They're present because the compost is on the wet side.

So, all you need do is mix some browns into the pile.

They are commonly present in compost. Not necessarily because you need to add browns. They will actually help aid you if you don't have enough browns to add so you don't have to limit so much your greens. I have a few compost piles. One is specifically to compost larger material like wood chips, shavings, and other refuse from woodworking or pruning shrubs and such. Can't get much more brown than that and I have BSF's (black soldier fly in case someone doesn't know what that stands for) in that one as much as I do in the faster piles. I think that if they are multiplying elsewhere close to you then you will end up with them no matter what you do short of using a pesticide (which wouldn't make sense).

Why are they good? Because they break down a lot of organic material fast. Then worms eat that stuff and the fungi that eat that smaller stuff. I can't say I understand your problem with them if you have done the research since they are not a threat, but a help. The first three things to come up under a search engine tell you that much (probably more, but I only looked up three to see what could possess you to NOT want them after doing research and found nothing). I mean, there are so many crawling things in good compost that I'm surprised those are your concern. What about the centipedes and spiders? If you want compost, it doesn't happen by itself. You have to allow composters to do their job or use completely different method of composting like vermicomposting. That's kind of like wanting to garden but not wanting to get dirty. It can be done. You just have to use different methods like hyrdoponics.

The larvae don't multiply. The adults do (as I'm sure you realize). And they multiply where the gettin's good. They won't multiply in your garden if you properly use finshed compost. They will fly back to your compost bin more than likely. The same reason they infested it in the first place. I know these things are creepy looking, but you really do get used to them after awhile.

I agree, I was thoroughly creeped out when I first saw them in my worm bin, but got used to them after a while. I haven't seen them in a while, the temps is still good inside the bin so I don't know what happened to them.

Sorry about the typo in the Subject line.

I posted a follow-up earlier, but I don't see it! Anyway, when I got home today, I had my second look at the BSFs and saw how much work they had done through the day and was rather impressed. They may grow on me in time. What a yucky way to desrcibe THAT! Anyway, I'll see how it goes and spend some more quality time with them this weekend to see if we can have a nice working relationship.

I get excited when I see BSFL. That means I know that the waste is breaking down and the possibility of breeding nasty houseflies is lowered. Also, whenever I put a handful of them into my worm bin, the worm population seems to just explode. BSFL poop is miraculous stuff

Black Soldier Fly larva in compost means that the compost is too wet. The Black Soldier Fly larva are of no benefit to the composting process and since the only reason the adults exist is to mate and produce eggs that will become more larva they have no real value (except as food for birds) and therefore the larva have no value in the compost pile. The presence of fly larva in compost means there has been poor management of that compost pile.
Those who think the BSF is a beneficial insect are confusing that insect with the Black Soldier Beetle, a different species of insect.

Kimmsr is simply wrong and as usual is spreading bad information. Hey, Kimmsr, go ahead and back up your claims with some research that refutes the observations of many of us experienced composters and the information put out by extension services. I am the first to admit that extension services don't always provide accurate information and one should rely as much on the experience of others or other supporting information. But in this case they do get it right and there is plenty of supporting info to show it out there. Personally, I don't care if all of them were to say that BSF's are bad because I've personally observed otherwise just as plenty of members here have done. Someone else's observation doesn't trump what my own two eyes see.

Don't be surprised if you attract more birds to your compost, Bradley. They love those larvae and when you turn your pile the birds will reduce the population quickly. It takes a little time for birds to notice a food source sometimes, but once they do you will probably notice them waiting for you to turn the pile! You could even pick them out for bird food, but I doubt you'll be doing that.

I am disregarding Kissmr since I've researched it myself. I have come to accept the BSFs in my compost. I've seen what they did with a sweet potato peel and cole slaw. They LOVE cole slaw. This weekend I'm going to give some of the larvae to the koi in my pond ... using gloves and some utensil of course. I'm no longer alarmed about their presence and I'm sorry I got kissmr riled up, again.

By the way, here in Austin we're in a bad drought and I barely water the pile, if any. So, it's not poorly managed, nor is it too wet.

I don't like BSF larvae because they look gross. But I do like how fast they work the pile. BSF Larvae poo makes good compost.

Moisture in the pile is not related to the presence of BSF larvae.

As this article from North Carolina State University atates the presence of the Black Soldier Fly larva in a compost pile is an indication of poor managenment practices. The larva can only exist where there is too much moisture for the aerobic bacteria that should be doing the work to exist in. Most often what I have seen is that a compost pile with the BSF larva is in anaerobic digestion, because there is simply too much moisture in the mix.
I have posted similar information about this in the past only to be told that these "experts" do not know what they are talking about by people that do not have anything more that annecdotal evidence, no good research, for support.

Here is a link that might be useful: NCSU on BSF in compost

Poor management does not necessarily indicate too much moisture.

And poor management does not result in poor compost. One persons poor management is another persons "let it set and rot" philosophy. There are certainly different ways to achieve finished compost.

IME, BSF larvae show up when the pile hasn't been disturbed and its on the cool side with lots raw material. And it has nothing to do with moisture or aerobic activity.

And I have never seen BSF larvae in an anaerobic environment, I doubt they could live there.

This post is now decomposed and closed. If you'd like to debate it further, please start another post.