Fungus gnats are small brown to black gnats which thrive on organic matter such as algae, mold and fungus. They readily nest in potted plants and exist primarily outside around the home thriving in mulch, pine straw, dirt and plants. But if given the chance, they’ll move inside and be a never ending nuisance since they’re drawn to TV screens, computers, sinks, showers and even people!
FUNGUS GNAT BIOLOGY
Fungus gnats take 3-4 weeks to become adults. Females will lay 50-200 eggs before dying and in most cases, she’ll lay them in anything organic like the soil of a potted plant, down the drain or in some well hidden shady area under an appliance where moisture is abundant.
Eggs will hatch worm like larvae which will feed for 1-2 weeks and then pupate into reproducing adults. Fungus gnat adults will only live 7-14 days but during this time they can be an ongoing nuisance in the home.
FUNGUS GNAT PROBLEMS
Fungus gnats will be attracted to TV and computer screens making them a ongoing distraction in the home. But they also target CO2 so they’re always looking for this gas which everyone exhales when they breath. For this reason fungus gnats will commonly fly into your nose and mouth.
WHERE DO FUNGUS GNATS NEST?
Fungus gnats will nest anywhere damp, dark, moist and full of food. They love potted plants but can live down any sink, shower or tub drain and can even live in recycle bins.
HOW TO CONTROL FUNGUS GNATS
The best way to treat a local fungus gnat infestation will depend on where they’re most active.
FUNGUS GNATS DOWN THE DRAIN
If you see them flying around a sink, shower or tub, chances are high they’re nesting down the drain. To eliminate this nest site, apply NO SURVIVORS down the drain once a week. This biodegrading enzyme will “eat” away slime and other organic buildup in pipes thus removing their food and nest sites.
This short video (less than 60 seconds) shows how easy it is to use No Survivors. Remember, use it once a week on any night when you intend on using the Lemon Air listed below:
Use 3-4 oz per drain once a week. Be sure to treat late at night, just before you retire for the evening, to allow the application to work for 6+ hours.
Next, on any night that you don’t use the Enz-A-Bac, apply LEMON AIR DRAIN INSECTICIDE. Its the only insecticide labeled for use down drains to control flies, ants, springtails and more.
Add 2 oz to a gallon of water and apply 1/2 gallon per sink drain twice a week on nights you don’t use the Enz A Bac.
This short video (less than 60 seconds) shows how easy it is to use the Lemon Air twice a week (use the No Survivors once a week):
Lemon Air has a fresh Lemony smell and will purge the drain of any foul odor, nasty insects and even Covid-19 along with other virus.
HOW TO TREAT FUNGUS FLIES IN POTTED PLANTS
If you have plants in the home, its a good chance fungus flies are using the soil to nest. Eliminate this problem by applying MAXXTHOR SC. Make the application by adding 1 oz of Maxxthor to your watering can. This won’t hurt the plants in any way; Maxxthor is odorless and gentle enough to be used in the soil as well as on the plants foliage as needed for a wide range of insect pests.
HOW TO TREAT FUNGUS FLIES AROUND THE HOME AND ON THE SIDING
Since fungus flies typically breed in the soil around your home, treating it once a month will keep their numbers in check. Mulch, pine straw, wood chips and even gravel can all provide ample nest sites for them to find food, mate and breed.
To keep their numbers in check around the home, spray it once a month with MAXXTHOR EC.
This concentrate is super effective on fungus flies and will kill all stages making it the only treatment strong enough to deal with their eggs.
Plan on using around 5 gallons of mixed material per month using 1-2 gallons per side of the home. Now you can use a standard PUMP SPRAYER to make the application, but a good HOSE END SPRAYER is really best suited.
Hose Ends use a lot of water and allow you to deliver the spray uniformly over the important areas. For the average home, 2.5 oz of Maxxthor with 5 gallons of water will do a good job of covering the ground out from the foundation about 10 feet along with spraying up the foundation 3-5 feet.
The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds) shows how to prepare the hose end for this precise amount of Maxxthor.
Now if you’re already seeing them on the homes siding, you’ll need to use another 5 gallons to spray it from the gutters down to the base of the foundation so repeat the treatment above.
To apply the Maxxthor, our 20 GALLON HOSE END with the green top is a good fit. Featured in the video above, its easy to use and uses plenty of water to get the active into the areas you need to cover which is essential for controlling pests like fungus flies.
BEST FUNGUS FLY TREATMENTS FOR INSIDE THE HOME
If you have fungus flies inside the home, you’ll need a good “space spray” to take care of any flying around. Liquid sprays won’t help unless you know where they’re nesting and then those areas can be treated directly (like crawl spaces). But for most problems, the nests will be located in drains, window sills, exterior siding, potted plants or some other water vessel. For this reason liquid spraying won’t help and why “space sprays” will be needed.
SPACE SPRAY OPEN ROOMS FOR FUNGUS GNATS WHEN NESTS ARE NOT KNOWN
For lingering problems in open areas like great rooms, enclosed patios, offices, etc. where the nest site is unknown, use a space spray like MULTIPURPOSE INSECT KILLER. This aerosol can be sprayed like hair spray for 5-10 seconds in any room and it will quickly kill any fungus gnats flying around.
Treatments are short lived and only remain active for 15-30 minutes but its’ safe enough to use any time, even when people are present, and can be used several times a day if needed.
For a more permanent solution, install some AEROSOL MACHINES in any room with an ongoing problem. They’re a “set it and forget it” way to control any flying pest in the home and ideal for fungus flies.
This short video (less than 60 seconds) shows how easy it is to use the Multipurpose as well as the aerosol machines listed below for quick control of flying pests.:
These machines run automatically and essentially apply an aerosol like the Multi Purpose Aerosol (above) but they do this for you, every 15 minutes, and never miss a treatment. They run on two “D” cell batteries and each machine can cover up to 400 sq/ft.
You’ll need the right aerosol in your machine and the odorless CLEAR ZONE is powerful and yet discreet making it ideally suited for use in the home. Each can will last 30 days or more and will control any kind of flying pest like flies, gnats, mosquitoes, noseeums, wasps and more.
FUNGUS GNAT TRAPS
In addition to the liquid and aerosol options listed above, fungus gnat traps can also help.
For use in the potted plants or around computer screens, BUG STIX can help reduce these gnats by quickly trapping out foraging adults. The yellow color used works as a strong attractant and fungus gnats can’t seem to ignore them once in the area. Traps will quickly capture any flying around within 10 feet and will remain sticky for 30-60 days. Use them in potted plants or set them in a cup on the counter.
FUNGUS GNAT LIGHT TRAP
Lаѕtlу, thе SPARROW HAWK FLY TRAP саn bе dерlоуеd іn аnу rооm whеrе аdult drain flies аrе ѕееn. It’ѕ amazingly well adapted for catching flying insects like mosquites, noseeums, drain flies and more.
Watch this video to see how to set it up along with other details on how it works:
It has a large glue board that catches them once they enter the holes on the outside band. Keep one installed in kitchens bathrooms or bedrooms where pests have been seen.
For a limited time, you can get the Sparrow Hawk in a kit with either the Multi Purpose Insect Spray or our Aerosol Dispenser and a can of Clear Zone.
Here is the kit that features the Sparrow Hawk with our Aerosol Dispenser and a can of Clear Zone.
Tracey says
I have what I believe are the dark winged fungus gnats all over the outside of my house (landing all over windows, doors, siding) and I’m afraid they will start invading the inside. What can I do to control these outside?
I’m also dealing with springtails and plan to buy the Maxxthor granules. Will that help with the gnats too? Or if I need a separate product for soil around the house, can it be used in conjunction with the Maxxthor granules? Thanks for any additional advice, your site is already a wealth of information!
Tech Support says
Tracey,
If you scroll up to review our post above, you’ll see we talk about treating the homes exterior. For this you’ll need the Maxxthor EC. In fact you’ll need it for springtails too and is super important for them – especially on the homes siding.
.
Unfortunately the granules won’t help for fungus flies but get some of the Maxxthor EC listed above and use at least 5 gallons on the homes siding and they’ll be gone. Use another 5 gallons on the soil around the home and you’ll soon be on the path to not seeing any again.
.
Maxxthor EC: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/maxxthor-ec
.
Technical Support
bugspray.com