Compost & Ants

[fitzsie]

Lifted off the top of my compost and it is full of ants and I mean full ! They have made themselves a lovely kingdom , with all sorts of tunnels and eggs in various stages of growth. In fact the outriders swarmed out when I disturbed them and I manage to obtain a few bites on my hand. Little blighters.

Is this a good thing to have in your compost, should I get rid of them or just let nature take its course?

[fitzsie]

[cornykev]

I found thousands of ants and eggs in a few of my bins, I dusted with ant power, don't know if I should have done it but it's too late now.   ::)

[ed dibbles]

Have the same situation with ants in  one of my compost bins on the allotment. They are doing a great job breaking down the green matter. so good there is little left for me to use. ;)

They will get a nasty surprise in the winter when they will be evicted, scattered on the plot and dug in! ;)

[RenishawPhil]

Our girls like to eat ants as they run out of the compost bins. They just stand there pecking at at them. Eggs are a real treat for them

[GRACELAND]

can't do no harm in the heap    they only cause trouble i find  in pots around the roots  causing them to dry out  >:(

[grawrc]

I watered my compost heap and they moved out! I disturbed a red ant nest when weeding my asparagus bed. Now those ones I don't like!

Actually there seems to be a huge increase in the ant population this year.

[pumkinlover]

I think they help break down the compost but can be a nuisance elsewhere! I try to tolerate them it's only when they are in plant pots or near the house that I do anything about them. I did not know about differnt types- I take it some are worse than others?

[GRACELAND]

i  think the red ones bite more  but i think if  not in house  leave alone unless  causing problem  ;)

[Borlotti]

The red ones bite, I know cause they crawled up my trousers and bit my legs, bum and hand.  Got home, just before the thunder storm, and had a shower, put TCP on the bites, washed all my clothes.  I was on my knees on a plastic bag cutting the long grass with shears.  Won't do that again in a hurry. Don't mind if they stay in the compost heap, but they are everywhere this year, and yes I will get some more ant powder.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They don't like wet, so a little human-produced fertiliser will encourage them to move on, and hasten decay in the heap as well.

[fitzsie]

To be honest it's absolutely fascinating watching the ants working and admiring the home they have built. I guess they won't be around for too much longer anyway. As for these black ants biting, I think the "soldier"ants who swarmed out to protect the nest have got a hell of a bite. I had to put gloves on to cover the compost back up again as they were everywhere and could certainly move fast !

[woodypecks]

Put empty upturned flowerpot on surface of soil wherever you have a nuisance colony of ants .....in a couple of weeks time they will all  move in......slide spade underneath pot and  take them to another location.
My  " Ant Hotel " system works with both plastic or terracotta pots .
Not sure how on earth you deal with an ant  " kingdom " though !     ::)

[RenishawPhil]

Put empty upturned flowerpot on surface of soil wherever you have a nuisance colony of ants .....in a couple of weeks time they will all  move in......slide spade underneath pot and  take them to another location.
My  " Ant Hotel " system works with both plastic or terracotta pots .
Not sure how on earth you deal with an ant  " kingdom " though !     ::)

Send in my girls!

[fitzsie]

Distance might be a problem though otherwise be my guest !!!

[RenishawPhil]

Distance might be a problem though otherwise be my guest !!!

Hehe I've cycled round your way