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Gnats and other pests love damp soil and are attracted to it. Ensure that you are not overwatering your plants since it will cause the soil to become too moist. If you have a houseplant, overwatering it can hurt the plant and introduce gnats to your home. Do you remember that half-rotten orange you found in your fruit basket once? After they lay the eggs, the larvae feed on any decaying matter they find on their way. Gnats breed in damp areas, so check for places where water may be collecting, such as around leaky pipes or overwatered outdoor plants.
More Ways to Prevent Gnats
If you have a drain fly issue, address it quickly before it becomes unmanageable or hazardous. The soil must go into a drought for a short time to dry out the eggs and larvae. Some common baits used are apple cider vinegar, a piece of banana peel, apple peel, strawberry tops, a slice of tomato, etc. If you’re anything like me, there is always fresh fruit sitting out to enjoy. During the warmer months of the year when fruit is growing, fruit fly populations are going gangbusters.
More pest removal hacks
Luckily, getting rid of gnats is a simple process, and with numerous ways to deal with gnats in the house, there is bound to be a method that works for you and your home. In fact, there are many different small insects with wings that are considered "gnats," according to Orkin. From fruit flies and drain flies to fungus gnats and buffalo gnats, these tiny pests have been known to infiltrate homes and become nuisances. Speaking of plants, gnats are generally attracted to houseplants, as well as moisture, sweet-smelling fruit, and garbage. So while indoor plants are a great way to liven up your space, they can also be the reason why you’re spotting gnats.
Use Yellow Sticky Traps
Each egg matures into a larva, and then transitions into a pupa and adult. Depending on the species, a gnat’s entire life cycle can be completed in as few as 3 weeks. Whether they’re hovering by the hundreds around your fruit bowl, clouding your vegetable garden, or swarming your face—attracted to moisture and salt—gnats are unwelcome visitors.
You can also try a bug zapper that’s aimed at catching smaller insects or, if the problem really persists, call a reliable pest control company. There are quite a few home remedies to get rid of gnats naturally. These home remedies usually involve attracting gnats with a decaying or sweet, fermented liquid to trap and remove them.
These lure gnats into a solution or surface that kills them right away. Remove indoor plants from contaminated soil and place a trap in the new soil, such as Garsum Yellow Sticky Stakes. Getting rid of gnats has everything to do with consistent removal efforts.
These eggs are too small to see, making them difficult to avoid. This is one of biggest the hotspots for gnats, so pay extra attention to your kitchen sink and drain. Clean it (along with a garbage disposal if you have one) on a consistent basis, keep the area as dry as possible, and use a drain stopper overnight.
Make sure there’s proper ventilation in the room when you do this and for an hour afterward. For best results, also scrub infested drain pipes with a wire brush and enzymatic cleanser. This technique requires you to be on standby after dark, but it’s an easy solution. Fill a pan with water and a bit of dish soap and add a candlestick with a tall, tapered candle in the middle.
Noticing more flies and gnats? Experts say it could be because the weather - KFSN-TV
Noticing more flies and gnats? Experts say it could be because the weather.
Posted: Wed, 13 Apr 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Removing the decaying matter before it’s too late may also prevent the eggs from hatching, which will save you a lot of hassle. If you have such areas around your house, make sure to clean regularly, so you can avoid the stinky flies. Fixing water leaks when they occur will also make sure no moisture occurs. You may not believe this, but most things that cause gnats are present in your house right now.
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. If you’ve already fixed screens and cracks in doors and windows, you are ahead of the game! This is an easy and effective way to trap unwanted fruit flies. Simply put the bait inside a cup, jar, or bowl and cover with either plastic wrap with small holes in it or a paper funnel.
From hanging ribbons and cards to sticky stands specifically designed for potted plants, sticky traps are an easy way to catch a cluster of gnats. You'll just have to keep an eye on it and replace the trap once it's full. Once you have treated your gnat infestation, the key to keeping it from coming back is to clean thoroughly and reduce available sources of food and moisture for the gnats. For outdoor infestations, you can purchase an electric insect killer, or bug zapper, to install on your porch or patio.
Gnats get attracted to apple cider vinegar faster than you think. Once you lay the trap, it’ll only take a day or so to get rid of the invading pests. 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. Keep your kitchen clean because gnats are attracted to food scraps.
Lucky for the gnats that want to move inside, many people have interior house plants, which provide fungus gnats with a year-round feeding and breeding source. Keep an eye out for these pests flitting around light fixtures and windows. The larvae of most fungus gnat species feed in the soil on fungus, decaying organic matter, and sometimes even the roots of your plant. Gnats generally look brighter than fruit flies and have longer legs than fruit flies. While fruit flies like to dwell in drains and can fly in small numbers, gnats prefer to stay in groups and live in plants or rotting fruit.
They also can fly into your home if you leave your windows or doors open on a nice day. In a bit of good news, gnats don’t bite, which is always a positive thing. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the issue because they won’t physically hurt you. The mere presence of these pesky insects in your house can leave you feeling twitchy.
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