How Do You Prevent Ants From Eating Composting Worms?

Ants are among several common insect visitors to worm composting bins. It's natural for them to be attracted to the area by the kitchen scraps that you feed your composting worms. While most species won't injure your worms, ants will deprive them of adequate nutrition by consuming their food sources. It may be a little alarming to see ants scurrying about your compost, but it's not a crisis. You can easily manage the situation with a little thoughtful attention to the area.

• 1

  Turn your worm compost often. This will chase many types of ants away because they don't like the activity. Repeat several times daily until they're all gone.

• 2

  Douse the composting area generously with water to flush ants out of it. This is usually all it takes to send invading ants packing. They're often not interested in homesteading the area, particularly if it's shaded. They're probably just foraging for a meal and will leave in search of easier pickings.

• 3

  Treat the area surrounding the compost bin with pyrethrum dust or ant granules. Don't get any of the product on the compost itself, as it will kill your worms. Follow the packaging instructions carefully and retreat as necessary.

• 4

  Clean up and remove any food products that have spilled around the composting area. These are sure-fire ant attractants. Keep the grass surrounding the composting site mowed and remove tall weeds regularly. This will not only improve the appearance of the bed, but deprive ants and other insect invaders of hiding and housing opportunities.

• 5

  Soak a length of cotton clothesline in kerosene. Surround the perimeter of your ground level worm composting bed with the line to create a barrier. Ants dislike kerosene and won't cross your barrier.

• 6

  Set each leg of a raised composting bed into an empty coffee can. Mix 2 tbsp. of liquid hand dishwashing soap with 1 qt. of water. Pour 2 or 3 inches of soapy water into each can. Replenish the solution as it evaporates.

• 7

  Feed your worms properly according to variety and your particular composting conditions and environment. Take great care not to overfeed them. This makes more food available to ants, and increases the acidity of the bed to the point that your worms will be uncomfortable. Worms leaving the bed is a good sign of poor feeding practices.