Ants have taken over compost bin??? HELP!!????

Question

What should i do if ants have taken over my compost bin? THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! PLEASE HELP!!!????? sure ants and other bugs can be expexted but there are LOADS, likie an entire coloney, INFACT MORE LIKE 10 WHOLE COLONIES!!!!!!!! HEEELLLPPP MEEEEEEE!!!??????

Answer 1

Ants are in your compost because there is something sweet in that pile that they love.

But since compost eventually ends up back in my garden bed, I do NOT use any toxins in my pile.  Ants will always enter a compost pile; it's the AMOUNT of ants that has to be maintained.

I do not set the compost pile on fire.  What I do to cut down the insects and ants is pour STEAMING HOT WATER over the pile.  That will kill off the ants that are in contact with the hot steam.

Then stir up the compost to get the water all over the compost.

Then repeat the hot water treatment in a day, and then another day until the ant problem is under control.  Eventually the ants will get tired of their unwanted baths and move elsewhere.

If ants are still there after a week or so, get rid of the pile.  You may have an large underground colony of ants that are squatting on your acreage.

Answer 2

a commercial ant bait should do the trick. It's sold at grocery stores, in the roach bait aisle. choose one that kills the whole colony or the queen.

if you're fighting fire ants, try outdoor fire ant bait, commonly found at hardware stores.

Answer 3

Get some petrol and set the compost heap on fire. The flames will kill all the ants. Make sure you know how to keep a fire under control though.

You may have to get another compost bin though but there is not much else you can do.

Answer 4

Believe it or not, ants in the bin are a good thing. Ants will help break down the compost turning it into humus much quicker.  The whole idea of a compost bin is for green material to rot and break down, worms, insects and fungi are what actually does this. never add any insecticides or fungicides to your bin.  Doing that will just slow down the end process that you are trying to achieve.

If they are getting to be too much of a pain, try turning the bin more often. That may make them think twice about using the area as their nest.

Answer 5

the plant doctor is wrong.. earthworms and fungi are the one doing the work not the ants.. ants will kill earthworms and eventually eat some fungi.. petrol and chemicals are not recommended though.. hot water is okay as long as it will sink down but should penetrate the colony.

Answer 6

Get some ant and wasp killer from your local garden center its only £1.99 and you can still use the compost

Answer 7

put a tablet of camphor (kapoor) in apolythin pack with  hole so that the smell of camphor spred. ant will leav that place

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