Fungus gnats typically overpopulate potting soil for house and container plants, and Summit Mosquito Bits, a biological control that kills mosquito larvae, is now certified for the control of these pests as well.
A biological larvacide known as BTI serves as the main component of Mosquito Bits (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis). Both mosquito and fungus gnat larvae are fatal to BTI, a naturally occurring bacterium.
According to a news release, fungus gnats can infest potted plants and can be challenging to eradicate. In the potting soil of houseplants and container plants, fungus gnats lay their eggs, and the larvae reside in the moist potting soil. The fungus gnat maggots’ ability to consume plant roots during their larval stage allows them to harm plants. The fungus gnat maggots pupate after two to three weeks to become the small, black adult gnats that frequently fly off in a cloud of flies whenever a potted plant is moved.
Shake the granular Mosquito Bits onto the potting soil of houseplants and other container-grown plants to get rid of fungus gnats.
Prior to planting, Mosquito Bits can also be combined with potting soil. The BTI in the Mosquito Bits are released when the plants are moistened. The BTI is subsequently washed below the soil’s surface after additional watering. Larvae of fungus gnats consume the BTI and perish.
A quick and efficient method of eliminating sizable populations of mosquito larvae is also provided by the BTI in mosquito bits. Mosquito Bits granules, when applied to stagnant water where mosquitoes reproduce, cause a biological mosquito larvicide to be released at the water’s surface. Mosquito larvae that are hungry consume the Mosquito Bits when they settle in the water and perish.
According to a news release, Mosquito Bits are effective in virtually all standing water, including ponds and water gardens, rain barrels, roof gutters, bird baths, flower pots, and saucers. They can also be used in tree holes, unused swimming pools, used car tires, animal watering troughs, and anywhere else water gathers. In grassy or marshy locations where the mosquito population is dense and a speedy kill is required, mosquito bites are also useful.
Just scatter one teaspoon or one tablespoon of Mosquito Bits per 25 square feet of water’s surface. For seven to fourteen days, mosquito larvae will be killed by mosquito bits. For continuous mosquito control, further Mosquito Bit applications should be made at intervals of seven to fourteen days.
There are two sizes of Mosquito Bits: an 8-ounce shaker bottle and a 30-ounce jug.
Summit Responsible Solutions, the company behind Mosquito Dunks, also produces Mosquito Bits. The same bacteria, BTI, which is lethal to mosquito larvae and fungus gnat larvae but nontoxic to other living things, is present in both mosquito bits and mosquito dunks.
How can mosquito dunks be applied to a potted plant?
Numerous indoor plants are frequently attacked by fungus gnats. Fungus gnats resemble little black fruit flies in appearance. The fungus gnats will swiftly spiral out of control once they discover your houseplants. The ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is found in Mosquito Dunks (BTI for short). BTI has the capability to eradicate pests other than mosquitoes. Additionally, it can eliminate those annoying fungus gnats.
Before working with Mosquito Dunk, put on a set of plastic gloves. In people, it might irritate their skin.
Numerous indoor plants are frequently attacked by fungus gnats.
Divide the dunk into fourths. Never use the knife you use to cut the Mosquito Dunks for food; keep it separate.
One quarter of a dunk should be placed in one gallon of water and left to organically mix with the water over night.
Can you directly bury mosquito parts in the ground?
Use 1/2 cup of Mosquito Bits granules per square foot of soil to control fungus gnats. Water as you normally would. The Bti will be released into the soil during watering, where it will be consumed by and kill the Fungus Gnat larvae. Repeat applications every three weeks to maintain control.
How can mosquito bites be used to treat fungus gnats in indoor plants?
Use BTI to kill fungus gnats naturally. Since fungus gnats and mosquitoes are closely related, BTI effectively kills fungus gnat larvae. A naturally occurring bacterium called BTI is lethal to both mosquito and fungus gnat larvae.
The bacteria known as BTI, or Bacillus thuringiensisisraelensis, is lethal to fungus gnat and mosquito larvae but non-lethal to other organisms. The bacterium is nature’s method of controlling mosquito and fungus gnat populations. Thankfully, though, BTI has no impact on other insects (such as bees and butterflies). It also doesn’t hurt people, pets, fish, birds, plants, or other creatures.
Top-selling Mosquito Bits, which are authorized for the control of fungus gnats, include the active substance BTI. Simply shake the granular Mosquito Bits onto the potting soil of houseplants to eradicate fungus gnat larvae. Use it on other container-grown plants as well, such as herbs and veggies.
How long should mosquito bites be soaked?
For every gallon of water, combine 4 tablespoons of MOSQUITO BITS. After 30 minutes of soaking, skim the floating granules off. (Granules can be put in a nylon stocking before being submerged in water.) Apply the treated water directly to the soil or growing media surface after stirring or shaking the water.
Can plants be harmed by mosquito bits?
To prevent those bothersome fungus gnats from flying around your house and producing thousands of eggs, you must control adult gnats.
Additionally, you need to manage the expanding larval population that is consuming the soil and roots of your plants (and eventually becoming those annoying adults).
Once the adults and larvae have been eliminated, you can take precautions to help prevent fungus gnats from returning in the future.
Each stage can be accomplished in a variety of ways. In order for you to select a strategy that will work for you, I’ll include the approaches that have worked for me as well as other approaches that houseplant specialists advise!
Consider the next three sections as three courses on a menu. For each course, pick something you enjoy to get rid of fungus gnats.
Option #1 Sticky Traps
Sticky traps capture adult fungus gnats by luring them in with their enticing aromas.
As the fungus gnats do not travel far from the plant, the sticky traps are positioned inside or close to the plant. If you have a lot of plants scattered throughout your house, you might need to purchase many traps.
Option #2 Diatomaceous earth
An organic powder called diatomaceous earth adheres to the gnats and renders them immobile.
For each plant, you incorporate it into the top inch of soil. The gnats are stopped from moving forward when they eat fungus, lay eggs, or emerge from the earth.
Option #3 Pumice stones
A porous material known as pumice stone can be acquired online or in the soil area of hardware and greenhouse stores. You can cover the top of your soil with a layer of pumice.
The adult gnats would then have to climb through this hard, uneven surface in order to lay their eggs and burrow into the earth. They dislike objects that scratch their bodies and avoid areas with pumice when possible.
Option #4 Vinegar Traps
A combination of water, dish detergent, sugar, and apple cider vinegar is used to make vinegar traps. The fungus gnats are drawn to the liquid by the scent of the vinegar and sugar, but once inside, the soap keeps them from flying away.
Combine all of the components to make the trap.
5 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon each of sugar and apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap.
You must set the trap close to the plants you want to draw fungus gnats from, and the liquid must be at least a quarter inch thick (I typically use approximately a half inch).
This can produce a lot of traps, depending on the size of the containers you utilize. I produced anything between 9 and 12 from a batch. I use empty baby food jars and scatter a number of them close to greenery. It has been incredibly successful!
WHAT I DO: Typically, I combine pumice stones and vinegar traps to regulate adults. The use of pumice stones slows the gnats’ egg-laying process, and vinegar traps are effective at catching a sizable number of adults. I do set the traps in numerous locations. There is a trap anywhere I have plants. There are multiple traps if the plants cover an area that is longer than a few feet. I believe that without doing this, the gnats won’t fly far enough to notice it.
Option #1 Beneficial nematodes
A microscopic organism known as a beneficial nematode feeds on the fungus gnat larvae. It is sent to you in a frozen, inactive condition that resembles powder. They do not endanger anyone.
- To prepare the soil to absorb the nematodes, irrigate your plants with a modest amount of water;
- According to the directions on the packaging, combine the powder with the necessary amount of water.
- Nematodes will start working as soon as you water your plants with them!
Option #2 Mosquito bits
When ingested, a bacterium found in mosquito bites is harmful to fungus gnat larvae.
One suggestion is to immerse mosquito bites in water (2 tablespoons of mosquito bits to a half-gallon of water). After that, you can water your plants once a week for three weeks with the water that has been bitten by mosquitoes.
Another suggestion is to sprinkle some mosquito pieces on the soil surface of the plant or incorporate the bits directly into the soil, which will allow the larva to eat the bits and finally control them.
Option #3 Hydrogen Peroxide
In a solution of 1 part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water, hydrogen peroxide can also be employed. Use this solution to irrigate each plant when it need watering. For a brief period of time, the soil will bubble, killing the fungus gnats instantly. You may, without risk, repeat.
I make use of helpful nematodes. I like to use items that would naturally be found in soil. The adults quit showing up after soaking all of the plants with beneficial nematodes after about a week. Unless I purchase a plant or soil that has eggs or an adult riding on it, I usually don’t see them again. The only drawback is that I have to get them online because I can’t find them locally.
Step 3: Preventing Fungus Gnats in the Future
- Dry the soil completely before watering it. In fact, most plants prefer to be dry or nearly dry before being watered, so doing this will benefit both your plants and the fungus gnats you’re trying to control. By allowing the soil to dry up, fungus gnats are deprived of a place to reside because they require moist soil with fungi and decomposing debris for reproduction.
- quarantine fresh vegetation
- It is great to have a spot in your home where new plants can stay for a short while so you can watch out for pests like fungus gnats and give the plant time to become used to your surroundings. You can treat that plant if you start to notice fungus gnats or other pests to prevent an outbreak that affects all of your plants.
- Prepare fresh vegetation and soil
- Instead of waiting to see if fungus gnat larvae or eggs are present in a plant’s soil, you might pretreat by incorporating mosquito poop into the soil or by soaking the plant (when it is ready) with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (as described in Step 2).
WHAT I DO: The vast majority of the problems are resolved by letting almost all of my plants dry up entirely (which is what they need and prefer anyhow). In addition, I quarantine all new plants and keep an eye out for fungus gnats on them. Although I do pre-treat new plants for other pests (which I will address in a subsequent post) using a diluted neem oil and soap spray, I don’t think this is an effective way to reduce fungus gnats. As a result, I prefer to just monitor and treat as necessary using a hydrogen peroxide solution.
Plants won’t Mosquito Dunks harm them.
A mosquito dip is a cheap, efficient tool for eradicating pests like mosquitoes. Despite being a brand, many people often refer to the generic alternatives as mosquito dunks.
Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, or BTI, is the main active component.
Instead, it’s a bacterial strain that acts as a biological larvicide for mosquito larvae. This creature destroys a pest organically while not harming the environment.
BTI is quicker than most biological mosquito control methods, which can take days or weeks to show results.
Water dissolves dunks. They disintegrate and release BTI. Pests are then infected, internally harmed, and killed as a result.
It works well on fruit flies, fungus gnats, and other types of flying insects in addition to mosquito larvae.
Place the doughnut-shaped dip where the larvae reside, in bird baths or other areas where water collects, to kill mosquitoes. You must adopt a different strategy with the dip since fungus gnat larvae prefer moist potting soil:
- Cut the dip up into little pieces.
- Put the fragments in a gallon of water.
- The dunk should soak all night.
- Take the dip out of the water container.
- Your indoor plants’ potting material surface should be covered with water.
Use this kind of water on all of your plants for at least three months while still watering sparingly. It’s safe for your plants and will get rid of fungus gnats from your house.
Do mosquito parts dissolve in water?
It is not merely effective to get rid of mosquitoes with pest control items like Mosquito Bits. They are also successful in eliminating fungus gnats. Most individuals believe their work is done once the adult flies have been dispatched. This is regrettably not the case. The entire life cycle of the gnat must be addressed, and the larvae and eggs must also be removed.
Mosquito Bits are designed to aid in the biological control of mosquito populations. Mosquito Bits are made up of corn cob grains that have been treated with a Bti-coated natural bacteria. Insects like mosquitoes and fungus gnats have their stomach lining disturbed by this, which is how it works.
The Bti bacteria in the soil will be consumed by the fungus gnat larvae, which will therefore perish before they can develop into adult flies. If the gnat infestation is widespread across a number of indoor plants, then this gnat control strategy can be highly effective. When using Mosquito Bits, one method is to let them dissolve in a bucket of water over night before applying the resulting treated water to the contaminated soil.
Typically, after around 24 hours, you should start to see benefits. Apply the treated water again once each week until the fungus gnat infestation is completely eradicated.