What is their function?

This is why wood lice are so important in compost!

• Chopping the coarse ingredients
• Nutrients are released
• The soil is loosened
• Compost is prepared for fungi and bacteria

Wood lice are not insects, as is often assumed, but small arachnids. They only live in damp places such as the basement. They also feel good in a well-layered compost heap or composter.

Wood lice have an important role in composting. They decompose dead plant parts and prepare the compost for other beneficial insects.

When the woodlice are done their job, bacteria and fungi can do their job. They make sure that the desired humus from which compost arises.

Woodlice live in certain layers of the compost

Woodlice can only be found in the Layers of the compostin which there are still large parts such as twigs, shredded leaves and the like. There must be a uniformly moist environment. If the compost becomes too dry, the wood lice withdraw and die.

They tamper with the coarse components of the compost material and break it up.

The beneficial insects can also be found in damp garden soils. There they help to loosen the soil and supply it with important nutrients.

Wood lice do not harm earthworms!

Some garden owners, especially inexperienced ones, fear that the cellar will eat the extremely useful earthworms in the compost.

It is not known where this untrue wisdom comes from. Woodlice and earthworms are both important beneficial insects in the garden.

Fight flies in compost

Different from cellar lobsters Flies in the compost to the uninvited visitors. They mainly settle where materials that do not belong on the compost heap, such as meat and leftover food, have been stored.

In contrast to wood lice, flies are always a sign that something is wrong with the compost.