Both gnats and fruit flies are common family pests that motive among the identical frustrations and problems for house owners. They have similar features and conduct that make it smooth to misidentify them. Although those small flying pests percentage many traits, they’re quite exceptional and need to be addressed uniquely. Use this guide to discover the primary variations between fruit flies and gnats so you can address your pest hassle the proper way.
What’s the difference between fruit flies and gnats?
When comparing fruit flies and gnats, watch their behavior and discover where the pests live. Gnats nest in the soil of gardens or indoor potted plants and feed on organic matter, while fruit fly adults eat overripe fruits or rotting foods in trash cans. If the infestation source is difficult to locate, you can use their distinct features to tell the difference instead.
What does a fruit fly look like?
Fruit flies are tiny flying insects measuring about ⅛ of an inch long. Fruit flies are brown in color, ranging from tan to almost black. They have rounded silhouettes, like a mini version of a common housefly. They also have big, red eyes and transparent wings that extend past their backside. Their wings overlap and lay directly across their back when they land.
What does a gnat look like?
Fungus gnats are very similar in size to fruit flies but have a dark gray-to-black tone. They feature dangling legs and long bodies that make them look like miniature mosquitoes. Fungus gnats have small heads and eyes that are too small to see easily. Their wings range from see-through to translucent gray. Their larvae have small, black heads and thin white or see-through bodies.
Where do fruit flies and gnats come from?
Fruit flies are most customarily determined in homes with over-ripened end result or greens. Adults can fly in from the out of doors through open home windows or displays with big gaps, or they can enter your private home on infested produce from the store. Fruit flies are interested in whatever sticky and sweet. This approach even in case you take away ripe produce, if they discover some other supply like your open trash can, a spill below your refrigerator, or the bottom of your little one’s high chair, they’re probably to stick round.
Fungus gnats lay their eggs in organic material like compost, mulch, and potting soil. After the larvae eat the organic be counted for about weeks, they turn out to be mature flying gnats and repeat the process. Gnats are interested in moisture, so if they discover a regular supply of moisture, which include a kitchen drain, soil, or an unsealed rubbish can, an infestation can rise up at a speedy speed.
Can you get rid of fruit flies and gnats the same way?
Since both fungus gnats and fruit flies reproduce rapidly, it’s important to address the problem fast. Besides being annoying, fruit flies can spread diseases through contaminated food, and gnats can damage house plants at their roots. Because these two pests pose their own issues to your home, control requires different methods.
If you’re dealing with fruit flies, remember to wash your produce when you get home and store your fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator. Empty your kitchen trash can as often as needed and immediately clean up any spills in or around it. Thoroughly clean splatters, especially sticky, sweet foods and drinks like soda, alcohol, or fruit juices. Eliminating their sources of food and water will usually cause them to move on and try to find a new home.
When you’ve got gnats in the house, you’ll need to check your house plants, particularly the soil and roots. It can help to switch out your potting soil to remove any possibility of eggs from hatching. Avoid overwatering your plants and ensure the planters can easily drain excess moisture. It can also help to mix some cinnamon into your soil to prevent infestations, as it acts as a natural fungicide, making your houseplants less appealing.
Conclusion:
Both gnats and fruit flies are commonplace family pests that proportion comparable tendencies however require one of a kind tactics to manipulate efficaciously. By know-how their distinct characteristics and behaviors, you can tackle your pest hassle effectively and keep a pest-loose home.
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