Fungus Gnats: How to Identify and Get Rid
of These House Plant Pests

What They Look Like

Fungus gnats look like tiny, black flies with grayish transparent wings. The adults are about 2 centimeters long and have long legs and antennae. Being so small, they can enter a home through the tiniest of openings. They sometimes arrive in a newly purchased bag of potting soil.

They're more of an annoyance than anything. They are harmless to humans, and unlike many house plant pests, the adult gnats don't feed on plants. They're attracted to moist organic matter such as peat moss and fir bark in many potting mixes, and overwatered plants will draw them...well, like flies.

Now you're wondering...why treat my plants? The fungus gnat life cycle is quick and they may take over your whole plant collection if left untreated. Most of these insects are females that will lay 100-300 eggs in crevices of the soil. The eggs hatch into larvae in 4-6 days and feed on plant roots, damaging your plants and leaving them susceptible to disease. After feeding for a couple weeks, they go through a pupal stage in the soil. In less than a week, they emerge as adults to begin the cycle all over again.

Where to Find Them

Although they have wings, they can barely fly. You'll find the gnats crawling on the soil or hovering just above the soil surface. Because they are dark like soil, they are difficult to detect unless they are moving. You'll see them stir if you blow on your plant or when you water it.

Seedlings and moisture-loving plants such as African violets and ferns are a favorite home for these pests. Overwatered plants are also a haven for them.

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats

Controlling these insects can be as simple as allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. If your plant will tolerate dry soil for a short time, this may be the solution. I tried this on my heartleaf philodendron. I stopped watering it for 2 weeks to let the soil dry out and the gnats just disappeared. If your plant is not drought-tolerant, try one of the other solutions.

You can catch the adult insects by staking a yellow sticky trap in each infested plant container. This will catch the adults, but not the larvae. Insecticidal soaps labeled for fungus gnats can be used for killing the adult insects.

Gnatrol is effective in killing gnat larvae. It works by causing the larvae to stop feeding and they die. It is only toxic for 2 days, so it needs to be applied every 2 days for a week or as needed to stop the life cycle. Make sure your plant is listed on the product label of any pesticide before using it. Read the label carefully and follow the manufacturer's directions for use.