How to identify and remove fungus GNATS
Often considered only a small house pest, the fungus can quickly become a major problem (and annoying) if it abandons an infection. Here's how to find, remove and prevent fungal mosquitoes on your plants.
What are Fungus Genes?
Fungal snails are a fruit fly insect that primarily infects indoor houseplants. Inspired by the moisture of the pot soil, the adult chicks lay their eggs (up to about 200) in organic matter near the soil surface. After about three days, the eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into the soil and feed on worms and decaying plant material. After two weeks, the adult chicks emerge from the soil to repeat this process. Adults live about a week.
Fungal chicks are completely harmless to humans because they cannot bite and do not spread diseases. They can be a problem for houseplants, however, when their population explodes and their larvae begin to eat the thin roots of the plant. Fungal chicks can spread bile, a group of plant pathogens that cause “dampening” in seedlings.
Once you have fungal infestation, it is important to end it using standard management and prevention techniques. Further down this page, we have listed some of the best ways to get rid of adult chicks and prevent the emergence of new mosquitoes.
Identification
How to identify a fungus binding
Size: Adult fungal chicks are small. They range in size from about 1/16 to an inch (1.5 to 3 mm), the same size as a fruit fly. Fungal knot larvae can be up to an inch long.
Appearance: Adult fungal chicks are gray-black in color and have gray or visible wings. Their long legs and long antennae give it a mosquito-like appearance, although they are very small in size. Compared to the fruit ewe, the fungal chicks have a slender body with long legs and antennae.
The larvae have small, black heads and slender, white or visible bodies.
Function: Fungal chicks spend most of their time on the soil surface of potted plants, but they can be seen flying over the outer edge of the pot or near drainage holes. They are not strong flyers, so they tend to walk on soil and fly only in short bursts. Their flight is irregular and they are much slower than fruit flies, acting like mosquitoes when flying.
Annoyingly, the fungi have a tendency to fly into people's faces and drinks, although they are completely harmless and some well-kept swats will show what they have.
FUNGUS GNAT DAMAGE
In small numbers, the fungal chicks are more annoying than anything. In fact, adult chicks do not cause serious harm to plants or people. However, if their population leaves the hand, the larvae begin to eat the plant roots, causing significant damage. This is especially bad for young plants such as seedlings with some soft roots. Fungi are capable of spreading plant pathogens, which cause moisture in the seedlings and eventually death.
Fungal mosquito damage can appear like any other root related problem like root rot. The lower leaves may turn yellow and the plant may stop growing slowly or completely. In particularly bad conditions, the whole plant will wither, after which the plant may die if the roots are severely damaged.
Control and prevention
How Fungus Can Get GNATS
Removal of fungal larvae is about sustainability. Catching adults in mosquito nets is easy, but as adults get in the cycle you need to make sure your traps are constantly updated. For best results, use the combination of traps listed here and the additional prevention methods listed in the next section.
Sticky Card Traps: These traps have a yellow notch card covered with sticky glue. They are most effective when cut into small squares and placed directly on top of the soil or attached to slides above the soil. Adult chicks can fly or crawl on the cover and get stuck in the glue. Fungal chicks are attracted to yellow, so use yellow sticky cards rather than blue cards. Both can be purchased at most hardware or garden stores, and online.
Cider-vinegar traps: Simple and effective, cider-vinegar traps with a small amount of apple cider vinegar, water
And a shallow container with liquid dish soap.
To make the cider-vinegar trap: Find a shallow container — a tuna can is perfect — and fill it with an equal amount of water and apple cider vinegar. (The liquid should be at least 2 inches deep.) Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the mixture and stir gently. Place the trap on top of the soil near the base of the affected plant or, inside the pot. Check every few days to refresh with fresh vinegar and water.
Fly paper: Fly paper ribbons hung in horse barns can also be used to catch fungal larvae to catch outdoor flies. However, these traps are usually high in fats and can easily get caught in things you don’t want to stick to on furniture, hair, plants and more.
How to carry out fungal GNATS
Use these prevention techniques in conjunction with the traps listed above for best results.
Keep the soil dry: Fungal insects seek moist soil, so allowing your houseplants to dry slightly between irrigations can slow down or stop the infection. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before re-watering and try to move between waterings as much as possible. If the soil surface is dry, bears can be prevented from laying eggs.
Mosquito nets (with beneficial bacteria): Mosquito larvae are used to prevent mosquito larvae from springs, animal tanks, fish ponds and other small bodies of water. This product contains dry particles containing a type of bacteria. These beneficial bacteria can infect and kill the larvae of flying insects, including mosquitoes, fruit flies and fungal mosquitoes.
Use mosquito nets: Fill a gallon jug (or watering can) with clean water and throw in the mosquito tank. It is best to break up the debris lightly before placing it in water, or you can wait until it softens before breaking it down. Let the litter soak in the water as much as possible (at least overnight) and then remove it from the water (the litter can be reused) and use this water for fungal enzyme-affected plants. The bacteria infiltrated the water and now infect any larvae in the soil. Repeat this process every time you water your plants for at least a few months.
Cover the drainage holes: Although the nuts are usually at the top of the pot, they will find their way to the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot and begin to lay eggs there as well. If this happens, cover the drain holes with a synthetic cloth to prevent mosquitoes from coming in or out, but let the water move freely. Attach with tape or rubber bands.
Cover exposed soil with sand: Some people report that covering the soil of their houseplant with a layer (at least 5 inches thick) of sand prevents fungal bears from accessing the soil and laying eggs. This can be a great barrier if used in conjunction with other prevention methods listed above, especially covering drain holes.
Do you have any tips to prevent or stop fungal mosquitoes? Tell us in the comments below!
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