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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/28/2009 09:14 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/28/2009 09:14 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Do Your Potted Plants Have Fungus Gnats? ~by Ken Churches
Ever notice those irritating little insects that fly out of the soil when you water your potted indoor plants? You are probably seeing fungus gnats. Tiny, non-biting flies, fungus gnats feed and breed in the soil of house and greenhouse plants. Fungus gnats thrive in soils rich in organic material and moisture, where the larvae feed and the adults reproduce. If conditions are especially moist and fungus gnats are abundant, you may notice tiny, narrow slime trails on soil surfaces that resemble slug or snail trails but are much smaller. Found outdoors as well, fungus gnats breed in decaying plant matter, leaf mold, organic mulch, grass clippings, compost and fungi....
These persistent gnats live short, prolific lives. An adult fungus gnat lays up to 200 eggs during the one week it spends as an adult winged gnat. The adult then dies. Legless larvae hatch out in about four days. After two weeks of feeding, larvae spend about three to four days as pupae before emerging as the next generation of adults.
Most fungus gnats are merely annoying and cause relatively little damage to plants. But several species of fungus gnat larvae feed on roots, causing damage to African violets and other houseplants. Others burrow into stems and leaves. Fungus gnat-damaged plants may show signs of wilting. Gnat damage may weaken plants and make them susceptible to root rots.
To discourage fungus gnat infestations in your potted plants, here are some suggestions for prevention, exclusion and suppression:
Do not over water your potted plants. Let soil dry thoroughly to destroy breeding habitat. Provide good drainage. Eliminate natural habitat in your house and yard. Eliminate irrigation system leaks and piles of decomposing organic matter. These are favorite hangouts for fungus gnats. Screen and caulk leaky windows and doors to prevent indoor entry. Place yellow sticky traps horizontally on soil surface to trap gnats. These are available through your local garden store or catalog. B.t.i., (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis) is a naturally occurring disease for the fungus gnats and other flies. B.t.i. can be purchased at nurseries. Pyrethrin insecticides can be applied to soil surface.
This article adapted from Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, USDA. Please contact Ken Churches at cdcalaveras@ucdavis.edu or (209) 754-6475 with your agricultural questions. To speak with a Certified Master Gardener: Calaveras (209) 754-2880, Tuolumne (209) 533-5696, Amador (209) 223-6837, El Dorado (530) 621-5543.
______________________________________________________________________
Ken R. Churches
University of California Cooperative Extension
891 Mountain Ranch Road
San Andreas, CA 95249
Office: 209 754-6475
Cell: 209 743-3969
FAX: 209 754-9616
P Please consider the environment before printing this message.
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