Fungus gnats: those tiny, annoying flies that hover above your potting soil like they’re having a party. Although they may seem harmless, they can be quite annoying. But how long do these flies actually live? And why do they seem to be bothering you more and more? Let’s unravel the mystery of fungus gnats.
How long do fungus gnats live?
An adult fungus gnat lives for only 5 to 8 days . That doesn't sound like a long time, and it isn't. The real problem isn't how long they live, but how quickly they reproduce. A single fly can cause a complete plague if you don't address the source.
How come it bothers me so much?
The answer lies in the life cycle of the mourning fly . Here's how it works:
- Eggs: An adult female lays as many as 100 to 200 eggs in moist potting soil during its short life. These eggs hatch within 3 to 5 days .
- Larvae: The larvae feed on organic matter in the soil (and sometimes on the roots of your plants). They remain active for about 10 to 14 days before pupating.
- Pupae: The larvae pupate in the soil and remain there for another 3 to 4 days .
- Adult flies: After the pupal stage, the adult flies emerge, ready to start a new generation. And so the cycle repeats.
Fungus gnats keep coming back because they reproduce very quickly and moist soil provides the perfect environment for their eggs. If you have multiple plants, they can also easily move from one pot to another. A few flies can therefore quickly become a major plague.
How can you stop the plague?
Fortunately, you can break the cycle and deal with fungus gnats . Start with yellow sticky traps . These can be placed near your plants; the flies are attracted to the color and stick to them. This will help reduce the adult population.
You can then use nematodes to combat the larvae in the soil. These natural enemies penetrate the larvae and ensure that they die, without damaging your plants or the soil.
In addition, it is important to let the soil dry out well. Fungus gnats do not like dry soil, so let the top layer of potting soil dry out before watering again. As an additional measure, you can sprinkle a thin layer of sand or gravel over the potting soil, so that flies have a harder time laying eggs.
With these steps you can finally get rid of those pesky fungus gnats and get your plants growing healthy again!
