How many ants are too many ants in a compost pile? - Ask Extension
I was turning my compost today, which I try to do about once a month, and I noticed a LOT of ants in the material that I was pulling from the bottom o...
Knowledgebase
How many ants are too many ants in a compost pile? #872936
Asked June 13, 2024, 11:47 AM EDT
I was turning my compost today, which I try to do about once a month, and I noticed a LOT of ants in the material that I was pulling from the bottom of the bin. I saw worms as well, but the number of ants seemed truly excessive. Is a large population of ants in a compost pile a bad thing? If so, do you have any recommendations on how I might address the issue? Attached is a photo of my compost bin. I was not able to capture a picture showing the quanity of ants unfortunately.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Some ants can be a sign of a healthy compost pile. If there are large amounts it is likely the pile is too dry and needs to be turned more often. Below is a link with information on beneficial/non-beneficial insects in compost piles.
https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/5120/compost-critters.html#:~:text=Most%20are%20good%20guys,matter%20in%20the%20compost%20pile.
https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/5120/compost-critters.html#:~:text=Most%20are%20good%20guys,matter%20in%20the%20compost%20pile.
