New compost corner full of ants and eggs
gardeninglily1
Posts: 424
Is this ok? I've looked at other threads on the subject and soaked the heap but the ants just keep busy in their own ant-like way
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gardeninglily1
Posts: 424
gardeninglily1
Posts: 424
Posts
I don't really know what I'm looking at. Are the ants living in your compost heap? If so, does it matter much? Do you need the compost right now or is it waiting to be spread about in the autumn?
I have ants living in different parts of my garden but they don't bother me and I don't bother them.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
If your'e worried, leave it open for a few days, birds will feast on the eggs.
I'm not ready to use it - probably next year. Just looks horrible...I hate insect eggs yuk
I'll leave it open thanks
As a pedantic aside, those are probably pupae. I lifted some granite slabs, ready to lift turf and put them in properly, and found huge 'eggs', 5mm long, much bigger than the ants. Turns out they were pupae. You can use ant powder, it has very low toxicity, such as pyrethrin which comes from flowers - the names escapes me - the production of which is a significant benefit to the Kenyan economy! Also they do not like excess damp, or boiling water even! But too much water would wash away the nutrients.
Just let the birdies feast, as suggested. You'll make some little friends.
I also get ants and eggs in my compost. I ignore them, and continue to turn the compost when needed, as if they weren't there.
Thanks LeadFarmer - that's what I will tell my OH to do. Good to know that I'm not going to be host to a new colony of giant ants that take over the world (have I been watching too many sci-fi films lately?)
Thanks everyone