Fungus gnats are those
little bugs you see hopping around when you water your house plants. Sometimes
you see them fly across your computer screen. Fungus gnats love your
houseplants and this time of year is when you notice them most. Fungus gnats are generally more of a nuisance bug but the can damage your plants when the hatch and feed on the plant roots. Their lives are very short: the adult fungus gnat lives about 10 days, but in that time can lay up to 200 eggs. Fungus gnats thrive in wet, soggy soils, so avoid over-watering your plants and empty any standing water that might collect in the drain saucers under the plants. water left in the drain saucers under the plant.
An easy way to control fungus gnats is to place yellow sticky traps near your plants. The gnats will be attracted to them and stick to the trap. Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) applied to the soil will help prevent the adult fungus gnat from laying eggs. Mosquito Bits contain BTi, a naturally occurring insecticide which can be applied to the soil to kill the insects as they hatch.
Systemic
Insect Granules are another effective insecticide, when applied to the soil
surface and watered in. Systemic products are absorbed by the plant and last up to six weeks. It will kill the larvae when they hatch and chew into the plant roots.
Insect sprays include
Insecticidal Soap, Neem Oil and Permethrin. A good time to spray is right after
you water your plants. That is when you’ll see the adults scurrying around on
the surface of your plants. Fungus gnats can be a nuisance in the fall and
winter, but with the right treatment, they can be controlled.
Bring
your plant questions to The Flower Bin Diagnostic Center We’ll identify the
problem and offer you solutions.
If i use sticky traps, this way help me to kill them?
ReplyDeleteI don't see this bugs around my houseplants until this winter ..it's really upsetting me because I do not want all my houseplants to die. I did tried with soap, vinegar and water but it didn't help. And it's only around the soil doesn't bother my plants but I really want to get rid of them ASAP. Please help me it's like black color very very tiny.
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