and new flies will not emerge from your compost. Covering with a lid also protects your compost from getting soaked with rainwater.
- Rake the compost pile every day: Flies are common in compost because they find food and a favorable temperature for laying their eggs. Raking and turning the compost every day will subject the larvae and maggots in the compost to desiccation and death. As the compost dries and the flies move away, reduce raking to once or twice a week.
- Cover food scraps using brown material or a layer of fine mulch: If you don’t have a lid, covering fresh waste with fine mulch will make it hard for flies to reach the waste. Similarly, you could use brown materials such as dry leaves, wood chips, straws, or sawdust to cover the food scraps after every disposal.
Tip: Always have some brown materials ready beside your compost.
- Avoid throwing fish, meat, or chicken scraps in compost: These animal products rot and emit foul smells that will attract flies to your compost. Place these inside a garbage bag and tie it up. Alternatively, you can bury them at the center of your compost or burn them.
- Trap the flies in your compost: There are several ways and tools to trap flies in compost and they vary by the type of flies. For instance, wine and apple cider vinegar are effective against fruit flies. Pour the bait in a bowl or a bottle, cover with a plastic wrap, and poke some holes over it. The flies will get in and will not come out.
- Plant dense shrubs next to your compost: The dense shrubs will attract birds near your compost to act as natural predators against some types of flies such as the Vinegar flies.
- Cut vegetable items into smaller pieces: Reducing the sizes of the materials you dispose of in the compost increases their rate of decomposition. Quick decomposition means reduced odor and few flies to your compost.
- Ratio the compost material: Compost is made of green and brown materials, which produce carbon and nitrogen. Materials with a lower carbon to nitrogen ratio are green and those with a higher C:N ratio are brown. Ensure that for every 30 parts of carbon sent to the compost, you balance it with one part of nitrogen to avoid bad odors that will attract flies to your compost.
Raise your compost’s pH level using hydrated lime: Instead of using fly-spray chemicals, lime offers a natural approach to getting rid of flies in your compost. Sprinkle hydrated lime over your waste and mix well. The lime will kill the fly maggots and also lower the acid level in your compost, thereby reducing flies and improving your soil fertility.
References
FAQs
Move your compost bin into direct sunlight.
The temperature inside the compost bin will rise quickly, killing the fruit fly larvae in the compost bin.
What kills flies in compost? ›
Move your compost bin into direct sunlight.
The temperature inside the compost bin will rise quickly, killing the fruit fly larvae in the compost bin.
Why is my compost full of flies? ›
If you let your damp compost sit for too long without turning it over or stirring it up enough to aerate it, the decaying matter can attract fruit flies. This is because fruit flies feed primarily on rotting fruits and vegetables (hence the name).
How do I keep maggots and flies out of my compost? ›
Preventing & reducing fly larvae in your compost bucket
- Empty it weekly. ...
- Freeze or refrigerate your food scraps, or at least the stinky ones. ...
- Snap the lid on, limit openings, and avoid leaving food out. ...
- Spray them with vinegar. ...
- Keep the bucket outside.
Once your fruit is ripe it can be put into the fridge to stop any infestation from vinegar flies or fungi. Another precaution is make sure that rotting fruit in your compost heap is completely covered so that the female vinegar fly has nowhere to lay her eggs. Burying it within the heap is a perfect solution.
Will maggots in my compost turn into flies? ›
In fact, they play a role in breaking down plant and animal tissues. Often, these maggots are the larval life stage of compost-dwelling soldier flies, according to Linda Brewer, Oregon State University Extension Service soil scientist.
Can you put vinegar in compost bin? ›
Yes, vinegar can go in the compost. Vinegar is made from a variety of diluted alcohol products, the most common being wine, beer, and rice. It is an alcoholic liquid that has been allowed to sour and is primarily used to flavor and preserve foods and as an ingredient in salad dressings and marinades.
How do you trap flies with vinegar? ›
Vinegar and dish soap trap
If you find your fruit flies impervious to your plastic wrap or paper cone traps, try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar and leave it uncovered. The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies will sink and drown.
What do maggots hate the most? ›
Maggots can't live in the acidity of vinegar. Mix 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar and pour the solution directly over the maggots. Let the mixture sit for about an hour before you discard the maggots and clean the area.
Do maggots hate vinegar? ›
Malt vinegar is also effective at killing off maggots and their larvae. Many people also find that large quantities of salt kills maggots. Most of the maggots will go when the bin is emptied. Once emptied the bin can be cleaned out with disinfectant or bleach and plenty of water.
Natural and Essential Oils
Eucalyptus oil is a good option, but you can also use lavender, citrus, pine, clove, peppermint, and thyme essential oils. Most flies hate these scents, so the oils will act as a fly repellent.
Do white vinegar get rid of flies? ›
Flies can be easily repelled with white vinegar, so much so that even the smell of boiling vinegar can be an easy-to-make DIY fly repellent on its own. Pour some cider vinegar into a pot or jar to start making your fly repellent.
What kills flies other than vinegar? ›
Mix some isopropyl alcohol and water together and pour into a spray bottle. Spray it all over the area where the fruit flies are located, and they will die on contact. While you're spraying down the area for fruit flies, the mixture will also rid your kitchen of mold, bacteria, and other unwanted substances.
What kind of vinegar kills flies? ›
If you've got fruit flies buzzing around your house, you can create a simple trap to capture them with a bowl, plastic wrap and apple cider vinegar. Place a small amount of the vinegar in a bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
What smell will keep flies away? ›
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
Do flies hate vinegar? ›
Vinegar (or acetic acid) is the ultimate product of the fermentation process in fruit, which is why fruit flies are attracted to vinegar odor. However, both low and high concentrations of vinegar odor leave flies indifferent (left).
How do you get rid of flies naturally? ›
Cayenne pepper is an excellent natural fly repellent and also deters many other insects. Mix one cup of water and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a misting bottle and spray it near entryways and wherever you see flies. Other natural fly repellents include lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor, and cinnamon.
What browns to add to compost? ›
Brown Materials
- Eggshells (minimal impact): They take a long time to break down, but they provide calcium and are a good addition to compost piles.
- Hay (15 to 30:1): All types of spoiled hay make an excellent addition to compost piles.
- Leaves (50 to 80:1): Dead or dry are considered brown materials.
Dryer Lint: The collected fibers from your lint trap are still carbon-rich and will decompose easily in the compost, so keep a jar next to the dryer to make it easier to remember to harvest it with every load.
What does baking soda do to compost? ›
Baking soda neutralizes the stench by destroying the microbes and the bacteria that create the odor. However, when you add baking soda to your compost pile, you end up killing the microbes thereby destroying your pile.
The vinegar loses its efficacy after a few days. Simple wash out the container, and repeat the above steps. If the flies are attracted to your trap, but aren't going it, chances are your holes are too small (or too large), increase the size of the holes. Or if too large, replace the plastic wrap and try again.
Does boiling vinegar get rid of flies? ›
Flies are repelled by vinegar, and the smell of boiling vinegar can make them leave. Pour some malt vinegar in a pot or pan, let it boil, and wait for the flies to desperately try to escape.
Does Pine Sol keep flies away? ›
Flies seem to HATE pine-sol. To make the fly repelling spray, mix the original Pine-Sol with water, at a ratio of 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Use to wipe counters or spray on the porch and patio table and furniture to drive the flies away.
What kills flies and maggots instantly? ›
Bleach and water mixture
'You can mix bleach 50/50 with water and pour it onto maggots to kill them quickly,' he says. 'If the maggots are in your trash can, you can also close it after pouring bleach inside to kill those maggots that are not covered with the liquid with toxic bleach fumes. '
What kills maggots immediately? ›
Boiling water. It's free, it's quick, it's effective, and it kills maggots in an instant. No bug sprays or other insecticides required.
What smell kills maggots? ›
Vinegar. If you want to try a more natural method, try a solution of one part vinegar with three parts boiling water. This solution will kill the live maggots and will also remove the fly-attracting odors from your trash can, temporarily preventing them from laying eggs.
What do flies hate the most? ›
Flies hate the smell of essential oils like lemon grass, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus – put a few drops in a spray bottle and use around the house daily. They also hate the smell of camphor (a traditional moth deterrent) which you can buy online, cloves and cinnamon.
Do flies hate bleach? ›
Many people associate the control of drain flies and bleach. The idea that pouring bleach down the drain gets rid of drain flies is actually a common misconception since doing so rarely helps get rid of these insects.
Do maggots hate bleach? ›
Bleach to the Rescue
Combine equal parts bleach and hot water in your garbage cans and close the lid. The fumes will kill the maggots and disinfect the surface area, hopefully keeping them away. Bleach will ensure no traces of the maggots, and they will not come back later.
What homemade spray kills flies? ›
DIY fly killer spray: Mix ½ cup of water with ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol (found at your local drug store) and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap into a spray bottle (add water first so soap doesn't bubble). Spray directly onto pesky flies to kill them.
Experts swear by apple cider vinegar traps as the best way to get rid of fruit flies. You can also use white vinegar in a pinch.
What is the best bait for flies? ›
Fly Bait Notes
A good bait for house flies is 1 part molasses, 3 parts water. This ferments and smells pleasant as long as it doesnt putrify. Many house fly baits use brewers yeast, fish meal, and sugar that ferments in water.
What insects does vinegar attract? ›
Certain insects are attracted to vinegar. Namely, those attracted to decaying plant matter, with aphids and fruit flies as the primary culprits.
How do I get rid of flies in my compost toilet? ›
Kill the Flies
To do this, turn off your fan, and spray the system (including the inside of the chamber) with conventional fly spray. Compost is not significantly sensitive to general insecticides, however, it is still best to use natural insecticides such as DEEM Triple Effect Plant Spray.
How do you keep flies away from food waste? ›
Place sprigs of Elder, Lavender, Mint, Pennyroyal, Rue or Southern Wood in the bin/bin lid, or hang them up around the bin to keep flies away. Rub the leaves frequently so their smell is released. Or smear tea-tree oil or citronella on the bin lid to deter flies.
Can you put vinegar in a compost toilet? ›
Vinegar in the liquids container
To fix this we add about 8oz of white vinegar to the empty liquids container. This neutralizes the bad smell and helps dissolve any build up. Also, as a cleaning measure, we keep a small spray bottle of vinegar next to the toilet and spray inside of the toilet bowl after each use.
Does vinegar keep flies away? ›
Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die.
