flies in the compost tumbler....?

Whenever I open the door of my compost tumbler, I get a face full of tiny flies... which isn't nice. Is there any way of getting rid of them?... or reducing their numbers?
Thank you.

 

I think you'll find they're only fruit flies after the things they find sweet, (not harmful but equally, not nice when you get a face full) and they can help with decomposition.

There are a number of things you can do - when I get them in mine, I tend to lift the compost bin lid at a distance and let 'em fly out before approaching, however, too many is often a sign that the compost is a bit too wet, so add more 'browns' on top of the wetter stuff, covering kitchen/fruit scraps with a layer of newspaper, shredded carboard, grass clippings or a layer of soil - doing this, I find they pretty soon disappear.

 

I second Fidgetsmum. Covering the composting material over with something solves the problem.

 

Love the name Fidgetsmum! LOL

 

What about my name JohnBinks . I'm Alice because my daughter says I just live in Wonderland. She means Off the Planet :wink:

 

Well alice, now that I know what your name means, yes it's just as good. I must admit though 'Fidgetsmum' gives a graphic meaning straight away.

 

thanks folks

 

It's origins are easily explained - when our 3 daughters were small, they behaved like small children, wriggled a lot, couldn't sit still and thus became known collectively as 'the fidgets' - in fact, despite now being in their 20s they're still referred to in the same way, especially when they're invited or descend en masse.

 

Thanyou for that Fidgetsmum. That explains it very well!
John

 

I have the exact same problem. Nearly everything we put in our bin would, I think, be described as 'greens'. Its nearly all kitchen peelings and old allotment plants.

After putting in some new material, would it be ok to cover it with a few sheets of newspaper? Layer the bin green / newspaper & cardboard / green / newspaper etc etc?

 

the flies in question are just harmless fruit flies but yes they are a pest when one opens
the compost bin lid, they don't taste good. a layer of newspaper or an inch or two of spent
compost will stop them for a while.

Pete