Need to know how to get rid of fungus gnats? Tiny insects can be quite annoying, especially if they congregate in large numbers around your home. If you see them around your plants, the removal steps will be quite simple. However, as we will learn, fungus gnats are not always a problem with houseplants.
As with all other types of flying insects, it is important to first establish the cause of their presence and then take the appropriate steps. We asked professional pest controllers to explain why your home may be infested with fungus gnats – and how to get rid of them quickly and effectively.
Fungus gnats. vs midges: which one do I have?
Before diving into elimination methods, however, there is an important distinction to be made between gnats in general and fungus gnats in particular. Insects commonly referred to as “midges” are actually small mosquitoes and they bite humans, usually in backyards on hot summer evenings.
Fungus gnats are a completely different species of insect. The good news is that they won’t bite and, according to the owner of Kapture Pest Control (opens in a new tab) John Melchior, “adult fungus gnats are harmless unless you accidentally breathe one in when they buzz around your face.” They’re skinny, weak pilots, so it doesn’t take much to knock them off course. They won’t bite or damage the structure of your home.
The only real problem with fungus gnats is that they reproduce very quickly and in very large numbers: “an adult female fungus gnat lays about 300 eggs in her week-long life, and these eggs develop into larvae which feast on decaying organic matter in the potting mix or on the roots of your houseplants, so if it’s your houseplants you’re trying to protect, fungus gnats are definitely a problem. is not all.
Midges and water damage: what you need to know
If your home has recently been hit by a flood or tropical storm and you have large swarms of fungus gnats, you have water damage to your property. Melchior explains, “When Tropical Storm Ida hit New Jersey in 2021, homes damaged by water, whether from flooding or rain infiltration from high winds, experienced a high rate of infestation. fungal gnats due to mold that has grown in floors, walls, and ceilings. This is the only time in my career that I have been called upon to help residents deal with a large number of these harmless but annoying pests.
So if you have fungus gnats in areas where there are no houseplants, especially in a basement or bathroom, you need to get a professional to assess the damage. of water (and a pest controller to deal with the fungus gnat problem).
If you don’t have water damage in your home and want to get rid of fungus gnats in your plants yourself, follow these steps.
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
1. Identify their presence
The first port of call when trying to figure out how to get rid of midges in plants is that if your plants are looking bad, there are telltale signs of the fungus gnat.
“If you see little specks of insects walking on them, you probably have fungus gnats. Dig up the soil a little, especially near the stem of the plant. Do you see white or nearly translucent worms with shiny black heads? These are actually fungus gnat larvae.
2. Stop watering your plants
In many cases, it’s as simple as that. If your plants have soggy soil, with watering in saucers, you are overwatering. Pour the water from the saucers and let the soil dry completely. Fungus gnats “hate dry soil, so let them dry out before watering again and add an extra day to your watering routine.”
3. Give your plants a bleach bath
Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased on Amazon (opens in a new tab) and is very effective if your plants are in really bad shape. “Hydrogen peroxide immediately kills any larvae it comes in contact with,” Melchior explains and recommends the following recipe: “Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide (the standard 3% topical substance) to 4 parts water and water the soil near the base of the plant.Water slowly until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot.
Don’t have bleach? neem oil (opens in a new tab) will also do the trick.
4. Sprinkle cinnamon to protect your plants
Ground cinnamon (opens in a new tab) is antibacterial and antifungal and is very effective against fungus gnats in plants as “extra insurance, especially if your plants continue to look wilted or yellowed or you see more midges or larvae”. All you have to do is “sprinkle cinnamon on the surface of the soil”. It acts like a pesticide.
5. Quarantine new plants
If you’re careful to water your plants well and you’re still noticing fungus gnats, you may have brought them in with a new houseplant. “If you bring a new plant into the house, whether purchased from a greenhouse or nursery or replanted in your garden, it is possible to introduce adults and larvae into the potting mix.”
For this reason, you should “quarantine the plant for at least three weeks and watch for any signs of infestation before letting the newcomer join your indoor garden.”
6. Make a gnat trap
A mushroom gnat trap will look very different from a regular gnat or fruit fly trap. Wine, fruit juices and the like won’t work with fungus gnats – you need a different method.
Megan Wede, co-owner and operator of pest control company Done Right Pest Solutions (opens in a new tab)advises: “I would suggest getting some extra potting soil and an extra pot (you can use one with a plant in it, but only if you’re okay with losing that plant).
“Sprinkle the floor with a generous amount of the type of vinegar you use. Expect. The gnats should be attracted to the ground and die/drown/be saturated with vinegar or whatever method you use.
“You may need to replenish the liquid over the 2 weeks as needed (much like watering a plant). Hopefully this will keep the fungus gnats out of your other plants and into that plantless pot.
Don’t want to play with vinegar? You can buy sticky midge traps on Amazon. (opens in a new tab).
What Kills Fungus Gnats Instantly?
Wede recommends focusing on “hot” and “strong” remedies: “Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, Rice Wine Vinegar, Vinegar, Bleach.”
Is it possible to completely get rid of fungus gnats?
Yes. “It is absolutely possible to get rid of fungus gnats. But if you’ve been trying to trap them yourself for 2-3 weeks without success, it’s best to call a professional. Generally, you can kill them pretty quickly by targeting what they like the most.