"Though neem oil has a slightly residual effect (which means that it will last for a while), it's best to repeat the treatment a few times according to the label directions," Pangborn advises. All of them require a "drench," which means you should pour the solution throughout the potting mix, making sure to cover all of it as evenly as possible.īe sure to follow the label for both mixing and applying. To target the larvae, she recommends three specific approaches. However, she says the traps alone won't solve your gnat problem. "To get rid of gnats, we need to prevent the larvae from maturing into adult gnats," she says.Īdult gnat populations can be reduced with yellow sticky traps (the gnats are attracted to the color and will get stuck to the trap). That's because as the larvae develop, they can feed on and damage your plants' roots. "While the adult gnat is the annoying telltale sign of an infestation, the real concern is around the larvae that reside in the potting mix," warns Lindsay Pangborn, gardening expert at Bloomscape. Use sticky traps to get rid of adult gnats. They often show up in a bathroom that hasn't been used for a while or if there is slime buildup in plumbing pipes," says Price. "Drain flies are an indicator that water has been standing for a week or more. Their appearance is unique because they look quite hairy. That's why a garbage disposal is a common location," Price says.ĭrain flies are light in appearance, usually a beige/tan or light gray color. "They are typically brought indoors from any fruit or potato that you buy at a store, and they will quickly move to the drains where organic material is building up. They may be light brown or dark in color. "Fungus gnats can be found in or outdoors and the larvae will drain the nutrients of a plant," Price explains.įruit flies look like tiny house flies, and they have large, red eyes. They are usually dark gray or black in color. But they are three distinct species:įungus gnats look like small mosquitoes (but they don't bite). It's quite common to think that "gnats," "fruit flies" and "drain flies" are synonyms for the same small flying insects. Tomasz Klejdys/Heather Broccard-Bell/Backiris/Getty Images Rachel Mendelson/Insider "Gnat" is often used to refer to these common insects. But first, you should know what type of gnat you're dealing with. And there are plenty of solutions that require little more than what you've already got lying around. While some gnats can contaminate your food by transferring bacteria from a dirty surface, Price says that in most cases, gnats are just a nuisance. "For example, they can be brought in from a plant that has eggs in the soil, mulch that may have eggs or larvae, or from a neighboring property, woods, farm, or nearby wetlands." "They end up in your yard or around your house from a couple of different sources," he says. In your home, gnats are drawn to overly-ripe fruit and even food stuck in your garbage disposal. "There are several species of gnats and they all like saturated soil and organic matter from leaf piles, dead plants, compost, manure, and mulch piles," says David Price, associate certified entomologist and technical director for Mosquito Joe. Then, it's important to understand what's attracting them to your home so you can take the appropriate steps to get rid of them. The key to getting rid of them is understanding the different types of small flying insects, so you'll know whether you have gnats, fruit flies, or drain flies. Gnats are pesky little insects, whether they're invading your home or exterior area.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |