Fungus Gnat Facts & Information

Fungus gnats are primarily caused by the combination of overwatered houseplants and nutrient-rich, damp soil. Adult gnats are drawn to moisture and decaying organic matter where they lay eggs. The resulting larvae feed on fungi, root hairs, and decomposing plant material. So, you easily could have brought fungus gnats in on a new plant or in contaminated soil.

Since they prefer overwatered plants and damp soil, the most common place you’ll find fungus gnats is in potted houseplants. They thrive in rooms with high moisture and stagnant air like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Outside, they are abundant in damp leaf litter, decaying vegetable matter, mulch, and garden soil. Businesses with live plants and landscaping (like malls, hotel lobbies, etc.), greenhouses, and nurseries are major breeding grounds for fungus gnats due to constant watering and high humidity levels.

Fungus gnats mostly cause problems for plants. Fungus gnats will damage the root systems which will cause them to struggle to absorb water. That can cause sudden wilting or drooping even though the soil is visibly moist. It can stunt the plants’ growth, make the leaves to turn yellow and prematurely fall off, and cause root loss. Since fungus gnats are often mistaken for other pests, they can also cause reputational harm. Nobody wants to sit down with their cheeseburger and fries at the food court and be swatting away flies.

You certainly won’t have fungus gnats if you don’t have plants in your home or business! But what’s the fun in that? There are some DIY fungus gnat remedies you can use like yellow sticky traps you can put on wooden stakes to trap the adults. They are drawn to the bright yellow color and will get stuck there, preventing them from laying eggs in your soil. We recommend that you call horticultural specialists to evaluate plants which appear to be heavily infested. Since fungus gnats thrive in constantly damp, organic-rich soil, you can always allow the top layer of your soil to dry completely before watering again, ensure your pots have adequate drainage holes and never let your plant sit in a water-filled saucer. For more severe infestations, repot the plant in fresh, high-quality potting mix. Gently rinse the old soil completely off the roots before repotting to ensure no larvae remain.

We’re passionate about controlling gnats in your home because we live and work here – it’s our neighborhood, too. With our almost 100 years of experience keeping homes and businesses in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland safe from pests, Western has the experience you can trust.