How to Get Rid of Gnats on Houseplants
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In Arizona, the duration of a gnat infestation can vary depending on the species of gnat, environmental conditions and the effectiveness of control measures. Planting basil, lavender or mint around outdoor seating areas can help repel gnats. Bug zappers designed to attract and kill gnats, as well as pyrethrin-based sprays, are effective.
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Where do gnats lay eggs?
Frequent shallow watering starves roots of moisture and creates a gnat-friendly environment. Beneficial nematodes are another natural way to kill gnats in houseplants effectively. The nematodes are beneficial microscopic worms that hunt and destroy larvae in the soil.
What does a gnat bite look like?
Don't leave ripened fruit or vegetables—like bananas, onions, tomatoes, or potatoes—exposed; keep them in the refrigerator until the problem is resolved. Fruit flies also tend to like alcohol and other sugary drinks, so be wary of keeping things like an open bottle of wine and juice products out on the counter. In rare cases a gnat bite can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of this include but are not limited to trouble breathing, nausea, swollen throat, lightheadedness and rapid heartbeat.
10 Tiny Bugs in Your House—And How to Get Rid of Them
Unfortunately, gnats are a common pest for many homeowners and renters alike, and there are more types of gnats out there than you realize. These pests are frequently referred to as gnats, even though they don't look much like them up close. Both are generally outdoor pests, but they can end up inside, especially during summer evenings when it is warm, and they are attracted to sources of light around the home.
Before drenching your soil with the bug-destroying liquid, wait until the top part of the soil is dry. There are different methods—albeit time-consuming methods—of sterilizing potting soil. For these methods to work, you should remove the plant from the container, rinse all soil from the roots, and submerge the entire plant in soapy water.
The tiny bugs often hover above your fruit bowl or drain, bite the skin, and persist as a general nuisance until dealt with. Found throughout North America, fungus gnats, part of the Mycetophila genus, are typically the culprits for indoor gnat issues. Fungus gnats generally are between 1/8 and 1/4 inch long (4 to 7 mm) and can be brown, black, or yellowish. Traps like this Zevo Flying Insect Trap ($19.97, Walmart), use safe amounts of blue and UV light to attract gnats, and mosquitoes to trap them in.
When getting rid of gnats, you may have to treat the problem both inside and outside your home. The best way to get rid of gnats is to find a combination of insecticide solutions and natural methods that deal with different types of gnat infestations. If you want to get rid of gnats in your indoor potted plants, you can use common home remedies—like hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and cinnamon—without killing your plants.
Gnats enter your home from the outdoors and can find their way through pretty much any crack. They are attracted to moisture, which is why you’ll likely find them in the bathroom sink or drain, and to fruit, especially if it’s gone bad. If you have extra time a final type of trap can be made by turning off the lights, lighting a candle and placing the candlestick in a container of water. The gnats will be attracted to the flame like moths and then drown in the water. Fruit flies are so small they can pass through ordinary screening used to keep other flies away. They are common in houses, especially kitchens, restaurants, and other food-handling sites, attracted to ripening or fermenting fruit, other fly droppings, and uncooked food.
If you find a fungus gnat problem, try to quarantine the infected pots away from other houseplants so the problem does not get worse or spread. Since both the majority of the life of fungus gnats and the damage they do take place when they are in the soil, this is an excellent place to begin targeting them. Catching gnats in your house can be done by building a trap with dish soap, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Combine equal parts vinegar and soap and then add a few tablespoons of sugar – once you mix it all together you can place the bowl wherever the gnats have been gathering. They will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar and drown in the mixture.
Larvae, which are early-stage gnats in maggot form, feed on organic matter and chew on plant roots. Large numbers of gnat larvae can significantly damage young plants and seedlings. Imagine fruit flies buzzing as you cook dinner, fungus gnats hovering over your houseplants or nasty creatures lingering in your kitchen sink. These tiny, flying insects reproduce quickly, so it's important to take action immediately.
These flies lay their eggs in damp organic environments such as potting soil, pipe drains, or rotting produce. The reproduction cycle of fungus gnats, for example, only takes about 17 days, so one gnat can breed hundreds very quickly. They tend to swarm around sources of food and moisture including your fruit bowl, your drains, your houseplants, and even your body.
You can also introduce nematodes to the ground if you’re battling other soil-dwelling bugs. Diatomaceous earth (DE) to kill plant flies—Another way to get rid of flying gnats is to put a layer of DE on your plant pot soil. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring silica powder that should kill these bugs as they emerge from the potting soil.
Pour wine that’s past its prime into a small dish; add a couple of drops of dish soap. Prevention is always better than the cure, so trying to prevent gnats from coming in should be your first line of defence. Cleaning Vinegar | $4.99 at TargetHaving a container of cleaning vinegar in your cleaning cabinet is essential for all sorts of household chores. Your garbage can, particularly in the kitchen, should have a lid that seals tight when not in use. The trash, along with any indoor compost, should be taken out regularly.
Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a sprinkle of sugar. The gnats will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar and will get trapped by the dish soap and drown, Schutter says. Some types of moisture-seeking gnats tend to congregate around sink or tub drains. To combat these drain flies, mix ½ cup bleach into a gallon of water and slowly pour the mixture into the drain. This usually means waiting until the top layer of soil is dry before watering. Also, thoroughly water plants in pots so that water drains out the container.
Protect yourself and your lungs properly, then dilute one-half cup of bleach with about one gallon of water and pour it down the affected drain. Kitchen sink drains are common spots where gnats lay eggs, especially in garbage disposals. They love the warm, moist environment and any food and bacteria build up that occurs there.
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