worm bin infested with fruit flies

[captain.koons]

what do I do?


The fruit flies are spawning from the worm bin in significant amounts.

What are my options while saving the worm bins(and making them fruit fly free)?

 

[Guest]

I put a thin layer of compost over the food I add and the flies stay away as does any smell. I keep a little bucket of compost next to my pail on the patio.

 

[captain.koons]

hmm

the only "compost" i have right now is a few bags of composted manure.

will that work?

 

[Hollaachu]

is your bin inside? if so, do as jackpackage says and bury your scraps so that the fruit flies do not have and scraps to lay eggs in!!!!And if your bin was outside there would be no need to worry about it....Nature takes care of things for you!!!!

 

[captain.koons]

they're inside, the food scraps were buried in bedding but I guess that doesn't really help. So can I just bury the scraps in some composted manure?

 

[Suby]

If your using a container then cover the topmost layer with 1" or so of dried bedding like coco or bone dry peat then put a cover or piece of plywood directly in contact with it, it should smother them some.

 

[jaykush]

i think your adding too much scraps. lay off the feedings for a little bit.

 

[captain.koons]

If your using a container then cover the topmost layer with 1" or so of dried bedding like coco or bone dry peat then put a cover or piece of plywood directly in contact with it, it should smother them some.

I'll try that I got dry coco but no plywood but I'll get some tomorrow... ill find something to put ontop of it all for now.

I'll also stop feeding for a bit I do feed a little heavily because I have a carbon scrubber running in the room.

 

[quadracer]

first bury your food scraps. Never dump and run.

Second, you can add a couple of sheets of newspaper over the top-most layer of food (the newspaper can dry up too and still work), but makes sure it covers the entire top layer.

Both of these methods will drastically cut down the number of fruit flies.

Of course, fruit flies play their role in breaking down the food. Changing the location of the bin might help things a bit too. Perhaps a garage?

 

[captain.koons]

I do bury my food scraps.

I live in one of the coldest places on the earth they won't survive in the garage

 

[Old Yeller]

Sometimes what I do is take a 1/2 glass of red wine, add 1 drop of dish soap, mix & let the fruit flys come over & drown in it. Collected many a pile of dead ff's in the bottom.

 

[MickTheBrag]

hey captain man, remmember the fruit flies are a important part of the composting process. if their not bothering your cannabis plants or yourself id just leave them.
cause their working away to bring you better buds at the end of the day man.
making a nice crumbly compost to add to your soil mix. yum yum peace.

 

[marali]

if you have too much scraps freeze them, they work great in bin later on when added. Worms can digest them faster.