Diptera: Sciaridae
Description
Adult fungus gnats are little black flies about 1/8 inch in length, and larvae or maggots have a shiny black head and elongated, whitish to transparent body with 1/4 inch in length.
Adults are mostly appearing whenever you water your plants, and their presence is considered a nuisance. Adult fungus gnats do not damage plants but their larvae feed on roots, stunting plant growth and causing foliage to yellow and wilt.
Life Cycle
Fungus gnats develop through four stages- egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adults live about one week, during which time each female deposits 100 to 150 eggs. They are laid near the stems of plants, and they hatch within 4 days. The larvae feed for about two weeks and then pupate. After 3 to 7 days in the pupal stage, adults emerge.
Damage
The larvae inflict extensive damage on seedlings by feeding on roots. Plant symptoms that can indicate fungus gnats are sudden wilting, loss of vigor, poor growth, and yellowing. With severe infestations, a considerable portion of the plant may be lost.
Get rid of Fungus Gnats
You can get rid of Fungus Gnat infestations using beneficial nematodes for fungus gnats with the natural pest control products below:
- NemaKnights Fungus Gnat Control
- Nema Globe Pot Poppers
- Fungus Gnat Nematodes
- Nema Globe EFI Sticky Traps
- NemaKnights Fungus Gnat Control
- Pot poppers- Nema Globe Nematodes
- Fungus Gnat Sticky Traps
Advice for Fungus Gnat
- Vinegar trap: Place a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or red wine, and a few drops of dish soap in a bowl, and stir them. Set your bowl in an area where adult gnats are prevalent. They are attracted to it, fall into it, and die.
- Top-dress the soil with sand so that fungus gnats cannot lay eggs on the soil.
- Remove the top inch of potting soil and replace it with new, sterile potting soil. This will remove fungus gnat eggs and larvae.
