Hi everyone! Been a long time gardener, somewhat of a composter as well. I just decided to take a look at the two compost bins my dad has had for a couple of years now. He’s mainly been putting greens – grass clippings, and not using them. I try to add cardboard when I can but don’t think it has helped much.
I opened one of his composts today and saw this. I know these bugs are bad for the roots, I’ve had problems with them in my house plants. But other than sifting them out, is this okay? It looks like their poop. Any ideas and advices? Thank you! 😊
by DrogonTamer
12 Comments
Maybe grub poop does look like that, but that looks 100% like rat droppings.
Can’t tell if that’s poop or the largest collection of rat poop I’ve ever seen
Seems like a semi harmless place for them. That is their frass. But that’s a TON! There must be more of them. You may want to kill them all off so they don’t procreate, but this is great to use mixed into soil
I’m out 🤢
That’s a lot of rat droppings. If they’re not getting turned regularly then rats have likely moved into the middle layer somewhere. Happy hunting!
This is beetle larvae frass. Source: I used to breed beetles.
I’m scared reading these comments 😭😭 We’ve never had rats anywhere!
Every thing is good in the compost, there’s a few things you prefer there than out in the garden at large. But in the heap they can do no harm
You need chickens
Thank you everyone! I’m leaning more towards it being beetle larvae frass, since there is a lot of them, and NOT rat poop. Honestly it looks like both when I compare the pictures, so I’m not sure what to think. It hasn’t been turned in YEARS.
I’m putting up some rat traps near the compost just to be sure, waiting a week or two and then digging in. Fingers crossed 😬🤞🏻
that’s probably beetle poop because rat poop is pointed. Google it. If it’s beetle poop it’s good stuff and requires no extra composting. Good stuff for soil. If that truly was rat poop I’d be too scared to use that stuff. I don’t play with hantavirus
Hard to say if that’s rat or beetle droppings. Is there an actual rat nest in there? Or is that cavity just from the droppings falling out and creating a void? I bet it is beetles, just cause I’ve never seen such clean rat droppings, or such a clean nest.