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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. Eliminating troublesome gnat infestations starts with identifying gnats vs. fruit flies. Although gnats are difficult to control, a combination of store-bought treatments, DIY solutions and preventative actions can work in both your home and your garden. Whichever methods you choose, you can find the supplies you need to get rid of gnats using The Home Depot Mobile App.
How to make DIY gnat traps
For best results, also scrub infested drain pipes with a wire brush and enzymatic cleanser. Fortunately, minor to moderate gnat infestations can often be exterminated with simple DIY methods and thorough cleaning. However, if you have a severe gnat infestation, it may take more than one of these methods to eradicate the pests. First, we’ll show you how to identify the type of gnats you’re dealing with. Then we’ll provide some strategies for exterminating them and preventing them from returning. We’ll also give our recommendations for the top pest control companies in case DIY methods prove insufficient.
Where do gnats come from? Here's how to kill the pests, rid them from your house.
Fungus gnats prefer to feed on organic matter, so the potato peel method will likely be more effective. Follow the provided water-to-cake ratios if they're listed on the packet. If not, you'll have to test the different ratios experts recommend. Depending on how many plants you need to treat, mix 2.5 ounces (of meal) to 0.3 gallons (of water), 2 to 3 rounded tablespoons to 1 gallon, or 2 cups to 5 gallons. Give the mixture a good stir and leave it to aerate for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 48 hours. You can strain the solution — through a cheesecloth, for example — or use it as is to water your plants, completely covering the surface of the soil when you do.
15 DIY Solutions for a Pest-Free Home
The wet soil of indoor pots can create a breeding ground for gnats. So, take it easy on watering them or look into low-maintenance plants that require small amounts of water to thrive. Gnats breed on decaying, organic matter and moisture, so you'll need to assess the source of them. This should be relatively obvious, as they tend to gather around the problem, which will aid in identifying their type. Use the following ideas to get rid of gnats and learn how to fend them off for good.
Identifying Infestations
But before you put on your gnat killer hat, it’s important to ensure the buzzing beasts you’re dealing with are, in fact, gnats. While we may categorize most minuscule flying insects as gnats, there are many different types of gnat-like insects that require different methods of extermination. Fungus gnats have black elongated bodies and resemble mosquitoes, while fruit flies are brown and have rounder bodies. Drain flies, on the other hand, are fuzzy creatures with large, moth-like wings, often found around sink drains.
Use a Bug Zapper
Harvesting produce regularly and clearing away overripe produce and organic waste can help keep the natural gnat population low. This promotes the growth of fungus that serves as the primary food source of certain gnat species. With warm weather comes a noticeable increase in gnat activity, both inside and outside the home. Fortunately, learning how to get rid of gnats is a simple task that requires just a few supplies. Use this guide to learn how to get rid of gnats in your house, in your garden and in your house plants.
Not only are these “clouds” of gnats generally annoying, some species also bite humans and pets. Some gnats lay their eggs in soil, where the larvae can damage plant roots. Fruit flies, drain flies, and fungus gnats tend to be the most common household pests.
'They normally feed on decaying organic material, but when found in our homes, they are a real nuisance. To prevent and control this species of fly, do not overwater your plants. You can easily monitor for the presence of these pests with yellow sticky traps. There are simple water level indicators or monitors that can be bought from garden centers to ensure that plants are not over or underwatered. According to Hodges, gnats are also attracted to damp soil, so it’s important to properly store potting soil in a dry, sheltered area away from sun and moisture before and during use.
TikToker shares hack to save your houseplants from 'fungus gnats' - The Cool Down
TikToker shares hack to save your houseplants from 'fungus gnats'.
Posted: Sat, 09 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Fast Ways to Get Rid of Gnats
Taker a look at our guide on what attracts a fruit fly to learn more about what they specifically go after. During the warmer months of the year when fruit is growing, fruit fly populations are going gangbusters. Whether or not you live near fruit growers or not, there will likely be a fruit fly population outside your doors.
They will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar and drown in the mixture. One of the most effective methods for controlling and getting rid of gnats is by using a bug zapper. These devices attract gnats and electrocute them, causing them to die and collect in the bottom of the device. Many of the modern bug zappers on the market are safe for indoor use, so placing one on the counter or near plants can take care of a gnat problem quickly. In all reality, the main sign of a gnat infestation is several gnats flying through the air when you turn on the sink, move a house plant or disturb an old piece of fruit.
Fly traps are important control tools that continue to eliminate new adults as they emerge. While a pyrethrum-based aerosol insecticide may be used to kill adult flies if you can hit them, it won't take care of any eggs or larvae lurking in your kitchen. Store-bought fly traps will prevent the flies from breeding and can be purchased at your local hardware store. These disposable fruit fly traps, which are baited with a nontoxic lure, can catch about 2,000 flies each, and can last for one month.
These typically appear on exposed areas of the body like ears, eyes, noses, and wrists. Symptoms of gnat bites include itching, pain, and localized swelling. Outdoors, gnats are generally most active during the midmorning and at dusk.
You can often tell which species you’re dealing with by where you find them and how they behave. Price recommends placing a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and then stirring the contents. "Set your bowl in an area where gnats are prevalent, like your kitchen or bathroom," he says. The gnats will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar, but the dish soap will coat their wings making them unable to fly away. The larvae of most fungus gnat species feed in the soil on fungus, decaying organic matter, and sometimes even the roots of your plant.
If your kitchen becomes infested with gnats because of fresh fruit sitting out, you can use that fruit to get rid of fruit flies. Rather than making a trap with apple cider vinegar, as described in the previous section, you can place bits of your overripe fruit in a small glass, bowl, or jar. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke small holes into the plastic with a toothpick.
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