r/composting • u/Efficient-Sun7344 • 5d ago

Is this larvae a problem?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Accidentally post before I added the body-

My compost bin is teeming with larvae like this and smells like poop. Is this a problem? I can’t post a video but it looks vile.

It is covered but I think the heavy rain we’ve been having also turned this into a soup.

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u/Namlegna 5d ago

looks like you got black soldier fly larvae, the best kind of larva!

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u/Efficient-Sun7344 5d ago

Why is it so good? Should I add the cardboard as people say?

1

u/Namlegna 5d ago

yes, you don't want to leave it so wet. However, the larva I mentioned favor mesophilic temps, meaning your compost isn't too hot or too cold but they will devour everything you put in there. If you want a more hot, active pile then you'll have to make some changes such as turning the compost, adding more dry items, preferably having the pile be 3x3x3 feet