Treating fungal problems quickly will prevent gnats from taking hold and doing even more harm to the plant. Plants with fungal diseases such as root rot or sooty mold are particularly susceptible to fungus gnat infestations. Make sure that you store your houseplant compost in an airtight container to prevent them from infesting your soil, and later, your plants. Potting mixtures and substrates with a high organic matter content are at higher risk of infestations because they provide all the nutrients that the larvae need to develop. Not only does an overwatered plant hold plenty of moisture, but roots also begin to rot when they are oversaturated, creating fungus for the gnats to eat.įungus gnats feast on all kinds of organic matter, particularly decaying matter and fungus. The females lay their eggs below the surface of the soil where it is damp.

What Causes Fungus Gnats?įungus gnats love moisture! Plants that are overwatered are a paradise for these pests. Fungus gnats are often viewed as a beneficial organism within a healthy ecosystem, as they help to break down decaying organic matter. You won’t usually see the larvae, as they live beneath the soil where they feed on decaying matter, fungus, root hairs, and soft new plant growth. The larvae look like microscopic maggots, with black heads and translucent, legless bodies. They are often found crawling across the top layer of soil in plant pots or flying around nearby, although they are fairly weak fliers and tend not to stray far from host plants. The adults measure between two and eight millimeters long with dark brown bodies and wings.

So if you’re fed up with swatting them away from your face and watching them swarm up as you tend your plants, here is our ultimate guide to getting rid of fungus gnats for good! What are Fungus Gnats?įungus Gnats are tiny flying insects belonging to the Sciaroidea family. Luckily for us, despite being a nuisance, they are generally harmless healthy plants, although they should be dealt with swiftly to prevent their pesky population from exploding. These microscopic winged menaces are fungus gnats and are possibly the most common houseplant pests. What are those tiny, annoying little flies, swarming around my beautiful houseplant collection, and how did they get there?! It’s a question most houseplant enthusiasts will have asked themselves at some point.

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