Who wants bugs in their home? No one. Unfortunately, gnats are a common pest for many homeowners and renters alike, and there are more types of gnats out there than you realize.
Per Joe Malinowski, vice president of pest management at Pest Authority and Mosquito Authority in Kernersville, North Carolina, there are some 714 species of gnats to be precise, and they are generally found in the interior of a home or commercial property. When in doubt, says Malinowski, it’s best to contact pest control providers quickly — in optimal conditions, gnat eggs hatch in only a few days and can advance to adults in six-to-eight days.”
It’s also worth noting that gnats have a common occurrence on fungi which provides a major food source for their larvae, says Malinowski.
Scot Hodges, vice president of professional development and technical services at Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta, further explains that fungus gnats (more commonly referred to as gnats) are often mistaken for fruit flies or drain flies but are commonly found in homes, especially around houseplants. According to Hodges, gnats are also attracted to damp soil, so it’s important to properly store potting soil in a dry, sheltered area away from sun and moisture before and during use.
Here, TODAY.com spoke to experts about what causes gnats, how to get rid of them, and how to avoid them in the future so that you can begin to think about them a lot less than you are right now.
What are gnats?
Gnats are tiny flying insects about a half-inch in length. They typically have slender, brown or black bodies and thrive where there’s moisture. They also prefer sand or sandy soil, meaning states like California and Florida can be particularly prone to gnats.
There are three distinct gnat species, each harmless but annoying: Fungus gnats look like little mosquitoes and do not bite. Fruit flies have big, red eyes, and drain flies are lighter and hairy. Gnats that bite, like deer flies or biting midges, are usually encountered outdoors and “use their mouthparts to puncture and cut a host’s skin, leaving behind symptoms such as itchiness, irritation, redness or swelling,” Dr. Jim Fredericks, board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), says. Again, house pests gnats are unlikely to take it this far.
You might need to call in an expert to positively ID these pests. “Identifying these pests can be difficult because of their size, but fungus gnats resemble mosquitoes in appearance, although they are much smaller,” Hodges says, adding that gnats usually get into homes by directly flying inside or from infested plants brought inside the house (more on that below).
What causes gnats?
Speaking of plants, gnats are generally attracted to houseplants, as well as moisture, sweet-smelling fruit, and garbage. So while indoor plants are a great way to liven up your space, they can also be the reason why you’re spotting gnats. They feed on soil fungi that result from overwatering plants, according to Fredricks. Gnats typically come out in the summer, but potted plants in a warm house can be quite cozy for gnats, thus annoying you all year long. Fungus from mold or mildew in your home can also be a contributing factor.
How to get rid of gnats
Luckily, there are a few options to get rid of gnats for good:
Use apple cider vinegar
To eliminate your bug problem, you sometimes have to bring them right to you. Combine two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, half a cup of warm water, six drops of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of sugar into a mixture. The sugar is especially important, as it will lure in the bugs, leaving them trapped in the sticky solution.
Look for a moisture source
Malinowski says the best practices to prevent gnats from overwhelming your home are to be careful not to over-water interior plants and to be mindful of potential moisture problems like leaky pipes, clogged drains or clogged down spouts.
Say your plants are dry and gnat-free — that’s the time to start investigating potential sources of mildew or mold. Look for leaky windows, roofs or other cracks that might be letting extra moisture into your home. Repairing these spots could reduce or completely eliminate your gnat problem, as they will lose their food source.
Use boiling water
Gnats sometimes lay eggs in the sink drain or garbage disposal. Pour boiling water down the drain to kill the eggs before they hatch.
Contact pest control
A trained professional can come to the rescue if a few flying gnats turn into a full-blown infestation. Pros can assess your individual situation and provide necessary assistance for removal.
How to prevent gnats
While getting rid of gnats is important, the best thing to do is stop them from getting into your house in the first place. Here are some ways to prevent gnats once and for all:
Let your plants dry out
No, you don’t need to kill your plants to keep gnats out of your home. But test the soil before you water those leaves again. If the soil is still relatively damp, you might want to allow more time before adding more moisture into that pot, says Fredricks.
Clear out old food
Just get rid of it — whether it’s moldy fruit on the counter or food that has built up in your garbage disposal. Leftover food will attract gnats and create all kinds of unwanted smells in your kitchen. On the same note, throw out your garbage, and until you do, make sure it stays in a sealed container. The same goes for any compost bins you might have — don’t leave them open throughout the day.
Fix leaks
You don’t want water leaking into your house for many reasons. Importantly, it can create mildew or mold build-up. Regardless of how minor the leak is, if you see one, don’t put off fixing it, says Fredricks. Being proactive about repairing leaky windows and roofs can prevent gnats from entering your home in the first place.
