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Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 07:08:41 -0500
From: ecormie@cc.UManitoba.CA (Edmond Cormier)
Subject: [10472] Fungus gnat cycle
Troy, adult fungus gnats live less than a week,mating shortly after
emergence and laying eggs soon thereafter. Eggs are either scattered or
laid in small clusters on the soil surface near plants. Females lay 100-150
eggs in their 2- to 5-day existence. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days and the larvae
begin to feed immediately on organic matter near the soil surface. Larvae
reach maturity in about 2 weeks when they cease feeding, spin silken
cocoons and pupate. The pupal stage lasts less than a week. The entire life
cycle only lasts 4 weeks at greenhouse and house temperatures with many
overlapping generations present at the same time.
Fungus gnats feed on organic matter both live and dead.
Control: Spray Tanglefoot on yellow cardboard or plastic and place around
plants.
Gnatrol is also recommended, it is: Bacillus israelensis.
Ed Cormier
Maybe somebody could put this in the FAQ, it would save me a lot of
repeating.Ed.
[Ed. note: Yeah, you just wanna get famous, Ed!]
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Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 10:40:06 -0500
From: r-halgren@nwu.edu (Robert G. Halgren)
Subject: [10473]
>What is the timing of the life cycle of fungus gnats?
Not entirely sure, I'd estimate it would be very similar to fruit
flys.. Somebody probably has real data.
>
>I'm trying predatory nematodes and I'm wondering how soon I might notice
>results, and how soon to reapply.
>
>The OLD archives has lots of gnat information (at least 59 messages), but
>I can't find this information. Interestingly, someone mentioned the use
>of BT (the anti-caterpillar bacteria) against gnats.
I have used this, and am quite enamoured of the product. It is
really Bacillus israeliensis, I believe, not quite Bt. Gnatrol is the brand
name of the product I have been using. Went from zillions to a very
occassional gnat. Has the advantage of being cheap (a pint at 10.00 goes a
very very long way), effective, and long lasting. I believe it colonizes
the pots, and becomes active again upon new gnat infestation. I haven't had
much of a problem for quite a while, and I haven't applied the product for
well over 6 months. When I bought this product I asked about predatory
nematodes and was told that Gnatrol would work better at a fraction of the
price (not that he wouldn't sell me nematodes if I wanted them, of course!).
Your mileage may vary.
Rob
*********************************************************************** ****
Rob's Rules: http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~rhalgren |Send me orchid seeds!
1)There is always room for one more orchid. |
2)There is no Rule 2. |Future Starving PhD.
2a)When one has insufficient credit to buy |
more orchids, obtain more credit. |Will flask for food.
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Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 19:14:44 -0400
From: EMuehlb567@aol.com
Subject: [10480] Bt on fungus gnats
Troy- I have used Bt on fungus gnats. The product used to be called
Gnatrol, but now goes by a different name (and a higher price!). It is
sold by Garden's Alive. It has to be a pplied a minumum of 3 times in
order to work. It does work, for several weeks, but unless it is
regularly applied the gnats come back. Also, any bacteriocidal
chemicals like RD-20 and Physan will counterract it. I gave up being
disturbed by them. While I haven't learned to love them, I've learned
to tolerate them. I cannot truly say that any plant I own, orchid or
otherwise, has ever been harmed by them, so why bother? If I find a
surface infestation that sufficiently disturbs me, a good spritz with
pyrethrin exacts revenge for the time being. Take care, Eric
Muehlbauer in sunny and mild Queens, NY
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