Ants in compost

[Lucretian]

Hi all,

I've got ants in my compost - is this something I should act on. Am a little concerned about the prospect of spreading ant larvae around my veg patch.

Cheers,

L

[Phisherman]

No need for concern unless these are fire ants. Turn the pile once a week and they will likely be gone within a month. I have a pile of leaf mold with a colony of ants in it and I used some the other day to mulch chives, and I did it bare-handed. One of my hands was covered in ants--weird feeling but they didn't sting. Ants are very clean creatures.

[Father Haskell]

They'll die if removed from the protection of the colony.

Is the pile wet or dry? The latter is more to their liking.