When they hover over the surface of the liquid, the dish soap will reduce the tension of the solution, and the gnats will drown. This method will also work with any leftover red wine that you might have in place of the apple cider vinegar. Kill the Larvae with Cinnamon Several species and combinations of species can be available including, Steinernema kraussei, S. feltiae, Heterorhabditis megidis and H. bacteriophora. Steinernema species can remain active at soil temperatures down to 5ºC (41ºF) whilst Heterorhabditis require temperatures above 12ºC (54ºF).

Water your plants less. Many a houseplant is watered more than it actually needs. Try watering it less and see how it responds.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles)

Fungus gnats are really only of concern if they are causing damage to seedlings or cuttings; established plants are not harmed. Fungus gnats are often introduced via new plants or even potting mixes, so inspect plants and soil for larvae before bringing them home. The whole lifecycle is about 28 days, but the adult fungus gnats live only around 7 days. Where do fungus gnats come from?

Adult fungus gnats live for about 7 days. In this time each female lays a staggering 150 eggs in the soil of your plant. After about 5 days, these eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae are the ones that can cause root damage and live up to 14 days. They then form pupae to transform into the adult fly form, which takes about 5 days. How long do gnats live? You will also need to continually remove organic debris from the soil, as this is the kind of material that the fungus gnats like to feed on. On a regular basis, rake up dead leaves, grass clippings, flowers, and other debris from your yard and potted plants. After you’ve cleared any organic waste from the soil, add some diatomaceous earth to the potting soil. Adding some dish soap to a spray bottle and spraying the top of the soil can help kill off the gnats. Homemade fungus gnat trapsMost fungus gnats are weak fliers, and can often be seen walking rapidly over plants and soil, rather than flying. However, when airborne, the gnats may be quite annoying to humans by flying into their faces, eyes, and noses, both indoors and outdoors. [4] [5] These flies are sometimes confused with drain flies. [6] Hardiness [ edit ] Avoid applying nematodes if it’s too hot or sunny — they might dry out and die in these conditions. Overcast weather is ideal.