Tiny flies of the families Fungivoridae and Sciaridae.
Adult Fungus gnats prefer to deposit their eggs in moist potting soil. Larvae emerge to feed on fungus growing in damp soil, and pupate after feeding for a short period. Adult Fungus gnats emerge to continue the cycle and rapidly increase the population.
Inspecting for Fungus Gnats: Look for adult flies in areas where moisture problems have been observed or are suspected; fungus gnat eggs and larvae are too small to see without good magnification.
There are usually several breeding sites in a building by the time adult flies have been become a nuisance. In many cases, Fungus Gnats are invading a building from outdoors. Some flower beds and landscaped areas are never allowed to dry properly between irrigation cycles. Sprinkler heads may be located too close together or need to be redirected. Even with good irrigation practices, soil in landscaped areas often retains moisture long enough to allow fungus to grow, which serves as a food source for fungus gnats. Raking the mulch and underlying soil will allow air circulation to encourage drying and kill existing fungi, exposing them to light and air. |
