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Fungus gnats may end up indoors, attracted by light, or plants brought indoors already containing fungus gnat eggs, larvae, or pupae.
Female gnats are continuously looking for a place to lay their eggs, ideally near the base of a plant growing in organically rich, moist soil.
Areas in Your House that Fungus Gnats Love
In their 7-day-long lives, adult fungus gnats have only one thing on their mind – a drive to procreate.
Gnats lay their eggs in moist locations, including lakes, ponds, potholes, dripping pipes, and drains. Gnats love unprotected compost bins or overflowing trash cans because they provide everything a gnat could need to survive!
Honey and vinegar attract gnats, so mix some of each into a glass bowl and use the lure method to catch the gnats. Scent candles, potpourri, and fragrant oil burners also attract them.
Fruits, vegetables, fresh flowers, and houseplants are all potential food items for gnats. A swarm of gnats will be drawn to spilled food, an open trash can, a sink drain, or any unattended fruit or vegetables.
Why Are Fungus Gnats in My Yard in the First Place?
Do you love your garden? Fungus gnats adore your garden – they think it’s paradise. It offers moisture and food in garden beds, fruit trees, and decaying organic debris.
Fungi are their delicacy, so any leaf mold, compost heaps, and overwatered areas; are fungus gnat magnets. And then there’s their penchant for yellow and lights, more attractions.
You may have noticed them hovering in a group in mid-air above a patch of lawn. Adult fungi gnats only live for a week. During this time, they must mate, and females must get their eggs into larvae-friendly soil or organically rich drains.
The group huddle is an orgy in which males move up and down through the group, and females stay stationary.
Once spent, the males die, and the females are left to find a safe, fertile spot to lay their eggs – between 100 and 300 hundred in clusters of 30 to 40—the one-week frenzy.
They scatter for a moment if they’re disturbed, only to regroup.
Should I Worry About the Fungus Gnats in My House?
Fungus gnats are safe to be around as they cannot bite and don’t spread diseases. They are only a real risk if you have indoor plants, as their larvae spread plant pathogens and can harm the hair roots.
Still, they’re unwelcome guests. And the fact that they always head for your face irritates them. They do this because they’re attracted to the CO2 you exhale – it’s them, not you.
The smell is the cause of everything. Most gnats are drawn to odors, particularly fruity and sweet aromas, including deodorants and scented candles.
As a gardener, you understand what plants need. Knowing what fungus gnats need helps you better understand them and respond appropriately to eliminate them.
Gnats generally inhabit organically rich environments outdoors and enclosed spaces where dampness encourages fungus growth. There are, however, a lot of additional factors.
Dirty drains, leaking appliances, and dripping pipes could all be a source of indoor fungus gnats. But most likely, they’re merely attracted to the light (or coolness in hot climates).
Do Fungus Gnats Serve Any Purpose?
Although we would all like to get rid of gnats since they are so annoying, they have a place in nature. Excellent flower pollinators and gnats are a vital food source for larger insects, bats, and birds.
The presence of a few gnats in your garden is an excellent indication that your plants and flowers are getting enough pollination, primarily if you farm organically.
How Do I Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in My House?
The source is probably indoors if you have a persistent fungus gnat problem throughout the year, regardless of the season.
- The culprits are frequently potted plants, so check whether the soil is excessively wet and for the presence of larvae – white, almost translucent little worms.
- Look for moisture in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and leaks.
- Examine other places that may accumulate water, such as roofs, crawlspaces, and walls and floors close to exterior walls.
- Cleaning the area and fixing a moisture issue should swiftly eliminate the fungus gnats.
Using Insecticides
Sprays containing pyrethrins or aerosols marketed against flying insects will quickly kill adult fungus gnats.
These sprays are only a very temporary and short-term fix. Once the chemical wears off, more flies will likely appear unless you can reach and treat the area where larvae develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of fungus gnats permanently?
The best way to permanently eliminate fungus gnats is to get the watering right in your house plants. Avoid having constantly damp soil. Use a peroxide soak to kill eggs, and add sand or stone mulch to the top of the pots. Yellow Sticky traps are an excellent way to capture the adults.
What causes fungus gnats in the house?
The house’s most significant fungus gnats cause is standing water or wet soil. If you have fungus gnats, you are over-watering your house plants. To get rid of gnats, use yellow sticky pads for adults and a peroxide soil soak to kill any eggs and larvae.
Where do fungus gnats lay eggs?
In the house, fungus gnats lay eggs on the surface of potted house plants that contain organic matter, such as compost. The gnats lay eggs close to the base of the plant, and these hatch into larvae. These are white shiny worm-looking larvae with blackheads. When dealing with an infestation, it is important to kill these with a peroxide soak.
Will gnats go away on their own?
It is unlikely that fungus gnats will go away on their own. Your house has the perfect environment for year-round breeding. To get rid of an infestation, use YELLOW sticky pads to catch the adults, as these are attracted to the color yellow. Then soak the soil of all plants with a 4/1 water/peroxide soil soak.
What Spray kills fungus gnats?
Insecticide sprays are not suitable for you in an enclosed environment. It is unnecessary, as you can kill fungus gnats without sprays. Use Yellow sticky pads to attract the adults, and a peroxide soil soak on all plants, killing the eggs and larvae. To prevent further infestations, reduce watering to your plants and allow the soil surface to dry completely before watering again.
Are fungus gnats harmful?
Fungus gnats are not harmful to us or pets in the house. They are more of an inconvenience and annoyance. However, getting rid of any infestation is still essential as the larvae feed on the roots of some house plants.
How long do gnats live in a house?
Adult gnats live in the house for 7 to 10 days. Adult fungus gnats will lay up to 300 eggs in stings of up to 40. This hatch and start the cycle over. The cycle from egg to adult is usually around three weeks; the total life cycle is around one month. An infestation can occur quickly, with each adult female laying 300 eggs in her lifetime.
Summarizing Why There Are Fungus Gnats in My House
It is becoming more apparent how dangerous these seemingly harmless creatures can be to plants, spreading pathogens and damaging roots. Fighting with adult fungus gnats is futile – you must find the site where eggs, larvae, and pupa develop and deal with them.
