So I was checking out my balcony compost today, and I found a bunch of crinkly white critters in there…how did they get in there? What are they? Are they helpful or hurtful to my composting efforts?
I’m pretty sure these are grubs (japanese beetles?). Grubs are considered a terror in the garden, but in the compost pile they definitely lend a hand in breaking down the waste. Especially since my balcony compost setup is a “cold compost” effort, I have no problem with these little guys spending time here to help.
Any of you out there finding these in your composting efforts?
Yesterday, I saw a big iridescent, green insect trying to get out via an air hole in the compost bin. It looked just like an internet photo of a Japanese beetle, and it was too big to escape. It’s not at that ventilation spot any more so it’s either still in there or may have escaped via another route.
Any suggestions for remedies?
Compost piles are diverse ecosystems for lots of different creatures…you might see lots of different critters large and small, but most likely it’s not a problem.