cindi,

help! we repotted some outdoor potted plants to bring them in for the winter season. now we have small black flying bugs living in one of them. we have just discovered there are tons of them. they seem to be attracted to water. they hang out around the sinks and other potted plants. we have 2 small children so we would prefer a natural remedy if you are aware of one. we are really bugged about this. thank you in advance.

[quote:3d97153588="lmtfit"]cindi,

help! we repotted some outdoor potted plants to bring them in for the winter season. now we have small black flying bugs living in one of them. we have just discovered there are tons of them. they seem to be attracted to water. they hang out around the sinks and other potted plants. we have 2 small children so we would prefer a natural remedy if you are aware of one. we are really bugged about this. thank you in advance.[/quote:3d97153588]


Fungus gnats can come inside the house from the outdoors or they can come inside from a bag of infested potting mix. Fungus gnat adults are tiny flying insects-no more than 1/8 of an inch in length. They will appear when indoor plants are disturbed, or may be seen running across foliage or soil surfaces. The larvae of the fungus gnats are tiny (1/4 inch), white, and black headed. Adults lay eggs in the soil, the larvae emerge in a week or so and they mature into adults in a couple of weeks and the cycle starts all over again.

The gnats feed on fungus growing on decaying organic matter in the soil, they will not damage plants unless the populations are very high and the larvae begin feeding on tiny plant roots, which will destroy seedlings. They are quite simply a nuisance when they are flying around though; so let me offer a few suggestions for control.

Allow the soil surface of you houseplants to dry out before you water them next. Be sure not to leave water in the protective saucers below the pots.

Check to be sure that you have good seals around your doors and windows to get these pests out. Use caulk or sealant if necessary.
Yellow sticky fly tape might not be very attractive hanging around, but it might do a good job of helping to eliminate adult gnats. This will reduce egg-laying populations.

You can also make a homemade trap with a quart jar and a paper funnel. Roll a piece of plain white paper into a funnel shape that will fit snugly into the mouth of the jar, making sure that the bottom opening is at least an inch wide. Secure the funnel with a piece of tape. Pour about an inch of vinegar into the bottom of the jar and add a couple of banana slices. Then put the paper funnel into the jar mouth. The gnats will fly into the jar in search of the sweet smelling banana and will be unable to get out because the funnel will trap them. You can then take the jar outside and let the gnats go.

There are also some really neat looking medieval bug jars available at some garden centers and garden accessory shops that work on the same principle. (The Secret Garden in Middletown has them 244-0560)

Finally, you can try a biological control carried by a company called Gardens Alive. The product is called �Knock Out Gnats� (1-812-537-5108). It contains Bacteria that are toxic to the gnat larvae but not to you or your pets. They also carry yellow sticky tape that you can put near your houseplants to trap the adults. I hope this helps you. Have fun In The Garden (indoors and out)!