Latin name: Sciaridae
Fungus gnats are tiny, ephemeral insects belonging to multiple families within the order Diptera, such as Sciaridae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Mycetophilidae, all classified under the Sciaroidea superfamily. These insects include seven recognized families, with six well-studied fungus gnats. Typically, the larvae thrive on fungi that grow on soil and play a role in breaking down organic materials. Some species are not just decomposers but also predators, like those from the genus Arachnocampa in the Keroplatidae family—known as the "glowworms" in regions such as Australia and New Zealand.
Adult fungus gnats are typically between 2 and 8 millimetres in length. On occasion, they can act as pollinators for plants or assist in the dispersal of fungal spores. They can also unintentionally spread plant pathogens like pythium, notorious for causing the "damping-off" disease that is deadly to seedlings.
Most of these gnats are not strong fliers, so they are more likely observed scurrying across soil and plant surfaces rather than flying. When they do fly, their tendency to swarm around human faces can make them a nuisance, an issue encountered both inside and outside. They are sometimes mistaken for drain flies.
The life cycle of fungus gnats consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adults have a lifespan of up to 10 days and can lay numerous eggs, about 200-300, which are deposited in the damp soil surface layer. These eggs generally hatch within a few days, and the insects go through their life stages swiftly. The pupal stage lasts around four days before adults emerge to start the cycle anew.
SOLUTION:
- Contact: Insect Glue Traps
