Fungus Gnat vs Fruit Fly: How to get rid of
How to spot a Fungus Gnat:
- Dark gray/black color
- Eyes are not visible
- Long with dangly legs (a bit like a mosquito)
- White spots (larvae) in the soil
How to spot a Fruit Fly:
- Brown/yellow color
- Big red eyes
- Fatter (a bit like a house fly)
- Swarm around rotting fruit
How do I identify a Fungus Gnat and a Fruit Fly?
Fungus gnats and fruit flies can be difficult to distinguish as they look pretty similar. You want to make sure you have your diagnosis right before proceeding as fruit flies aren’t as deadly to your plants and usually only occur if you are keeping your plants near to fruit and vegetables (which fruit flies love).
The first difference between them is color; fungus gnats range from a dark gray or black color whereas fruit flies are brown. Another distinguishing feature of the fruit fly is their eyes which are big and red, whereas the fungus gnats eyes you can barely see. Also, make sure that you check out the shape of the pest – fungus gnats are longer with dangly legs, whereas the fruit fly looks a bit more like a house fly but smaller.
How can I stop Fungus Gnats from damaging my Cannabis Plants?
Fungus gnats love to target cannabis as the bottom of your plants where it is nice and warm is the perfect environment for them to lay their eggs – and this can be a whopping hundred eggs per week. Their presence will seriously damage your root system which is the life-blood of the whole plant, so if left untreated this can go onto effect the growth of your plants, and they may even perish completely.
– Preventing Fungus Gnats
Preventing fungus gnats from targeting your plants is easier indoors than outdoors as you have more control over certain conditions. If you are an indoor grower make sure you don’t water your plants too often – always check the soil is dry before you water again as a very moist soil is what the fungus gnats love. When growing outdoors there is less that you can do, but one option is to sterilize your soil prior to use so that any eggs are removed.
– Treating a Fungus Gnat Infestation
If you are unlucky enough to get a fungus gnat infestation then there are plenty of remedies out there to get rid of them. Indoor growers can try yellow sticky tabs to catch the pests or, you can invest in a pest treatment. Pest treatments for fungus gnats should contain the bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis which prevents them from eating and causes them to perish without harming your plants, Neem Oil is also a good natural alternative. If you are growing outdoors, you might want to try using ‘friendly’ insects that will eat up the fungus gnats that are in your soil.
How can I stop Fruit Flies from damaging my Cannabis Plants?
Fruit flies aren’t as damaging to your plants as fungus gnats, but you still don’t want them around if possible. The easiest way to do this is to remove any rotting or very ripe fruit from your kitchen so that these flies don’t spread to your grown room. Make sure you regularly keep an eye on any potential rotting food that might cause the fruit flies to return and get rid of it immediately.
#1 Best Eco-Friendly Fungus Gnat Trap: Trapro 20 Pack Dual Sided
A really simple way of catching those damaging fungus gnats is through yellow sticky traps. They are yellow in color as this attracts the pests to them, once they have landed on this trap they are not going to be leaving and can cause no more damage to your plants. These are made from a non-toxic material so are environmentally friendly and won’t harm your cannabis plants either.
For use in cannabis plants, simply attach the yellow sticky trap to a stick and insert it into the soil. Within minutes you will see the yellow card fill up with fungus gnats. This trap is also good for catching other pests that frequent cannabis plants, including aphids, leafminers, thrips and whiteflies.
#Fungus_gnats #Yellow_sticky_traps #Aphids #White_flies #Thrips
#2 Best Natural Fungus Gnat Pesticide: Bonide 022 Ready-to-Use Neem Oil
If you are wanting a natural product to treat your fungus gnat infestation then Neem oil is a great way of dealing with these pests if you like to give your plants the organic treatment. This product from Bonide is ready to use so you can get spraying straight away. It will get rid of the fungus gnats themselves and the eggs that they lay in your soil.
Other benefits of using Neem oil is that it won’t harm beneficial insects that like to make your plants their home – such as earthworms and ladybugs. Neem oil can be used both indoors and outdoors so is a great choice for whichever growing medium you prefer. A great organic product that won’t cost the earth and will solve your fungus gnat problems.
#Natural #Organic #Neem_oil #Fungus_gnats #Pesticide
#3 Best Root Cleaner for Fungus Gnats: Root Cleaner – Soil Gnat, Fungus and Pathogen Killer
For a dose of the strong stuff then look no further than this Root Cleaner from Green Cleaner. This can be used whether you grow in soil or hydroponically and can be applied right up until you harvest. Once applied, it will get to work killing all of the fungus gnats and their eggs. What’s more, the gnats won’t become immune to this stuff.
The benefits of the Root Cleaner don’t stop there. It is also effective at getting rid of other pests such as aphids and thrips, and it also helps to prevent root rot. This product is safe to use without gloves and won’t cause any damage to your cannabis plants. We love the stuff!
#Root_cleaner #Fungus_gnats #Aphids #Thrips #Root_rot
#4 Best Fungus Gnat Preventer: Growstone Gnat Nix! Fungus Gnat Control
They say prevention is better than the cure so why not invest in a product that will stop the fungus gnats laying their eggs in your plants in the first place? This non-toxic gnat control from Growstone is just the ticket. Through applying a layer to the top of your soil it will prevent female fungus gnats from laying their eggs, and also prevent hatching if there are eggs already there.
Amazingly, it is made out of 100% recycled glass so won’t cause any harm to your plants. Through targeting fungus gnats at all stages of their life cycle this prevention method is a sure fire way of keeping your cannabis plants gnat free. Just make sure you fully cover the surface of your growing medium so that it is most effective.
#Fungus_gnat_prevention #Natural #Gnat_control #Pest_control #Cannabis
#5 Best Fast Working Fungus Gnat Control: Summit Responsible Solutions Mosquito Bits
As the name suggests these Mosquito Bits work fast to kill any fungus gnats and larvae population present around your cannabis plants. Use these if you grow in soil – they can either be added to the topsoil or you can mix them through your potting soil before you plant to make sure any fungus gnat eggs are destroyed. Any present fungus gnats should be gone within 24 hours.
Containing Bacillus Thuringiensis, this is the bacteria that prevents fungus gnats from eating which is why it achieves such fast results. What’s more, this fungus gnat control is approved for use in organic cultivation so great if you like the all-natural method. We’re sure that with this purchase fungus gnats will become a thing of the past.
#Bacillus_Thuringiensis #Fungus_gnats #Fast_acting #Organic #Fungus_gnat_control
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between fungus gnats and fruit flies is important for any cannabis grower. While the fruit fly is an annoyance, it could be lethal to your plants if you mistake a fungus gnat infestation for an attack of fruit flies. Ensure that you know how to identify a fungus gnat and take preventative methods to stop their occurrence.
If you do notice fungus gnats flying around your plants and wriggling around in your soil make sure that you act fast. With one of the products reviewed above, you can effectively wipe out the fungus gnat population and keep your plants healthy. Regularly checking for these predators on your plants is an essential practice for all marijuana growers so familiarising yourself with this article will go a long way to improving your yields!
