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This promotes the growth of fungus that serves as the primary food source of certain gnat species. Say your plants are dry and gnat-free — that’s the time to start investigating potential sources of mildew or mold. Look for leaky windows, roofs or other cracks that might be letting extra moisture into your home. Repairing these spots could reduce or completely eliminate your gnat problem, as they will lose their food source. If you’ve tried these solutions with no luck, you’ll need to call in a professional pest control company to help address your gnat infestation. Peppermint oil is a great natural pest control option, especially when made into a bug spray with water and a few drops of liquid dish soap.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies: 5 DIY Traps
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Where do fruit flies come from? They don't just 'magically appear.'.
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After the pupal stage that lasts for three to four days, the tiny adult gnats emerge from the soil. Consistent efforts to remove breeding sites, use traps and maintain cleanliness are crucial for successfully eliminating a gnat infestation. Keep your kitchen clean because gnats are attracted to food scraps.
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Consider watering plants over a sink or drain and then letting the water drain out. If you have some stale wine, Price suggests pouring it in a small vessel and then adding two drops of dish soap. "Place the mixture in gnat-filled areas of your home and wait for the bugs to drop in," he says. "They end up in your yard or around your house from a couple of different sources," he says. "For example, they can be brought in from a plant that has eggs in the soil, mulch that may have eggs or larvae, or from a neighboring property, woods, farm, or nearby wetlands." Regardless of how minor the leak is, if you see one, don’t put off fixing it, says Fredricks.
Drain Gnats
One of the most popular do-it-yourself (DIY) gnat removal methods is the homemade apple cider vinegar trap. It’s a simple strategy of attracting the gnats or fruit flies with food, then trapping them by blocking their exit with a paper cone or plastic wrap. To prevent gnats from laying eggs and the infestation from getting much worse, the best course of action is to attempt to eliminate all water sources from your property. This includes stagnant water, as adult female gnats are drawn to it. Mulching—A layer of mulch on plant pot soil can help to prevent females from laying eggs.
Top your potted plant soil with natural ingredients.
Fortunately, minor to moderate gnat infestations can often be exterminated with simple DIY methods and thorough cleaning. However, if you have a severe gnat infestation, it may take more than one of these methods to eradicate the pests. First, we’ll show you how to identify the type of gnats you’re dealing with.
Although these types of gnats can thrive in virtually any environment, they favor areas with loose sandy soil. When combining various methods to get rid of gnats for good, it’s essential to make sure that they complement each other. For example, a hydrogen peroxide drench will also kill nematodes.
Repot Your Plants
Skip the harsh drain cleaner and use a pipe snake, boiling water, and other remedies. Follow up with an enzyme drain cleaner and rinse away your pesky problem. Gnats are tiny (about 1/8 inch long), dark, mosquito-like flies with antennae and long legs. While gnats are not considered dangerous, their presence can be a nuisance in the household. Peterson recommends keeping your home – and especially your kitchen sink drains and toilets clean and clear. Dispose of any fruit or other produce past its prime, and do the same with any cut flowers.
Although they’re tiny, gnats can cause a great deal of annoyance inside your home. You may have noticed some floating around your fruit bowl or your favorite houseplant and wondered how they got there in the first place. Experts recommend trying natural remedies first to remove gnats from your house plants. Natural remedies are eco-friendly and pose no health risks to humans or pets. However, it may be time to turn to chemical options if you try a few natural solutions and still have a gnat problem. “Another little-known gnat hack is putting raw potato chunks into the soil to attract larvae,” Schutter says.
Use a Bug Zapper
Choose one that’s maybe a bit smaller and less obtrusive than others, and pick one that is suitable for indoor use, like our top indoor pick from Aspectek. We back up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. Your garbage can, particularly in the kitchen, should have a lid that seals tight when not in use. The trash, along with any indoor compost, should be taken out regularly.
As their name implies, these pests are attracted to fresh or decaying fruit, other organic matter, and moisture. Gnats are primarily attracted to sweet and fruity scents, but many species of gnats are also drawn to water and body heat. Perspiration and even the moisture of your eyes and nose can draw in gnats. Fruits, vegetables and flowers growing in your garden or food residue in your sink can attract these pests. Knowing how to get rid of gnats completely will likely require multiple treatments and preventative measures.
While fungus gnats do not bite people, fungus gnats can damage your plants. Read on to learn how to get rid of these pesky critters, with tips from the experts on how to banish and prevent gnat infestations. We already mentioned houseplants, above, in relation to the moisture that brings gnats to a house. The specific type that indoor plants can encourage are fungus gnats. Follow the provided water-to-cake ratios if they're listed on the packet. If not, you'll have to test the different ratios experts recommend.
If the gnats keep appearing, experts at Colonial Pest Control Inc., recommend applying an indoor-friendly pesticide as a soil drench to soak and kill the gnats and fungus. If houseplants are the source of your gnat issue, kill off any larvae in the soil of your houseplants by digging down 2 to 3 inches and turning the top of the soil over. Place 1 to 2 inches of sand on top of the soil to discourage standing water and deter gnats from laying eggs.
Let sit for about 15 minutes, then wipe off with a clean cloth. To clean the inside of your trash can, use a mixture of hot water and dish soap with a strong scrubber, such as the Non-Scratch, Super Long-Lasting Scrubbing Pad. These are multi-purpose and come with a “No-Nonsense Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee”. Believe it or not, one of the things that actually caused the infestation can be used to your advantage when getting rid of it. Add a coupe pieces of overripe fruit to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and secure using a rubber band.
To get rid of drain flies or drain gnats, simply pour drain cleaner down the drain. Using the manufacturer’s instructions, pour some of the cleaner down the drain slowly to kill flying gnats and the larvae. Be sure to wear a mask, gloves and eye protection as drain cleaner can be particularly noxious stuff. One of the most effective methods for controlling and getting rid of gnats is by using a bug zapper. These devices attract gnats and electrocute them, causing them to die and collect in the bottom of the device.
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