How to get rid of gnats

If you’ve seen a bunch of little flies scouting your fruit bowl or beautiful flower pots, “congratulations” – your house has been attacked by a nasty army of gnats. Tiny and definitely very annoying, these fly-like creatures may not seem like a huge threat to your health or home, however, this is not exactly the truth. 

All of this being said, in this article, we are going to help you learn everything there is to know about gnats, such as what they look like, what attracts them, and, more importantly – how to get rid of them fast. 

So, if you: 

• are someone who is currently dealing with a gnat infestation;
• want to find out how the insects ended up in your property in the first place;
• are just curious.

This is the article for you! Let’s start with…

What are gnats?

As we’ve already mentioned, gnats are really, really small flying insects. Due to their size and overall appearance, many people mistake them for baby houseflies. Unlike houseflies, you’ll find these tiny bugs flying around in larger groups near their food source.

That said, there are 3 types of gnats that you can spot on your property – the so-called fruit flies, fungus gnats, and drain flies. As you can already guess by their names, the first like to eat mainly ripe or rotten fruits, the second can be found munching on fungi, and the third survive on organic materials found in your drain. And what do these nasty pests look like? Continue reading to find out.

What do gnats look like?

Now that you’ve learned what exactly are gnats, it’s time to talk about their appearance. Below you’ll find a detailed description of the 3 most common types of household gnats – fruit flies, fungus gnats, and drain flies.

Fruit flies

Adult fruit flies are miniature – 3 to 4 mm, including wings. They have round brownish yellow or brownish-black bodies and huge (compared to their size) red eyes. Baby fruit flies look like worms and are light in colour. Their size can range from 3.5 to 5 mm. 

Check also: How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fungus gnats

Adult fungus gnats look very much like tiny mosquitos. They have small, dark grey bodies, long legs, and clear wings. These insects are 2 to 8 mm in size. Fungus gnat larvae have long, transparent bodies and a black head. In terms of size, baby fungus gnats are around 3 mm long. 

Drain flies

This type of gnat can be as small as 1.5 mm. Drain flies are grey or tan in colour, with light wings. What distinguishes these insects from the other types of common house gnats is the fact that their bodies are covered in hair, which gives them a fuzzy appearance. When it comes to drain fly larvae, they are between 4 and 10 mm in size, dark in colour, and slender. They don’t have either eyes or legs.

Check also: How to Get Rid of Drain Flies

Do gnats bite?

It depends. Common household gnats, such as fruit flies, fungus gnats, and drain flies do not bite humans. However, there are other species, like buffalo gnats, deer flies, stable flies, and biting midges that will bite you if given the chance.

And if you are wondering what does a gnat bite look like, the answer is tiny bumps, which can also be:

• Red
• Painful
• Itchy
• Swollen

What attracts gnats

Typically, gnats are attracted to either area in which they can breed or potential food sources. Such are ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables, decaying plants, drains, sewers, and garbage cans. Basically, if the thing smells sweet or is moist – a gnat family will try to move in.

How to get rid of gnats in the house

So, now you know about the different types of gnats, how to tell them apart, and even what some of them like to eat for dinner. What’s left? Well, to learn how to get rid of the ones in your home. To make things easier, we’ve gathered the most effective DIY methods to get rid of gnats, with the first one being…

Set a vinegar bait

In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, half a cup of warm water, and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Stir the ingredients well. Once the concoction is ready, grab a couple of small containers, such as jar lids, and pour a little bit of the mixture. Set the baits close to the areas infested by the gnats. The sugary traps will attract the nasty pests and will kill them as soon as they come in contact with the solution.

Try the wine method

No, we aren’t asking you to break open a fine bottle of wine for a bunch of flying bugs – the one you use for cooking will be just fine. Similarly to the vinegar method, mix some of the wine with dishwashing liquid, and set a couple of traps around the infested parts of your home.

Give the candle trick a go

This homemade gnat trap is probably the easiest of the bunch. All you’ll need is a candle, a candlestick, a plate, and some water. Put the candle in the candlestick, position it in the middle of the plate, add some water, and light the candle. Then, turn off the lights in your home and wait. All of the pesky gnats will start gathering near the flame, which, you guessed correctly, will result in a gnat barbecue.

Make a fruit gnat trap

This one is basically a booby trap for bugs. Get a piece of fruit that is on its way to the bin, place it in a bowl, cover it with some plastic wrap, and finally poke a few holes in it. Set the trap where there are gnats and wait. What will happen is that the flying insects will enter through the holes, lured by the rotten fruit, but won’t be able to get out. From that point on, all that you have to do is get rid of them.

Buy some fly strip

Last on our list is the old-fashioned fly strip method. You know how it works – just get a roll, stick it in the gnat-infested area, and watch as the pesky creatures perish. Of course, this gnat repellent option has a major downside – it’s just an ugly sight.

How to get rid of gnats in plants

There are certain gnat species, like the fungus gnat, that can inflict serious damage to your household plants. You see, fungus gnat larvae are capable of destroying entire root systems, which can eventually lead to yellowing, dropping leaves, and even the death of your green friends. To eliminate the already existing pest, give one of these gnat control methods a try:

Use neem oil

Using neem oil is a great, natural way of getting rid of gnats in plants. Following the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle, simply dilute some of the oil in water, and apply the combination to both the plant and its soil. This will kill the larvae in no time.

Opt for hydrogen peroxide

Another great fungus gnat control option is to spray your plants’ soil with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and water. Just mix together 4 parts water with 1 part hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and soak their soil with it.

Test the potato method

This one sounds a bit weird but is quite effective. Get a potato and cut it into pieces. Set the bits on top of the soil and wait. After a couple of hours, just lift the vegetable pieces and you’ll see how the baby gnats have attached to it. From then on, you just need to throw out the potato. Add new pieces in your pots until there are no more gnats.

Create a soap and water solution

This method is super simple. Just stir a few drops of liquid Castile soap in a cup of water and apply directly to the soil of the infested plant. The combination will destroy the nasty larvae without harming your green baby in any way.

Purchase an insecticidal product

If any of the above DIY methods haven’t worked for you, you can always buy an insecticidal product to treat your green friends. There are plenty of options on the market and many of them are also very affordable. As with all types of pest repellent products, make sure to follow the instructions strictly.

Hire a professional pest control company!

So you don’t feel like setting wine traps and sticking ugly yellow tape in your bathroom – we get it. There is a far better and more effective alternative – Fantastic Pest Control’s expert fly eradication services.

Our fly control solution is the perfect option for anyone struggling with flying pests, such as gnats. You see, our services are very easy to schedule, affordable, and highly effective. You just tell us when you want a visit from a professional pest controller, and you can leave all of the rest to us. We’ll send you a fully equipped technician who will inspect your property, perform the needed pest control treatment, and even share with you preventative tips that you can follow to avoid gnats in the future! 

Don’t bother with DIY gnat repellent methods and book our services today! 

Takeaways

• The 3 most common types of house gnats are fruit flies, fungus gnats, and drain flies;
• Gnats are generally attracted by sweet smells and moist areas;
• Fungus gnats and their larvae can destroy all of your indoor plants if you don’t treat them on time;
• Hiring a professional pest control company to deal with insects is the most effective way to get rid of them for good.

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