Do fly traps work on gnats? Do fly strips work for gnats? What is the best way to get rid of a gnat infestation in your home. Gnats are annoying, because they are always flying and buzzing around your face and body.
These bugs are tough to notice until there’s a severe infestation that is already taking place. This is why you’re probably wondering about the best way to get rid of these bugs once and for all.
Does fly trap work on gnats? What attracts these bugs to your house? Keep on reading to find the best way to avoid gnat infestation, and how to keep them away.
Content
What are Gnats?
A gnat is even smaller than a mosquito or fly, but belongs to the same family. This is why this bug can be quite challenging to notice.
The bug is considered to be a true insect, because the body is divided into three segments. It has 6 legs, which are considered too tall compared to the size of the body. Gnats have wings, but are considered weak flyers.
Gnats can bite people and animals, and feed on their blood. Some of them feed on plant matter and other insects. Some gnats spread diseases , and can be quite annoying. However, some of them play an essential role in pollinating flowers. They also provide a food source for birds, bats, and other animals.
What are the Different Types of Gnats?
There are several types of gnats that can infest your house, but here are the most common ones.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are mostly found around the pots of indoor plants. These tiny black bugs have long legs and wings. They feed on decayed plants and other types of organic matter and love shaded and moist areas.
Sand Flies
Sand flies are even smaller than fungus gnats, but they can be quite dangerous. Their bite can be painful, and will cause annoying swelling. These gnats are found in several parts of the world, and can transmit a disease called sand fly fever. However, the species found in the United States don’t transfer any diseases.
Drain Flies
Drain flies have a hairy body and wings, and they love damp environments. So they can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other cold and wet areas. The bug lays its eggs in drains and feeds on the organic matter found in sinks and pipes.
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are usually found around fresh fruit and veggies. They typically prefer rotting fruit and vegetables, damp beer cans, and other types of damp organic materials.
Midges
Midges are very close to mosquitos but have slightly hairy wings. They usually fly in large swarms around ponds and other water bodies. They’re usually attracted to outdoor lighting.
Phorid Flies
Phorid flies prefer sewage and sewage contaminated soil. They can be found in the garbage, drains, and near rotting fruit and vegetables.
All these bugs have a powerful sense of smell and use it with other visual clues to fly to their favorite food source. The question is, do fly traps work on gnat?
Difference Between Fruit Flies and Gnats
Believe it or not, there is a difference between fruit flies and gnats! Fruit flies are small, dark-colored flies that are attracted to fruit. They are often found near garbage cans or fruit baskets.
Gnats, on the other hand, are more like mosquitoes. They are tiny flies that bite people and animals. Gnats are usually found near water sources, such as ponds or streams.
So, if you see a lot of small, dark-colored flies near your fruit basket, they are probably fruit flies. But if you see a lot of tiny flying bugs near a pond or stream, they are probably gnats.
What Attracts Gnats to Your House?
There are a lot of things that can cause gnats to infest your house. They enter your home to search for food and reproduce.
- Decaying fruit and vegetables are likely to attract gnats. If you have decaying fruit and veggies in the garden, the gnats will grow and infest your house. If you leave produce out in the open, they will also appeal to these annoying bugs.
- Ignoring some cleaning chores will also lure gnats. Ignoring liquid spills and leaving traces of food will tempt the gnats to get into the house.
- Most types of gnats like moisture, so overwatering plants and ignoring leaky pipes is an invitation for gnats to reproduce and grow.
- Fungus gnats like to feed on decaying flowers and dead plants. They feed on fungus, mold, moss, and compost. They can also feed on root rot, but paying special attention to your garden can keep gnats away.
- Sweet-smelling lotions and sprays can make your house smell good, but will attract gnats.
- Gnats are attracted to body odor from sweat, so ignoring your personal hygiene can contribute to the spread of gnats in your household.
- Just like other types of bugs, gnats are attracted to light. They’re likely to gather around outdoor and indoor lighting fixtures.
How to Protect Your House from Gnats – and Fruit Flies?
Here are a few things that can protect your house from gnats’ infestation:
Avoid Overwatering Your Plants
Don’t overwater your plants. Puddles and excess moisture attract gnats and should be avoided. Make sure that the soil has dried out completely between watering. Remove dead flowers and leaves. These represent an attractive food source for more gnats.
If you notice gnats congregating, apply a mild pesticide to the plant, such neem oil or dish soap diluted in warm water.
Fix Pipes and Keep Drains Clean
Fix leaking pipes and faucets. Leaking water leaves puddles that gnats love. Clean your sink drain as it could become the perfect breeding ground for drain gnats. You can keep your sink drains clean by pouring one half cup of boiling water into your drains at least once a day.
When you find a sink drain that you think may be harboring drain flies, cover it with a piece of duct tape or transparent tape. Since the flies are attracted to the light, leaving part of the drain exposed will encourage them to ascend to the drain hole.
Have Proper Garbage Disposals
Dispose of your trash properly. Keep the garbage bin closed as gnats like to feed on the decayed matter. Gnats may get into your home via any crevices they can find in the structure, including the foundation, walls, windows, and doors.
Trash cans, rotting fruit, and other sites with decaying organic materials and moisture are common breeding grounds for fungus gnats
Don’t Leave Produce Out
Don’t leave produce in the open air. Dry fruit and vegetables and keep them in the fridge or in a dry cool place where they are appropriately wrapped.
Homemade Gnat Traps
If you’re dealing with a gnat infestation, homemade gnat traps can be an effective non-toxic way to get rid of the pesky insects. Fungus gnats are attracted to the traps by the sweet smells, and once they fly in, they become trapped.
You can make gnat traps using things like fruit juice, honey, or even wine. The key is to use something that will attract the adult gnats as well as adult flies, and keep them trapped.
Once they’re in the trap, they will eventually die. This method won’t kill all of the fungus gnats, but it can help reduce the population and make your home more comfortable.
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
If you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of gnats, apple cider vinegar may be the answer. This kitchen staple is known for its many uses, including as a natural cleaning agent and as a source of nutrients for potted plants. It’s also effective at getting rid of fungus gnats.
To create a vinegar trap, simply mix apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, and a few drops of liquid dish soap in a small bowl. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the vinegar, causing the gnats to drown. Once they’ve been lured in by the apple cider vinegar, they won’t be able to escape.
For best results, use a one-to-one ratio of apple cider vinegar to a few drops of liquid dish soap. Set the vinegar trap near where you’ve seen the most gnats and check it daily. Once it’s full, dispose of it in the trash. With apple cider vinegar, you can say goodbye to those pesky gnats for good.
Wine Trap
Red wine will also attract gnats. You can use an old wine bottle to create a home-made trap. Keep some wine in the bottle and add some dish soap. The smell will attract the gnats, and they will later get trapped in the soap. This can be quite effective in killing gnats.
Overripe Fruit Trap
Get a bowl of rotten fruit or decayed plant matter and cover it with plastic wrap or saran wrap. Poke small holes in the plastic sheet, and secure it with a rubber band. The smell will attract the bugs. Once the gnats enter the bowl, they will get trapped because they won’t be able to find the way out.
White Vinegar Traps
To catch fruit flies and gnats, fill the bottom of a jar with a solution of vinegar, and cover the top of the jar with a paper cone.
Many commercially available containers traps have a more polished look than jar vinegar traps, but they serve the same purpose of ridding your home of gnat infestations.
Candle Trap
Because gnats are attracted to light, you can use candles to get rid of them. Turn off the outdoor lights and light a candle after putting it in a pan. Fill the pan with water, and wait until the bugs are attracted to the light.
Do Fly Traps Work on Gnats?
In most situations, you can’t go wrong with good old-fashioned fly paper. However, window fly papers might help if gnats are gathering around your windows.
To use, just peel off the backing of these rectangular transparent plastic sheets to reveal the sticky side, and adhere them to your window glass.
Fly gnats are quite potent at getting rid of gnats. These fly traps can be kept in the air, and the gnats will fly into them and get stuck. You can later get rid of the trap and use a new one.
These things can be hung next to windows and doors to catch gnats before they reproduce and grow inside your house. They’re quite easy to use, and you can find some cool products to keep all the gnats at bay.
Trappify Sticky Fruit Fly and Gnat Traps
- Pest Control: Dual sided sticky bug cards for mosquito, leafminer, aphid, and other flying pest problems. Protect your best inside plant from fungus...
- Easy To Use: Peel off a trap from the stack and place in a houseplant, a home kitchen, or a garden. Highly rated zapper catchers to finally protect...
- Organic Gardening: Safe way to remove small pests with no harsh ingredients. Fruit Flies, Gnats and other small flying insects are attracted to the...
This fly trap is odorless and doesn’t contain any dangerous chemicals, so you can use it next to outdoor and indoor plants to kill fruit flies and gnat larvae. The yellow color fruit fly trap attracts the gnats that get stuck to the sticky surface.
Available in attractive butterfly shape, these traps will blend beautifully with your outdoor and indoor décor. They can be used in the garden, bathroom, kitchen, and anywhere where gnats are likely to strive. You can place fruit fly trap in house plants to eliminate gnats and gnat larvae.
You can easily use these traps by simply peeling off and quickly setting up. It is possible to reuse the traps until they are completely coated with insects since they are resistant to moisture and sunshine.
They’re compatible with organic farming and are safe to use around pets and kids.
What We Like
- Odorless trap.
- Suitable for organic farming.
- Available in attractive colors and shapes.
- UV-resistant and waterproof.
Trappify Indoor Window Fly Traps
- VALUE SET: Available in 4, 8 and 12 packs to of fruit fly traps for indoors. Designed to attract house flies, mosquito, knat, gnats, along with many...
- EASY TO USE: Just simply open the wrap of our fly catcher, fold panels into place, remove the protective paper from the glue strip, and lastly apply...
- LONG LASTING: Our bug indoor trap with a double strength adhesive secures a reliable and lasting application with every use and utilizes sticky glue...
Whether you’re trying to control gnats inside or outside the house, this trap will work because it’s quite potent. It’s made of safe materials, so it won’t affect your plants’ health. It allows you to eliminate the use of pesticides.
The fruit fly trap is UV and water-resistant, so it will last for a long time. In order to catch gnats and other flying insects, just position it in the lower left or right corner of any inside window.
This trap is double-sided, so it will catch more flies and hopefully all of the gnats. The opening on the back of the trap allows sunlight to enter which attracts insects like house flies, so they won’t be able to leave the trap or infest your house.
What We Like
- Strong adhesion.
- Eco-friendly and safe materials.
- Catches gnats and other flying insects.
- Double-sided strip.
Wraps – Do Fly Traps Work on Gnat?
Gnats are quite annoying, and can infest your home and garden. There are several ways that can help you get rid of gnats and keep them at bay. These can help kill gnats and solve your gnat problem.
Fly traps work well to get rid of gnats without using any chemicals or pesticides. Make sure that you’ve picked a good trap and forget about these annoying bugs once and for all.
Visit the Trappify Store and grab the exact trap you need. –> CLICK HERE
If you are an Amazon fan –> Trappify Amazon Store