Adult fungus gnats are little black flies about 1/8 inch in length, and larvae or maggots have a shiny black head and elongated, whitish to transparent body with 1/4 inch in length.
Adults are mostly appearing whenever you water your plants, and their presence is considered a nuisance. Adult fungus gnats do not damage plants but their larvae feed on roots, stunting plant growth and causing foliage to yellow and wilt.
Fungus gnats develop through four stages- egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adults live about one week, during which time each female deposits 100 to 150 eggs. They are laid near the stems of plants, and they hatch within 4 days. The larvae feed for about two weeks and then pupate. After 3 to 7 days in the pupal stage, adults emerge.
The larvae inflict extensive damage on seedlings by feeding on roots. Plant symptoms that can indicate fungus gnats are sudden wilting, loss of vigor, poor growth, and yellowing. With severe infestations, a considerable portion of the plant may be lost.
You can get rid of Fungus Gnat infestations using beneficial nematodes for fungus gnats with the natural pest control products below:
