Although you do not often encounter flies and maggots in the HOTBIN, it is possible to come across a few that have strayed inside. If this is the case, it may indicate that the contents of your HOTBIN are likely not suitable for high composting temperatures (40-60°C).
What kind of flies are associated with compost bins?
Houseflies and fruit flies are the most common types of flies that you may encounter in and around a compost bin. Both thrive in warm environments, where they have access to plenty of fermenting and rotting material to feed on and lay their eggs in.
Prevent flies and maggots with a hot HOTBIN
The basis for preventing flies and maggots in the HOTBIN comes down to two key points:
- The HOTBIN is a sealed unit - they will rarely enter through the open lid when you are filling the HOTBIN.
- Keep the HOTBIN hot - once the HOTBIN is above 40°C, the eggs that were laid in the waste before it went into the HOTBIN will die.
At home you can:
- Keep your food waste caddy closed;
- Keep ripe fruit in the fridge, away from fruit flies.
In the HOTBIN you can:
- Keep the temperature between 40-60°C;
- Check that all hatches and lids are closed properly;
- Wipe the outside with a cloth to remove any residual waste, odors, and materials.
How can flies and maggots end up in a closed HOTBIN anyway?
As soon as they get the chance, flies like to lay their eggs in moist, warm, and rotting material. They are especially fond of kitchen waste bins if the lid is partially or completely open. Female flies lay on average about 120 to 150 eggs, which hatch within 72 hours.
Note for the clever ones among us: some platforms recommend wrapping your fruit and vegetable waste in newspaper before adding it to the compost heap. Contrary to this advice, our HOTBIN team strongly advises against it. The newspaper will likely be visible in the final compost due to its high lignin content, likely slowing down the decomposition process of the complex waste. It can also block airflow in the HOTBIN, which may cause the heap to become anaerobic.
Why does the number of flies in my HOTBIN seem to be increasing?
At the moment you add your food waste to the HOTBIN, it is possible that not all fly eggs have hatched yet. Since these are not visible to the naked eye, you cannot easily check this. If your HOTBIN does not reach a high temperature (20-25°C), it creates the perfect conditions for the eggs to hatch, allowing the larvae to easily grow into adult flies, which will eventually cause their population to grow.
Why are there flies around the air vent and the harvest hatch?
Occasionally you may see some flies buzzing around the air vent or the harvest hatch, and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent this. These flies are attracted by the residual smell of waste, but will turn back fairly quickly if they cannot find a food source or a place to lay their eggs. Therefore, always ensure that all hatches are closed properly!
How do I prevent maggots and flies in the HOTBIN?
If you ensure that your HOTBIN is hot enough (40 - 60 °C), you will not find any flies in your HOTBIN next time. Are you having trouble getting your HOTBIN to this temperature? Then consider the following quick but very effective cheats to get your HOTBIN to 60°C:
- Add a box of grass clippings along with sufficient paper/cardboard and wood chips. Mix this through the waste already in the HOTBIN;
- Don't have grass? Then add 2-3 cups of chicken pellets or chicken manure;
- Check if any excess moisture is visible through the aeration plate in the base. If this is the case, add half a bucket of cardboard and half a bucket of wood chips;
The HOTBIN should now heat up, causing all flies to be composted within 2 days.
