How do I tell which it is w/o a magnifying glass so I can treat it right? Or is there something that would kill both? I have only been able to find things that kill one or the other on line.
2006-11-11 07:51:20 · 2 answers · asked by Valerie B 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
It really doesn't matter which one it is--they are treated in the same way. (But if you really want to tell shore flies are a little shorter with a wider body--fungus gnats have a more narrow body.) They are the result of overwatering. The larvae of both live in the soggy soil. You have to let the soil dry out. This is harder on the larvae than the plants. They are made to survuve without water for short periods. When the soil is completely dry water it lightly. Then let it dry again. Do this 3 times and it should kill the larvae.
The adults will die with time but if you don't want to wait (and I don't recomment waiting because they could lay more eggs in the soil) get some Shultz Houseplant Insect Spray and spray all the plant's and pots and soil--places where they land. It lasts about 3 weeks and that's enough to kill the adults. Then alter your watering habits so they don't come back.
2006-11-11 08:14:33 · answer #1 · answered by college kid 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
All the possible suggestions of where they are coming from are really good and for sure likely, but have you considered that they might be coming from your potted plants inside your house?
I had this concern earlier this year.
I bought a product called, "KNOCK-OUT GNATS" from www.gardensalive.com .
It is a soil drench, biological larvicide of the "Bacillus thuringiensis", subspecies "israelensis".
This is the same bacteria that is in "mosquito-dunks" you would out in birdbaths and such to control mosquitoes.
It's totally non-toxic to everything but the gnats' larvae that grow and mature in your plants soil from feeding on decaying roots, and etc.
The presence of gnats can indicate "root-rot" starting in your plants, because of over watering or disease in soil such as undesirable fungus' growth, which attracts these, "fungus-gnats".
This treatment is used by professional greenhouse growers and hobbists.
This product is very reasonable in cost, check it out.
Hope this helps,
Dave
PS, collegekid above knows his/her stuff!
Source(s):
www.GardensAlive.com & experience.
2006-11-11 17:05:54 · answer #2 · answered by what'sthis4 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋