Fruit flies and gnats are notoriously annoying insects. The two pests are commonly mistaken when not keenly observed. Nevertheless, each pest has distinctive characteristics you can use to tell them apart. Check the following features to help you spot the differences between the two pests.
• Color – whereas fruit flies color ranges from tan to black, gnats are either dark gray or black. Some fruit flies have a brownish head and thorax. In addition, fruit flies’ wings have a black color pattern with a dark tail and abdomen.
• Shape – a fruit fly’s shape resembles a rounded silhouette similar to a smaller version of a housefly. In comparison, gnats have large, gangling legs with long bodies that mirror a small mosquito’s shape. These features give gnats the ability to jump high and fly quickly.
• Eyes – Fruit flies have conspicuous big, red eyes, which makes them easy to point out. On the other hand, gnats have small eyes and you can find it a challenge to see them-pardon the pun.
• Habitat – whereas gnats gather and nest in the soil of your garden or the indoor potted plants you just purchased, fruit flies are attracted to fruits and vegetables, nesting on store shelves and in overripe fruits. Fruit flies also breed in drains, garbage collection points, or trash containers.
Of the two pests, fruit fly bites are rare on human skin since they don’t feed on blood, whereas gnat’s bite is usually irritative and itchy.
Why My Indoor Plants Brought In Gnats
There are various reasons for the cause of your gnat problem; the most common causes are organic debris, wet soil, and light. Below are how your indoor plants attracted gnats into your house.
• Organic debris
The primary source of gnat larvae’s food is organic waste. Ideally, organic debris provides excess moisture, which is a conducive and favorable environment for the growth of gnats. The organic debris also acts as a breeding ground for gnat larvae. They use the organic matter to lay eggs and hatch and feed on the roots of your plants as they begin to pupate.
• Wet Soil
Wet and moist environments are favorite breeding zones for gnat larvae. As long as the soil is kept moist, it becomes a perfect environment for the bugs to survive and multiply. If you frequently water your potted plant, thus making the soil moist and wet, then you should know why there is gnat attacks in your homestead.
• Light Source
Gnats are attracted to bright lights; you will notice them swarming around your bulbs or light fixtures like lamps and windows.
Advice On How To Get Rid Gnats In Plants Naturally
Even though the effects of gnats are annoying, the pests can easily be kept away from your indoor plants. The methods include,
• Let the soil dry
Always let the soil dry up to reduce the moisture content in the soil. Less moist soil creates unconducive breeding grounds for gnat larvae. Consequently, there will be an inhabitable environment, and the gnats will automatically die off. Don’t panic about the dryness in your house plant. Plants can hold water for a longer period before you water them next.
• Use traps
Using various natural traps is the natural and quickest solution to keep off gnats from your indoor plants. These traps include vinegar mixture, sticky fly traps, flycatcher, and potatoes. Mixing vinegar with dish soap also helps you get rid of fruit flies. Depending on your preference, pick one of the above methods and eliminate the gnats.
• Sanitize and re-pot
This strategy is only applicable if you can carefully remove the plant from its planter, scooping out the soil without tampering with its root system, after which wrap the infected soil in a plastic bag. Sanitize the pot with warm, soap water. Once the cleaning is done, repot your plant, put fresh ground, and let it grow.
• Use a spray bottle
Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle filled with water and dish soap. Carefully spray the solution on the top layer of the soil and repeat the process till the whole area is covered. Remember not to flood the soil.
Pests can create unnecessary discomfort in your house. Therefore, you should seek an effective and long-lasting solution to the problem.
Get Rid of Pests Out of Your Home Today!
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