{"id":23272,"date":"2023-05-17T14:23:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T13:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/?p=23272"},"modified":"2023-05-26T15:42:11","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T14:42:11","slug":"combating-fungus-gnats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/","title":{"rendered":"Detecting and combating fungus gnats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the wild, fungus gnats (aka sciarid flies) pose no real problem. But get an infestation of these tiny black insects in your home, and you&#8217;ll know all about it. They feed on plant roots when they can&#8217;t find other sources of food and cause a genuine annoyance while you try and get to the heart of the problem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, how do you identify fungus gnats, and how do you take action against the little critters?<\/p><p>Well, you&#8217;ve come to the right place: this article is about detecting and combating fungus gnats and preventing reinfestation once you&#8217;ve got rid! I&#8217;ll also recommend natural home remedies, practical traps, and chemical solutions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Ready? Let\u2019s get started.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fungus gnats at a glance<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3.jpg\" alt=\"Fungus gnat on a damaged leaf\" class=\"wp-image-23279\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-813x542.jpg 813w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-on-a-leaf3-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fungus gnat on a damaged leaf<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Fungus gnats are small flying insects. Outdoors, they play an essential role in the ecosystem, but indoors, they quickly become significant troublemakers. Their eggs get into flower pots filled with fresh soil, and as soon as they&#8217;ve hatched, the population will rapidly grow.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They like moist and warm conditions, so they are attracted to your breath. And before you know it, you\u2019re batting off the fungus flies from flying in your face every couple of minutes.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Annoying!&nbsp;<\/p><p>However, while you&#8217;ll find yourself bugged out by these tiny little critters, they&#8217;re not particularly harmful. They will gnaw at your plants&#8217; roots, which usually only negatively affects young plants.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take action over fungus gnats<\/h3><p>I recommend taking action as soon as you spot fungus flies in your home because each female lays around two-hundred eggs \u2014 and that adds up to an infestation in no time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fungus gnat profile<\/h2><div class=\"moowy_table_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"desktop_table desktop_only\">\n\t\t<table class=\"moowy_table\">\n\t\t\t<thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\n\t\t\t<tbody>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife expectancy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReproduction\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t200 larvae per female\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHabitat\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoist environments, at least 20\u2103\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommonly found\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForests, wet meadows, moorlands\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeaf litter, wood bark, and organic matter &#8211; absorbing only moisture\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeature\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn some subspecies, females are wingless and unable to fly\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t<\/table>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"mobile_table mobile_only\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife expectancy\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReproduction\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t200 larvae per female\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHabitat\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoist environments, at least 20\u2103\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommonly found\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForests, wet meadows, moorlands\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeaf litter, wood bark, and organic matter &#8211; absorbing only moisture\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_table_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSize\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeature\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1-7mm\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mobile_column_value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn some subspecies, females are wingless and unable to fly\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you have a fungus gnat infestation?<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae.jpg\" alt=\"Fungus gnat larvae sitting on soil\" class=\"wp-image-23275\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-813x542.jpg 813w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fungus-gnat-larvae-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fungus gnat larvae<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>If your fungus gnat isn&#8217;t making itself known by flying in your face, you&#8217;ll recognise the problem by looking at the topsoil of your house plants.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The flies live on the soil surface or in the vicinity \u2014 you may find them on the windowsill alongside the pot if the population is overgrowing the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae are thin, white grubs that can grow up to 5mm long. They live in and on the soil, feeding on the roots and other organic materials such as dead leaves.&nbsp;<\/p><p>You probably won&#8217;t notice the infestation at first \u2014 but once yellow spots have appeared on your plant&#8217;s leaves, they may have already damaged the roots.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Causes of fungus gnat infestation<\/h2><p>Fungus gnats prefer moist and nutrient-rich soil, in which they lay their eggs knowing that their larvae will have an organic food source.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Therefore:<\/p><p>The ideal spot for a fungus gnat infestation is in a plant pot with good-quality potting soil. It&#8217;s not necessarily a bad sign \u2014 it means that the earth is full of good-quality nutrition, which is great for your houseplants. And whether your potting compost is the cheapest in the garden centre or a selection from the premium end, larvae are likely to be found within the packaging.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The infestation is boosted by:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Over-fertilisation<\/li>\n\n<li>Excessively high temperatures<\/li>\n\n<li>Overwatering or excessive soil moisture<\/li><\/ul><p>The problem is exacerbated if your pots lack drainage \u2014 making the soil more likely to remain wet for longer periods.&nbsp;<\/p><p>However:<\/p><p>You can fight your fungus gnat infestation \u2014 you just need to know how.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fighting fungus gnats with natural home remedies<\/h2><p>There\u2019s a surprising amount of effective home remedies for ridding your home of fungus gnats, including:&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spraying dish soap<\/h3><p>Washing up liquid is a surprisingly versatile tool in the arsenal against a range of aphids and garden pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mix water with a few drops of dish soap, and spray it around affected plants to kill the larvae. Very simple and effective.<\/p><p>However:<\/p><p>This is a solution for established plants and can damage seedlings and young plants.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baking soda<\/h3><p>Baking soda seems so innocent \u2014 great for delightful cakes and sponges \u2014 but it\u2019s adept at cleaning out your drains and killing bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, spread baking soda over the potting soil surface with a sieve, then moisten it with a water spray.&nbsp;<\/p><p>And within a few days, the soda will penetrate the larvae and kill them. No fairy cakes for them.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cinnamon against fungus gnats<\/h3><p>Again, that delightful smell of Christmas is like napalm in the morning for fungus gnats. Sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon, and the larvae will be toast in no time.&nbsp;<\/p><p>This is an excellent approach as it is safe for your plants and pets and might even make your room smell all cosy!<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Killing fungus gnats with garlic<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic.jpg\" alt=\"A basket full of garlic bulbs\" class=\"wp-image-23276\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic.jpg 640w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic-460x689.jpg 460w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic-481x720.jpg 481w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic-362x542.jpg 362w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Garlic-600x899.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Garlic &#8211; Photo by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@gaellemarcel?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Gaelle Marcel<\/a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/qOwyDpkhaCI?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Not everyone loves garlic \u2014 but if you\u2019re a fungus gnat, you have no chance against it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Garlic contains the chemical Allicin, which quickly kills fungus gnat larvae. Simply slice or dice a couple of garlic cloves, and spread them across the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>This is a great way to kill larvae, but it depends on your relationship with the smell of garlic because your room will hum for a couple of weeks. I love it \u2014 my only concern is that it might make me hungry!<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sticking matches into the soil<\/h3><p>Don&#8217;t worry \u2014 you&#8217;re not going to set fire to your plant! This might sound unlikely, but the sulphur in the unstruck matchhead is a great fungus-gnat deterrent.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, stick several matches into the soil, head-end down. Then water as usual, and over time, the sulphur will leak from the match, killing the larvae.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Replace the matches every three weeks. And bear in mind; this method is only suitable for established plants.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Piling sand<\/h3><p>Apply a thick layer of quartz sand to the potting soil, preventing the gnats from laying their eggs. Then, water your plant from below so you don\u2019t disturb the sand layer.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coffee grounds<\/h3><p>Don\u2019t throw your used coffee grounds out; use them in the garden or your plant pots. They\u2019re full of high-quality nutrition, especially nitrogen, which will help your plants thrive.&nbsp;<\/p><p>And similar to the quartz sand approach, create a layer of dried coffee grounds across the soil surface, and the gnats won\u2019t lay their eggs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Ensure the grounds are dry before applying, and water from below.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Essential oils to fight fungus gnats<\/h3><p>The following essential oils are effective in tackling fungus gnats (and will make your room smell delightful!):<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Lavender oil<\/li>\n\n<li>Tea tree oil<\/li>\n\n<li>Neem oil<\/li><\/ul><p>Add the oil to the water, and irrigate your plants with it. You&#8217;ll need 20 drops for tea tree and lavender oil and just 10 for neem oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biological warfare: Spreading nematodes<\/h3><p>Nematodes are microscopic insects that act as parasites to other creatures in the insect population. And while that sounds a little gross, they\u2019re considered one of the best ways to treat aphids and plant pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>But don&#8217;t worry \u2014 you&#8217;re not replacing one insect with another, not permanently, anyway. Nematodes travel solely through moist soil. This means they won&#8217;t escape your plant pot. And once they&#8217;ve exhausted their food source (i.e., the fungus gnat infestation), they die naturally.<\/p><p>Find out more about these amazing critters in our <a href=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/nematodes-biological-pest-killer\">expert guide to nematode use in the garden<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bacterial attack&nbsp;<\/h3><p>OK \u2014 this is starting to sound more and more like the latest instalment of the Alien movie franchise \u2014 but bear with me.<\/p><p>Another approach to killing fungus gnat populations is to introduce Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) \u2014 a bacteria which will paralyse the larvae, preventing them from feeding.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Sure, it sounds a bit disgusting, but BTI, when used at the recommended rates (check the packaging), is only toxic to fly larvae, such as fungus gnats, black flies, and mosquitos.&nbsp;<\/p><p>You\u2019re likely to need to repeat the application a few times to break the reproductive cycle for long-term control.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to use fungus gnat traps<\/h2><p>Fortunately, fungus gnats aren&#8217;t the Einsteins of the insect world, so they&#8217;re highly susceptible to walking into traps. Check your traps regularly, and renew them whenever necessary.&nbsp;<\/p><p>And remember: keep them out of the reach of children and pets.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sticky fly papers<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper.jpg\" alt=\"Sticky yellow fly paper sitting in the base of a plant pot. \" class=\"wp-image-23277\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-813x542.jpg 813w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Yellow-sticky-fly-paper-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yellow, sticky fly papers<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Place yellow sticky fly papers near affected plants, and the flies will be attracted to the yellow colour. And once they&#8217;ve stepped foot on the sticky stuff, they&#8217;ll get stuck (and that&#8217;s the end of them!).&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set up vinegar bowls<\/h3><p>Place a bowl of apple cider vinegar, water, and a few drops of washing-up liquid next to the affected plant, and the gnats will swoop into the bowl (and never leave).&nbsp;<\/p><p>The washing-up liquid affects the viscosity of the water surface, which will stick the flies to the liquid.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chemical solutions against fungus gnats<\/h2><p>You can get chemical insecticides, which offer excellent protection against fungus gnat populations. But we always think that chemicals should be the last course of action.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do choose the chemical route, ensure your insecticide is suitable for indoor use. Above all, always read the instructions on the packaging.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventative measures to protect against fungus gnats<\/h2><p>Now you\u2019ve tackled the infestation, it\u2019s time to make sure your home stays fungus-gnat-free.<\/p><p>The best defence against a problematic sequel is ensuring your plant pots have excellent drainage so the soil doesn&#8217;t remain soggy after watering. So, without starving your plants of essential moisture, avoid overwatering, and add a layer of sand or coffee grounds to the soil surface.&nbsp;<\/p><p>And check the soil regularly for early signs of a new infestation. The sooner you take action, the better.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"quote_tip_block type_quote\">\n\t<div class=\"quote_tip_inside\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote_photo desktop_only\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/louis-moowy-min-296x300.jpg);\"><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"quote_content_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"heading_text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote_photo mobile_only\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/louis-moowy-min-296x300.jpg);\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"heading_text_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\tGarden doctor Louis says:\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quote_text\">\n\t\t\t\tYou can treat potting soil by placing it in the oven before using it indoors. At 200\u2103, the larvae will die within 20 minutes. The microwave can be just as effective \u2014 run it for 10 minutes at maximum power. Of course, wait for it to cool down before transplanting your plants!\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fungus gnats in the garden<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast.jpg\" alt=\"A robin red breast sitting on a branch\" class=\"wp-image-23278\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-813x542.jpg 813w, https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-red-breast-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Robins love to eat insects and their larvae<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Fungus gnats rarely cause problems in your garden. This is because insects of all types are an excellent food source for birds, frogs, and spiders \u2014 so it\u2019s uncommon to be troubled by the flies outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fungus gnats are actually beneficial to your outdoor soil because they help break down organic material. This makes your earth full of beneficial microorganisms that boost the health of plant life.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do spot an infestation, use the remedies discussed for indoor plants. Or lay birdseed near the infestation site \u2014 and the birds will tackle the problem for you!&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2><div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684330632433\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are fungus gnats?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Fungus gnats are small flying insects that feed on organic matter in the soil. They&#8217;re generally harmless but can be annoying as they buzz around your head, attracted to the warm moisture of your breath. However, when food sources are low, they will attack your plants&#8217; roots.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684330659377\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do I recognise fungus gnat infestation?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You\u2019ll find fungus gnats on the soil surface or around plant pots. You\u2019ll spot their larvae \u2014 thin, white grubs which grow up to 5mm in length. Another sign of infestation is yellow or brown spots on plant leaves.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684330672831\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can I prevent fungus gnat infestation?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Fungus gnats live on and in moist soil. Overwatering your indoor plants can lead to an infestation, so ensure the pot has good drainage and water less often. Additionally, add a layer of sand or coffee grounds over the soil surface to prevent the flies from laying eggs.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684330684788\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do fungus gnats bite?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. They don&#8217;t bite or sting, and they don&#8217;t transmit disease. They can damage your houseplants, though, and they can be annoying as they hover around your head, attracted to your breath.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ready to get started?<\/h4><p>I hope you&#8217;ve got all the info you need to get tackling your fungus gnat infestation. But if you have any questions, check out our comprehensive Help &amp; Advice section, or drop us <a href=\"mailto:%20hello@moowy.co.uk\">an email<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We love hearing from you and will reply as promptly as we can.&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fungus gnats are generally harmless but can damage plant roots and hover around your head. Find out how to tackle an infestation! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3850,"featured_media":23273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,109,50,135,259],"tags":[265,266,203],"class_list":["post-23272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-garden","category-gardening-tips","category-pests-diseases-of-lawns","category-plants","tag-fungus-gnats","tag-house-plant-pests","tag-house-plants"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Detecting and combating fungus gnats - MOOWY UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to get rid of fungus gnats - practical and easy-to-follow tips. 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Say goodbye to annoying pests, and keep your home clean and fresh.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Detecting and combating fungus gnats - MOOWY UK","og_description":"How to get rid of fungus gnats - practical and easy-to-follow tips. 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They're generally harmless but can be annoying as they buzz around your head, attracted to the warm moisture of your breath. However, when food sources are low, they will attack your plants' roots.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330659377","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330659377","name":"How do I recognise fungus gnat infestation?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You\u2019ll find fungus gnats on the soil surface or around plant pots. You\u2019ll spot their larvae \u2014 thin, white grubs which grow up to 5mm in length. Another sign of infestation is yellow or brown spots on plant leaves.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330672831","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330672831","name":"How can I prevent fungus gnat infestation?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Fungus gnats live on and in moist soil. Overwatering your indoor plants can lead to an infestation, so ensure the pot has good drainage and water less often. Additionally, add a layer of sand or coffee grounds over the soil surface to prevent the flies from laying eggs.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330684788","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/combating-fungus-gnats\/#faq-question-1684330684788","name":"Do fungus gnats bite?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. They don't bite or sting, and they don't transmit disease. They can damage your houseplants, though, and they can be annoying as they hover around your head, attracted to your breath.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3850"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23272"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23430,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23272\/revisions\/23430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}