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fungus gnats

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by rollinkansas, Dec 13, 2012.

  1. Dec 13, 2012 #1
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    Hello,
    Just wondering what those of you, if any, who have issues with fungus gnats are using as a natural control to kill them? I currently use a fly trap every few days which catches a couple adults but I am looking for a better solution. Being that I grow in a sealed tank, I think they really like those conditions.
     
    january likes this.
  2. Dec 13, 2012 #2
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Since it is a small enclosed space I wonder if a sundew plant (Drosera sp.) would work for you? If you haven't already tried it, it might be worth a shot.
     
    january likes this.
  3. Dec 13, 2012 #3
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    Good idea Kelly, thanks. I will see if I can find a mini species to throw in the tank.
     
  4. Dec 13, 2012 #4
    Ricardo

    Ricardo Slave of demanding bird

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    Given that you grow in a sealed tank it is possible that your gnat problem is tiny. In this respect if you can find a way to saturate the area with traps, perhaps it can effectively eliminate the nagging gnats. However fungus gnats are a pesky problem as they have been known to find their way in to 'sealed' containers thru the tiniest spaces imaginable. So if there is any way the gnats can get in, that would be the first thing to tackle.
     
  5. Dec 13, 2012 #5
    Zack

    Zack Will work for plants Supporting Member

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    I believe you can purchase nematodes that prey on the larvae, but I have no clue where you could buy some. Karma discussed it on her blog, just search for "nematodes" on the sidebar.
     
  6. Dec 13, 2012 #6
    rollinkansas

    rollinkansas Active Member

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    I hang many of the plants off the side of the tank with the glass top resting on top, so there certainly is a miniscule gap running along the entire perimeter of the tank.
     
  7. Dec 13, 2012 #7
    Ricardo

    Ricardo Slave of demanding bird

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    In my house they sometimes get into the refrigerator and I have not been able to ascertain how they get in. I find their tiny, almost unsubstantial carcasses in the glass over the vegetable bin. Locally they can become seasonaly abundant, particularly at the height of the wet season, but they don't bother my orchids or the media. Perhaps the abundance of tiny frogs keeps controlled.