[Community_garden] Fruit Flies in Worm Bins

[Judith Gardner]

Hello,

I have been worm composting for several years.  My original teacher told me 
that one way to avoid fruit flies is to keep the garbage that you place in 
the bin covered with damp shredded newspaper.  That has worked pretty well 
for me.

When i have become careless and fruit flies have gathered, i hang a fly 
paper strip above the bins, become more careful about keeping the garbage 
covered and am able to get rid of them that way.

Good luck,
Judy from Detroit


>From: yarrow at sfo.com
>To: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Fruit Flies in Worm Bins
>Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:43:23 -0800
>
>Here's a wild idea.
>
>I have compost bins, not worm bins. If I notice a bunch of flying
>insects when I open the bin (in warmer months), I add a layer of
>coffee grounds or shredded newspaper, and I no longer see them. Since
>coffee grounds are free for the asking from coffee shops, I tend to
>use coffee grounds more often.
>
>I assume that the flying insects are looking for moist places to lay
>eggs, so adding a layer of dry newspaper sends them elsewhere, and
>the coffee grounds either mask the odor of the rotten fruit
>underneath, or else do not appeal as an egg-laying substrate. Worms
>do like coffee grounds, though I don't know how much is too much.
>
>
>
>
>
> >I've been plagued by fruit flies in my worm bins for a couple of
> >years.  Have twice completely cleaned them out and started over.
> >Finally, this winter, I think I may have found a remedy.  I have a
> >programmable thermostat and I set it to 55 degrees down from 60
> >degrees at night.  Now, I no longer have fruitflies.
> >Coincidentally, I also don't have any spiders anymore.  I don't
> >really mind the spiders but I think it has just gotten too cold at
> >night for them.
> >Judy Hainaut
>
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