Finding fungus gnat buzzing around your home can be annoying and confusing , especially if you do n’t have any houseplant . Since these small black flies typically breed in the moist soil of potted plants , their presence is puzzling when you do n’t grow any botanical indoors .
fortuitously , there are ways to extinguish fungus gnats even if you do n’t have works in your home . In this article , we ’ll explore where these secret insect come from , how to distinguish them , and most importantly , techniques to get disembarrass of fungus gnats for goodness .
Where Do Fungus Gnats Come From Without Houseplants?
If fungus gnat are attracted to damp organic potting grunge how do they end up infesting homes without plants ? Here are some common mode they see their way inside
From Neighboring Apartments or Units – In multi - family housing , gnat can migrate between units , enter under room access or through small crack and crevices .
Through loose Doors and Windows – Gnats outdoors can vanish into a home when door or windows are provide open . out-of-door fungal spore blowing in can also start an plague .
Brought in on Clothing or Bags – Gnats cleave to fabrics and bags can thumb inside This is common with shared laundry rooms
From Household Drains and Pipes – Moist slimy buildup inside drainpipe can nurture gnats . They then come forth from drains and breed in other damp areas .
From Stored Fruits and Vegetables – white potato vine , onions and other produce can develop kingdom Fungi and mold in storage , fueling gnat .
carry On New Furniture or Items – Gnats can hide in the promotional material of new furnishing , gadget , or boxes brought into the home .
While not having plants limits breeding land site , fungus gnats are resourceful at locate darkness , damp areas to propagate . Being vigilant about cleanliness and moisture control is key .
How to Identify Fungus Gnats
To be sure your habitation is invade by fungus gnats and not other fly insects like yield flies or drain tent flap , look for these revealing signs :
Distinguishing fungus gnat from alike plague give up proper treatment . Their sizing , oscillate flight , and chemical attraction for moisture assistant sustain an infestation .
Effective Ways to Eliminate Fungus Gnats Without Plants
Here are prove techniques to get free of fungus gnat in a home without potted plants :
Enact Strict Moisture Control – winnow out leaks , fix dripping spigot , ventilate humid areas , and dry out out any standing water or moistness . This take away breed circumstance .
Clean Drains and Disposals – Use enzyme cleaner to remove slimy buildup inside drain . moneyed with boiling water . clear administration with baking soda and vinegar .
bump and Remove Rotting Organic Matter – Inspect for spoiled or mouldy green goods , wet cardboard , and decaying debris favorable to gnats .
Discard Infested Items in Sealed Bags – Isolate heavy infest furnishing or material in fictile bags and discard alfresco to forbid spread .
habituate Apple Cider Vinegar Traps – Place small cup filled with orchard apple tree cider vinegar around infested areas to attract and drown gnats .
give Diatomaceous Earth – splosh diatomaceous earth in windowpane sill , under appliance , and anywhere gnats congregate to down them .
Spray Neem Oil Mixture – Lightly spray a diluted neem oil colour resolution in problem areas to repulse and eliminate adult gnat .
Plug Scent Devices into Outlets – Citronella , eucalyptus tree , red gum or lemon grass infused smell plugs repel gnats off from outlets .
pose Out Sticky Traps – Use jaundiced pasty traps or tape near moisture and gnat to capture adult .
With diligence inspecting for and dehumidifying moist smirch , fungus gnat can be contain even without houseplant as breeding sites . Be thoroughgoing and patient , and your home will be gnat - free .
Prevention Tips to Stop Future Infestations
Once your home is cleared of fungus gnats , implement these preventive measures to blockade succeeding swarms :
Take out trash regularly to avoid decomposition smell attracting gnats .
Keep covert in good repair to block insects alfresco . practice caulk to seal modest windowpane and door gaps .
Allow cooking dish and cleaning rags to full dry rather than result dampness .
Store produce in good order in sealed container and discard mouldy or spoiled point .
Clean bathroom and kitchen drains every week using enzymatic cleanser and stewing water .
scrutinise new items tight for gnat before bringing indoors . Isolate if incertain .
stave off overwatering outdoor plants adjacent to the home ’s foundation .
Use dehumidifiers , exhaust fans , and AC to reduce indoor wet .
Place acetum trap or diatomaceous earth in out - of - sight dampish emplacement as preventive measure .
With some diligence inspect for moisture emergence and have preventive steps , you could keep frustrating fungus gnats at alcove even without indoor plants .
Troubleshooting Difficult Fungus Gnat Infestations
In austere cases , fungus gnat infestation can be stubborn despite good ascendance efforts . Here are some tips if you go along battling the pests :
Consider contacting a pest management professional for stronger chemical treatment options if needed .
plow all drain pipes with enzyme cleaner followed by boiling water flushes .
interchange sink drainage strainers and traps which can shield larvae .
Mist region around plumbing penetrations , electrical electric outlet , etc . with dilute insect powder .
Increase cleaning under appliances and inside loo for unobserved damp .
Treat wall and baseboard with boracic acid powder in infested rooms .
supplant infested porous furnishing and fabrics which are unsufferable to fully decontaminate .
Investigate and plow contiguous apartments / units to prevent migration into your space .
With tenacity , even life-threatening fungus gnat case can eventually be eliminated through diligent wet control , sanitation , and treatment . Do n’t tolerate an infestation – take action to repossess your peaceful gnat - free home environment .
FAQs About Managing Fungus Gnats Without Indoor Plants
Here are answers to some oft asked enquiry about controlling fungus gnats in homes without plants :
How do fungus gnats get in my menage if I do n’t have plants ?
gnat enter through candid doors and window , under doors from other units , on clothing and traveling bag , and breed in slimy waste pipe , leaky pipe , farm , sozzled debris and other dampish area .
Where do fungus gnats veil if you do n’t have plants ?
They congregate in moist window sills , condensation along baseboard , under and behind appliances , around plumbing fixtures , inside cabinets and closets , and in wall void with moisture damage .
Can fungus gnats infest a home plate without potted industrial plant ?
Yes , while pot grunge is the most mutual breeding spot , any surface area with moisture , organic dust , or fungal growth can have a fungus gnat population without plants present .
Do fungus gnat eventually die without plants to spawn in ?
Left untreated , the gnats may decrease in number over time but will continue breed in drains , damp spot , moulder yield / veggies and other well-disposed areas . Active control is required for full riddance .
Should I get rid of houseplant if I have fungus gnat ?
Not necessarily – just allow the potting soil to dry out totally between waterings . you’re able to also use mosquito dunks and sticky traps to control gnats on plants . But separate them may help throttle breeding internet site .
Take heart that with conscientious moisture dominance and point treatments , you could successfully force out fungus gnat even without indoor plant giving them recourse . Do n’t stick out the pain in the neck – take step to reclaim your peaceful living blank !
Will Fungus Gnats Hurt My Plants?
apart from being unbearably annoying , adult fungus gnat wo nt directly harm your plants . I say “ directly ” because their young most definitely can .
Fungus gnat larvae eat fungi , industrial plant root word , and constitutive matter in the soil to stay on alive . This can spite plant life .
Here’s what finally worked:
Sticky Traps
I actually started usingsticky trapswhile I was trying other methods of eradication . They function really well to capture grownup fungus gnats as they ’re fly past , but they do n’t get to the root ( pun intend ) of the job – the larvae .
The sticky lying in wait ca n’t catch ALL of the adult , so the gnat keep reproduce and the problem stays the same .
Mosquito dunk
In the depth of the interwebs , after reading about oh - so - many solutions that did n’t go , I come across an clause that recommended usingmosquito stuff shot .
Mosquito dunks are small beige discs that are typically used for brook water ( i. e. birdbath ) . As they unthaw , they release a bacteria that is poisonous to mosquitos – and patently to fungus gnats ! .
That ’s right , every clock time I watered my plant for the next two months , I would break off a quarter of a platter , throw it into the tearing can , and countenance it ride in the water overnight to let the bacterium work . I would then water my plant life the next day .
The mosquito dunk killed mosquito before they could procreate , but the unenviable traps caught adult gnat in their rails . After the first lacrimation , I could tell a difference , but it took eight seek to get rid of all the gnats .
During that time , I keep a close eye on the sticky maw and switched them out as needed . This helped me cypher out how many gnats were still becoming adults and if I needed to keep doing the mosquito dunk treatment .
I ’m so glad I ’m gnat - free now ! I ’d really rather never have to deal with this problem again , and I calculate you do too ! Here are some ways to keep from getting gnats again .
