These pests are attracted to the damp soil of potted houseplants.
They need moist soil to lay their eggs, and theorganic matterin the dirt feeds their larvae.
Fungus gnats do not bite people or pets.
The Spruce / Bailey Mariner
Larval root damage commonly causes wilting, among other problems.
Often, overwatered indoor plants attract gnats.
Read on to find more ways toget rid of gnatsin plants naturally.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
What Are Fungus Gnats?
Although they look like mini mosquitoes, fungus gnats are small flies of theOrfeliaandBradysiaspecies.
They are tiny insects.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
The adults grow to be about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long.
Fungus gnats tend to remain near their source of foodthe organic matter and fungus in the soil.
The larvae are 1/4 inch-long, translucent white or gray worms with shiny black heads.
A fungus gnat’s life cycle is fast.
Tiny eggs in a warm house hatch in three days after being laid.
They remain as larvae for 10 days before pupating.
The pupa stage is four days, emerging as flying adults that immediately start the cycle again.
Both the eggs and the larvae will eventually die off in dry soil.
Also, remove any standing water from runoff saucers.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide as Larvacide
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide and four parts water.
Use this solution to water your plants.Hydrogen peroxidewill kill the gnat larvae without injuring your plant.
Keep reapplying weekly until you notice the gnats are gone.
Cover it with tape or cheesecloth, leaving holes large enough for the bugs to get to it.
The scent will attract the bugs and they sip the solution and drown.
Both are considered effective insecticidal soaps, particularly Castile, which has plant-based oils.
The soap kills bugs by suffocating and dehydrating them, breaking down the insect’s protective body surface.
Kill Fungal Food Sources With Cinnamon and Chamomile
Both ground cinnamon and chamomile tea are natural fungicides.
Since fungus gnats snack on fungus, killing their food source sends them away.
Trap Them With Potatoes
Existing fungus gnat larvae can be trapped using pieces of raw potato.
Place the potato pieces flesh side down on the soil and check under them every couple of days.
Remove any feeding larvae, and replace the potato with fresh pieces.
Do not let the potatoes dry out.
To control adult fungus gnats, use yellowsticky fly traps.
These traps are precisely what they sound likesheets of paper with adhesive.
Fungus gnats are attracted to yellow and get stuck in the traps.
When the trap is full, throw it away and place another one.
Yellow sticky traps are sold in the pesticide section of your garden center.
it’s possible for you to also find small versions with little stakes to stab into the soil.
These bacteria control gnats but pose no risk to people or pets.
Mosquito dunks are dissolved in water, and the solution is used to water the plants.
You will probably need more than one app, but follow the label instructions.
Granules are sprinkled over the soil, introducing some bacteria with each watering.
What Causes Fungus Gnats?
Contaminated soil is the main culprit.
A fungus gnat problem often starts in nurseries, where many susceptible young seedlings are grown in damp conditions.
You may be bringing home a problem without even knowing it.
Before bringing a houseplant indoors, quarantine new plants or those living outdoors for extended periods.
As an ongoing prevention method, avoid overwatering your houseplants.
Soggy soil and a full runoff saucer attract gnats.
Steinernema feltiaeis a nematode that feeds on fungus gnat larvae and releases a bacterium that kills them.
Common options includepyrethrins, permethrin, and bifenthrin.
Sprays can harm beneficial insects, so use them carefully and judiciously.
A typical app involves spraying the soil surface and the plant parts where adult gnats tend to land.
Again, they are harmless to humans, and they do not bite.
Think of them as fruit flies that hang around plants instead of fruit.
Fungus Gnats as Houseplant and Indoor Pests- 5.584.
Colorado StateExtension,
Fungus gnats in indoor plants.
