They're just helping out your pile. Doing good work for you.

The Black Soldier Fly larvae are the ones that gross me out. I have to force myself to leave them alone. They make good compost too though.

Yeah, but we have fruit trees... I don't want the beetles eating the fruit... :o( I debated.... then figgered if I got rid of the grubs then I wouldn't be thinking of *gasp* pesticides later. :o)

I looked up Black Soldier Fly Larvae.... OH! So THAT's What those are! I wondered.... at my last house, they were the primary buggy in my pile.... kazillions of them! Funny, I don't remember seeing all that many of the FLIES around... Wow... thanks... I learned something new about The Mystery Of The Pile.

Yes, the lovely BSF larvae.

Enough to make you lose your lunch if you don't know that they are there and then you find them. Really gross. Ick. I have to make sure that I keep them covered when they are in the pile. The heebie-jeebie factor on those is too strong for me.

If you want to get rid of the grubs, just toss them into a shallow pan and leave them there for the birds to enjoy.

Those "thingys" have no more business being in compost piles than do racoons, skunks, or opossums. Those "thingys" indicate that your compost is too wet and it needs to be dried out.

Well, I can see now, when we are having non stop rain, but actually, in my hot dry mediterranean climate, I have to water the pile or it get's bone dry.... I don't think that's my usual problem. I try to usually keep it at a damp sponge dampness.

If you have the option to keep a chicken or two, they will make short work of those grubs and it makes them so happy to scratch around in the compost. Sometimes mine will come and get right under the pitchfork while I'm trying to turn the pile and will snatch anything that moves. Cheryl

kimmsr,

I posted links to some good info over at the Cornell University composting site regarding a similar discussion on another thread.

Since then, I have done further research into what types of critters live in compost bins.

This additional research supported my original conclusion.

Saying that the compost heap is too wet just because insects (invertebrates and macroinvertebrates) live there is both incorrect and misleading.

In fact, when I took the temp of my pile today (156 degrees) I noted that the portion of the pile where I took the temp contained a number of insects including earthworms, sow bugs, pill bugs, and earwigs.

Can you provide any sort of research or documentation which supports your contention that a "properly" maintained pile will contain no insects?

If so, I look forward to reading it.

Simply because someone at Cornell thinks that these critters are beneficial for a compost pile does not make it so. I have read what they have written and I think that is based on false assumptions. Are racoons, opossums, skunks, etc. okay in the compost pile? Are ants okay in the compost pile? I have seen some of those that argue that Black Solder Fly larva are good argue that ants are not. That is simply not logical.
Simply put, if you have these critters in your compost pile there is a problem with that pile that needs correction, it is too wet, or it is too dry. You should not see "thingys" crawling around on the material in your compost pile.

Well, usually I'd say it's too dry here... I constantly have to water it or it won't compost. BUT, I think we've made too much of a science out of composting... too much worry about exactness. Compost happens... with a little help.

I scoop them out and deposit them in a pie tin. The birds, especially the bluebirds, love them.

Kimmsr wrote:

Simply because someone at Cornell thinks that these critters are beneficial for a compost pile does not make it so. I have read what they have written and I think that is based on false assumptions.

Simply put, if you have these critters in your compost pile there is a problem with that pile that needs correction, it is too wet, or it is too dry. You should not see "thingys" crawling around on the material in your compost pile.

So basically what you are saying is that your opinion (with no basis in reality, research, or fact) is the right one even though you cannot present any sort of support for it.

Is that your position?

If so, then I would like to proclaim that the sky should be purple with green polka dots because, in my opinion, any sky that is blue has something wrong with it that needs to be corrected.

Sarcasim gets the pursuit of knowledge no place.
Are ants okay in the compost pile?

Kimmsr,

You are in no position to speak to me about the pursuit of knowledge.

Those shoes don't fit you.

I pointed you in the direction of the research, but you rejected it. (Of course there is much more research and many experts which agree with my position and none which support yours.)

Yet you persist in the false belief that you are correct.

To make matters worse, you share your false position with others without providing anything to support it when asked.

So, who needs to pursue knowledge here?

As to ants, they are welcome in my pile with the exception of Fire Ants. That is a personal decision I have made.

The only reason that Fire Ants are not welcome is because they sting and cause very unpleasant physical responses. In some people, those reactions can actually be fatal.

Ants contribute to the overall decomposition process, so why would they not be welcome?

By the way, sarcasm is an excellent technique to use when making a point.