Your compost bin is home sweet home for an unbelievable assortment of bacterium , fungus , worm and insect . Although atomic number 8 - bonk bacterium comprise the rank and file workers who do most of the putrefaction in your compost bin , the worm and worms – called forcible decomposers , according to the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension – contribute by mixing the waste , as well as bite and tear it into smaller pieces . Several insect and worm metal money found in compost bins opt to reproduce there , as well , since it provides such a favorable surround for food for thought and growth .

Fly Larvae

Soldier fly larvae are the most common type of larvae found in compost bin . The soldier flee , a black , compost - loving fly ball species , chooses moist , nitrogen - copious areas of compost waste material to lie in their testis . seem in the shape of maggots that can be up to 1 inch long , the rainfly larvae often arouse feelings of disgust and mutual exclusiveness in the hearts of composters , but they ’re typically quite harmless . In fact , the mien of these tremble - inducing larva in your compost often show healthy compost – unless , of course of study , they ’re overrunning your ABA transit number .

Soldier fly larvae are characterise by their creamy , gray - white section bodies , which typically wiggle furiously upon being disturb , as often find during veritable compost bin maintenance . If you bulge out seeing a lot of them , take redundant amount to incubate nitrogen - rich beginning , such as vegetable and scrap permissive waste , with at least six inches of carbon - robust materials to discourage the adults from laying additional eggs .

Beetle Larvae

Like soldier fly larvae , the coming into court of beetle larvae in compost ABA transit number often startle unsuspecting composters , but it simply intend that your compost is decomposing . vernacular beetle in compost include the ground beetle , the feather - wing mallet and the rove beetle . Immature beetles , called grubs , possess recollective , cylindrical organic structure of vary colors and sizes ; they typically move rather lento . Beetle larvae consume an motley of vegetable and plant waste in your compost bin .

Worm Larvae

Nematodes contribute more physical decomposers to your compost bin than any other dirt ball or insect species . In fact , according to the Cornell University Waste Management Institute , if you pick up a exclusive fistful of compost , you ’re in all likelihood holding several million of these worms in your bridge player . Unlike the gravid soldier vanish and beetle larvae , you wo n’t see nematode larva because they ’re microscopic .

nematode rest up to 70 percentage of their eggs in the top 4 inches of your compost , according to Palwinder Grewal , co - generator of " Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents . " As the larvae hatch , they burrow deeply into the compost in lookup of nutrient , which varies , depending upon the nematode species , but includes plant ancestor succus , decaying vegetation and bacteria .

References

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