Fungus gnats
January 23, 2023My friend Nomaan reached out to me with a garden pest related question recently. After a monthly watering of the new cactus terrarium he and I got as part of a team building event, he noticed some uninvited guests. Like Nomaan and me, If you have house plants, chances are you have encountered the tiny black menace that are fungus gnats. The uninitiated usually turn to a friend or the internet for help first. But if you do a web search you’re likely to find a gajillion results. Since most internet guides go way more into depth than needed, it’s kind of overwhelming to know where to start. To help speed up getting answers I’ve collected some resources to help you win your fungus gnat battle. So before you go hitting up reddit and asking what’s this bug, take a quick look at what I dug up for you here.
5 Everyone’s favorite AI: ChatGPT on fungus gnats
Everyone’s turning to and talking about the friendly Chat AI ChatGPT lately so I asked it in particular to tell me what fungus gnats are and how to get rid of them. This is what it told me:
Fungus gnats are small, mosquito-like insects that are commonly found in moist or humid environments, such as greenhouses, houseplants, and soil. They get their name from the fact that they are often found near fungi, as the larvae of fungus gnats feed on fungi and organic matter in the soil. Adult fungus gnats are harmless to humans and do not bite, but they can be a nuisance due to their presence in large numbers. Fungus gnats can also be a problem for plants, as their larvae can damage the roots and stunt the growth of young plants. If you are having a problem with fungus gnats, there are several things you can do to control them. One option is to use a chemical insecticide specifically designed to kill fungus gnats, but these can be harmful to plants and should be used with caution. Alternatively, you can try using physical control methods, such as placing sticky traps near plants to catch adult gnats, or covering the soil with a layer of sand to make it more difficult for the larvae to move around. You can also reduce the population of fungus gnats by allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions, as fungus gnats prefer moist conditions.
ChatGPT
That’s kind of a neat summary and a great lead in but not at all comprehensive.
4 Tried and true: Farmers Almanac
3 University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources
Most state universities have resources dedicated to agriculture that are very helpful and while I was hesitant to pick just one, I decided to use University of California as an example. I’ve got no real affiliation with them and it’s really not all that different than most other university extension office site, so you’re welcome to go find your own if you like because they should all look about the same. You can use this one as a benchmark for completeness and accuracy since it is a straightforward way to compare.
2 Interesting video for fungus gnats on TikTok
Whether you’re a fan of TikTok, there’s no denying that there are a bunch of videos from leafbaby fans out there like you and me. They even have a bunch about fungus gnats. This one not because of the views, but because it has a TON of likes.
1 Quick, cheap and easy products for getting rid of fungus gnats
Most of the articles and videos you’ve seen reference the same kinds of things because they work. Yellow sticky traps, hydrogen peroxide, diatomaceous earth, mosquito bits, and keeping the top of your soil dry. So, here are some products that have helped me keep fungus gnats under control and from being a problem in my own home.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of, plants, soil, and insects have a symbiotic relationship. Since you keep house plants, the harsh reality is, whether you’re a fan of insects or not, you’re now part of that relationship too. Establishing boundaries in any relationship is important because it will help bring balance in happiness on all sides. Some insects are essential and help the soil, others can be dangerous to you, your leafbabies or your home. Others yet are more of a nuisance than anything else and you can all just live without them. IT is important to know the difference between friend and foe so you can keep your leafbabies safe and healthy.
