Woodlice in Compost bins ?

Hi,

We have a couple of square plastic compost bins and usually when the lid is opened we find a variery of creatures and lots of small worms working away.

This spring, when composting similar garden waste and raw kitchen peelings when opening either bin up there is a mass of wooodlice on top busily doing their thing.

Wondered why such a sudden change ?
Have we somehow done something to change the 'balance' of the bins ?

 

Maybe its a bit dryer, too dry for worms.

 

I'm guessing there's plenty of woody materials in there, which would take a long time to rot if not for the woodlice helping it along.

 

Woodlice have small mouth parts and eat soft materials, like decomposing plant material.

 

A measure of compost being ready is when the last of them leave, they also enjoy cucumber seedlings at the 3- day- up stage, delicately eating circular patterns from the leaf edge.

Encouraged in the compost bin, BANNED from the greenhouse !

 

Yes, they like spinach seedlings too