Ant colony in my compost bin: are they beneficial?

0	composting compost ant-colony asked Dec 09 '11 at 14:24 sheendream 86●15●29●112

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According to Gardens.com, ants can definitely be beneficial to your compost in the following ways:

Shred Waste: Ants eat by chewing, tearing or grinding waste. They also tear up waste to take back to their nest or to clear passageways in the bin. Both actions assist in breaking down the green and brown materials in the compost bin.
Mix Waste: Ants are natural compost mixers. Brown and green material on the outside of the bin is moved to inside as the ants carry material to and from their nests. They also move fungi and smaller organisms to their nests which in turn moves minerals around the compost like phosphorus and potassium.
Create Aeration: Ants dig out hundreds of tunnels to and from their nests in compost piles. This gives them quick access to food in different areas of the bin. As ants create these tunnels, they are also creating airways, allowing the process of aeration to begin.
Add Fertilizer: As ants eat kitchen and plant waste that in the bin, they create their own waste. Ant excrement is digested by a bacterium that creates more nutrients in the compost bin. As a result, ant waste is enriched fertilizer that is beneficial to the compost.
Eat Other Insects: The presence of an ant colony will reduce the presence of other insects in the compost bin. Ants will eat other insects as well as plant waste. Ants are known to eat insects such as springtails, some types of mites, beetles, nematodes and soil flatworms.

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answered Dec 11 '11 at 23:58

0	Ants in your compost bin are nothing to worry about! They actually will help breakdown the compost by moving things around - letting the air get in to break things down. link answered Jan 23 at 14:44 sheendream 86●15●29●112

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Asked: Dec 09 '11 at 14:24

Seen: 1,295 times

Last updated: Jan 23 at 14:44

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