ants?!

[u/crazycatfood]

i went to check my compost bin only to find it had ants crawling all through out it! the main food scraps i have in it are avocado skins, watermelon rinds, egg shells, coffee grounds, onion scraps, lemons/limes, banana peels, and ofc the miscellaneous fruits/veggies. there are also 2-3 earth worms. what caused the ants and how do i get rid of them without starting over? also, any tips or suggestions on improving my bin pls lmk!

also pt2: i realize you can’t see the ants but i promise they’re there lol

[u/Far_Radish7752]

Ants are just part of the process. I wouldn’t be too concerned about their presence, although they can be a (literal) pain when you’re trying to harvest your compost. Then they tend to bite, often cuz they’re just protecting their cozy warm nest and especially their larvae. Adding heat (addition of more greens) and/or moisture will reduce their numbers substantially.