Summit 116-12 Quick Kill Mosquito Bits, 8-Ounce

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Fungus gnats are a common problem for soil cannabis growers (especially those who overwater their plants!), but they’re actually easy to get rid of once you know what to do! Adult female fungus gnats lay their eggs in organic, moisture-rich environments like potting mix, which hatch into larvae in a matter of days at room temperature. In addition to feeding on fungi and organic matter in potting soil, these larvae might also chow down on houseplants’ roots. Within two weeks, they develop into pupae and finally adult fungus gnats, at which point they emerge from the soil to begin the cycle of egg-laying anew. What do fungus gnats look like?

Symptoms and Effects: Fungus gnats are usually noticed indoors when adults fly around light sources (e.g., windows, lamps), or when they fly around or walk across and rest on the soil of potted plants. Adult fungus gnats do not feed on or damage plants but are a cosmetic nuisance. Fungus gnat larvae typically feed on decaying organic matter and fungi in the soil. However, if larval numbers are high, they may damage roots by feeding on root hairs or tunneling into the roots themselves. This sort of damage is rare in home settings. The last step that you’ll need to take is to treat the potting mix to kill the larvae so that they don’t turn into flying, adult fungus gnats. This type of bacteria produces a toxin that hurts the larvae of fungus gnats and prevents them from being able to eat (it also kills mosquito larvae), but doesn’t affect your plants or roots. Products that contain this bacteria are sometimes listed as “BT” or “BTi” (to indicate the subspecies israelensis– which is particularly effective against fungus gnats). It is also safe for fish, pets, humans and pretty much everything besides larvae. It is safe for organic grows, even in the middle of the flowering/budding stage, and won’t hurt other microbes living in the soil. Fungus gnats (Family Sciaridae) are insects commonly associated with overwatered houseplants. They can become a nuisance when they are present in large numbers and fly around inside a home. In most situations, fungus gnats are a cosmetic problem. However, on occasion, fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage. A fungus gnat adult. Note the Y-shaped wing veins (arrow). Photo courtesy of B. Schoenmakers (Waarneming.nl)Repot houseplants with new potting soil frequently. Although fungus gnats live outdoors, too, they generally don’t cause problems in open spaces. Repotting indoor plants gives fungus gnats fewer opportunities to overtake containers. Neem oil is also an effective soil soak to combat fungus gnat larvae. Dilute the oil with water per the manufacturer’s directions and directly drench the soil at the roots of the plant. You can also spray the upper portion of the plant to keep adult gnats at bay. There are some home remedies which I haven’t tried so I can’t speak to their effectiveness, but here are two very effective methods to kill fungus gnat larvae in your potting mix. One is a biological control, and the other is a systemic pesticide. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Within days the chamomile/cinnamon dousing had dramatically reduced the gnat populations, however, over the next few weeks it didn’t kill off the remaining population, which was still big enough to be troublesome. Adults are about 2.5 mm in length. Larvae are tiny when hatched and can grow to 5.5 mm in length Lifespan

If you have an extreme fungus gnat problem, use a Pest treatment with “bacillus thuringiensis” (subspecies “israelensis” is best), for example Mosquito Bits, Mosquito Dunks, etc. Sometimes known as “BT.” Dry or powder formulations work best for fungus gnats. Break it up and sprinkle over top of compost, add water to “activate” the bacteria so it starts killing fungus gnat larvae. Within 4 to 6 days, the eggs will hatch and begin feeding. For 14 days, the larvae will feed on any organic matter on or in the soil. They primarily focus on eating the soil’s organic matter, but in the case of severe infestation, they will also begin feed on the finer root hairs of a plant, the plant’s roots, and possibly the crown, stem and any leaves of the plant that are located near the surface of the soil. Larvae are usually located in the top 2-3 inches of soil, but we have observed larvae as deep as 6 inches in potted soil as well as around a pot’s drainage holes. Mosquito Bits are not just for mosquitoes – these bits also kill fungus gnats larvae in the soil. Mosquito Bits are a biological control – Bacillus thuringiensis – that is non-toxic and is a naturally occuring bacteria. There are a couple of ways to use Mosquito Bits – either dissolved in water, or directly on top of the soil. What Are Fungus Gnats? A Mycetophilidae fungus gnat has a pale color compared to other species. Source: treegrowThe larvae of most species feed on fungi growing on soil, helping in the decomposition of organic matter. However some species are predatory, including those in the genus Arachnocampa of family Keroplatidae – the "glowworms" of Australia and New Zealand. [1] While you are controlling your potting mix moisture, you will need to also trap any of the adult fungus gnats. Fungus gnats are weak flyers and you will see them normally flying pretty close to your plants.

If you still have fungus gnats after doing that for a few days, try to mix it up because they will start getting resistant to your chosen treatment. Try one of these alternative cures: Don’t water your plants for a few days. You want to begin drying out the soil to kill as many larvae as you can before you apply a treatment (which will involve watering). Fungus gnat larvae need a warm, wet environment near the surface of your soil to grow. Even after you’ve gone through all these steps and believe fungus gnats are gone, make sure to avoid overwatering plants, as this is the most common reason growers get fungus gnats in the first place. Don’t do the next step until the top few inches of soil has dried out Be careful! Overdosing with systemic insecticide can easily kill your plant. Always test on one plant first, wait for a few days, and if the plant is fine, use it on other plants. Since the gnats are weak fliers, fan-based traps as well as other fly-killing devices may be used to help control free-flying gnats, especially indoors. There are a number of toxic and non-toxic methods of controlling sciarids and their larvae, including diatomaceous earth, or powdered cinnamon. [5] See also [ edit ]Fungus gnats are often introduced via new plants or even potting mixes, so inspect plants and soil for larvae before bringing them home. Fungus gnats are tiny flying bugs belonging to a few insect families (namely Sciaridae, aka dark-winged fungus gnats). They eat plant matter, mulch, compost, and—true to their name—fungus. All of these materials can be found outdoors, but these dietary needs can be found even more reliably in potting soil for houseplants. Their attraction to potting mix’s warmth and moisture makes fungus gnats particularly problematic indoor pests. After you’ve made sure the compost pile isn’t too wet, cover pile with tarp or plastic sheeting. This helps disrupt the life cycle of fungus gnats. BT Bacteria– Another thing you can water your plants with is something that contains “BT” bacteria (specifically, Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis – there is another type of BT that’s meant for caterpillars), for example Mosquito Bits. However, they need to be crushed up into a powder so it will mix in the water for the best results when watering your plants. Just like any other time, always pH your water right before giving it to your plants! Fungus gnat larvae eat fungus or decaying matter and need wet conditions to thrive. It is common for soil growers to overwater their cannabis plants, and wet soil is the perfect home for fungus and decaying organic matter. After fungus has grown (often invisible to the naked eye) or overwatered matter has begun to decay in the topsoil, fungus gnat lays their eggs in the top layer of wet soil.