Flies/bugs in composter

I am finding bugs and flies around the composter that I started up this spring. What might I be doing incorrectly and how can I get rid of them? Are they harmful to the compost itself?

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1 Comment To "Flies/bugs in composter"

#1 Comment By Downtoearthdigs On 06/28/2015 @ 3:50 am

Fruit flies and fungus gnats are the most common flying insects found in and around compost bins. Generally, flies are attracted to organic materials, like food scraps, within the compost pile while gnats favor the moisture. If fruit flies are becoming a nuisance, then the ratio of greens to browns (food scraps to high carbon material) is too high. To fix this problem, add more carbon materials such as brown leaves, shredded paper or cardboard. Try to keep about 12 inches of brown material on the surface of your compost, under which with food scraps buried beneath. This article may also help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/browns-greens-compost.htm ^[1]

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