
How to Identify and Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
Read Next
ADVERTISEMENT
Fortunately, living in the desert seems to make fungus gnats less of a problem for me, but when I lived in more humid climates, I had good success with Bacillus thuringiensis isrealensis. It doesn’t kill on contact and takes a few weeks to work, but it does work.
I’ve never had a problem with new potting soil being infected, but I’m sure it happens. I make sure there are no tears in the bag when I buy it, and after I’ve opened the bag, I twist the top closed and secure it with a rubber band. I actually do this so I don’t spill soil all over the place when I move the bags (I’m a klutz), but it probably keeps bugs out too.
It is untrue that Fungus Gnats are harmless to humans, though it may be PRACTICALLY true that most forms we encounter around the home and garden are not an immediate risk, or at least not any greater than what is already going on inside our bodies. The fungus gnat larvae, or an ancient near-relative, inhabit human bodies at a very deep and subtle level. This parasitic incursion may have been aided/facilitated by psilocybin mushrooms, as psilocybin mimics our own native DMT, and hijacks those neurological pathways, whilst "leaving a door open". We will not find a lot of information about this online, because it is not a "typical parasitic phenomenon" but rather engulfs all of humanity, and is responsible for much of our civilizational abstraction and development throughout history... Not to mention the grip/influence they have on our sensory faculties and experience. I know this seems like a wildly inappropriate comment for this webpage, but it might actually be THE MOST appropriate... <3 As far as dealing with them in soil... Neem Seed Meal soil drench helps, but does not eliminate. Introducing BTI (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) with watering seems VERY promising, but I am just beginning this regimen so cannot yet speak to the results. Introducing beneficial insects like predatory mites and rove beetles is also helpful.
I had fruit flies and gnat flies in my home. Before I knew anything about getting rid of them, I noticed they loved my used coffee grounds that had been sitting in the brew chamber and coffee! I'd find them in the pot, drowned. Then I noticed they were getting down on my left over pancakes that had syrup on them that I'd sit by the sink until after I got dressed and started dishes.
So... I started putting my used coffee grounds in a pie plate or similar, patting them down and covering them with a thin layer of pancake syrup (enough to have an eighth of an inch over the grounds). They fell for it every time! They'd go for it and get stuck n the syrup and viola! This didnt eliminate the problem but it took out a huge porion if them. To eliminate, I had to do that, I put up ribbons over trash cans and put some store bought traps in and around my houseplants. Problem solved in about a week or so.
I found that they are attracted to to light, so when the room is dark they are very active, I start puting Fly Tape in various parts of the room next to a night light and the results were staggering.
Hundreds in a matter of days.
I do it twice a month and less and less are accumulating.
Best so far!
Another trap that works well is: 1 tsp each of sugar and yeast in a jar of hot water. Cover with plastic wrap and light a match, blow it out and poke holes in the plastic.
I threw out all my plants including my beloved African violets which were blooming profusely. Not a plant left in the house. Still have gnats flying in our face and getting in our drinks. Now what can we do?
the african violets may not have been the cause; u ought to buy some more; u probably have Fruit Flies not fungus gnats; Fruit Flies can be deterred;
the poster wrote the African Violets were blooming profusely says the prob. is not fungus gnats or the plant would have been unhealthy; might be Fruit Flies~
I use Sevin dust, sprinkle on top of the soil. Repeat after watering.
I think that Sevin is deadly for pets. My cat seems to like a few if my plants, so I would check before using.
I thought of this but got scared lol. I have a lot of tropical plants....it'll be ok for them?
Comments