How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

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Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries

Fungus Gnats

Scientific names: Bradysia coprophila, Bradysia impatien

(Reviewed 3/09, updated 3/09)

In this Guideline:

Description of the pests
Damage
Management

DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS

Fungus gnats are small (2–5 mm long) mosquitolike flies with dark wings, delicate legs, and long antennae. They lay their eggs in soil, and the eggs hatch about 4 days later. There are four larval instars that increase in size up to about 0.33 inch (8 mm). Larvae are clear, with visible internal organs, and have shiny black head capsules. Initially larvae feed on root hairs and algae; later, larvae may feed on the insides of roots. When populations are high, larvae may bore into larger roots or stems that are in the soil. Larvae will also feed on leaves touching the soil. One generation may complete development in 21 (72°F) to 40 (61°F) days.

DAMAGE

Larvae usually feed on roots and algae within 1 inch of the soil surface. Root feeding by larvae can allow entry of plant pathogens. Direct damage through root feeding can cause wilting even though the plants are being sufficiently watered. Damage is particularly severe in propagation areas, in seedling flats, and with especially sensitive crops. Adult fungus gnats also disseminate soil-inhabiting pathogens on their bodies and in their feces. Fungus gnat adults can be a nuisance when present in large numbers.

MANAGEMENT

Biological Control
Biological control agents include nematodes (Steinernema feltiae), soil-inhabiting predaceous mites (Hypoaspis miles), and the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Gnatrol). For more information, see BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

Cultural Control
Keep production areas free of weeds and algal scum, which can serve as breeding sites for fungus gnat populations. Maintaining overwatered conditions and using either incompletely composted organic matter or manure in potting media provides ideal conditions for fungus gnats. Commercial sources of peat may be infested with fungus gnats and should be steamed before use when growing crops sensitive to fungus gnats.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Yellow sticky cards placed in greenhouses will capture adult fungus gnats. For more information, see MONITORING WITH STICKY TRAPS. Small emergence traps can also be used to determine precisely where adults are emerging. Larval populations can be monitored with cubes or slices of potatoes pressed just into the soil. Fungus gnat larvae can be readily seen feeding on the potato pieces. For more information on treatment decisions, see ESTABLISHING TREATMENT THRESHOLDS.

Pyrethroids are useful for knocking down adult populations and microencapsulated pesticides (chlorpyrifos is available in a microencapsulated formulation) applied to the soil are effective against larvae.

Apply drenches to top 1 inch of soil to kill larvae and use foggers, aerosols, or sprays to control adults.

TREATMENT

Selected Materials Registered for Use on Greenhouse or Nursery Ornamentals
Read and follow the instructions on the label before using any pesticide. Before using a pesticide for the first time or on a new crop or cultivar, treat a few plants and check for phytotoxicity. Also consider pesticide resistance management and environmental impact.

Class		Pesticide (commercial name)	Manufacturer	R.E.I.¹	Mode of action²	Comments

biological	A.	Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis# (Gnatrol)	Valent	4	11.A1	Do not apply with fertilizers or fungicides containing copper or chlorine. Not effective on shore flies.
botanical	A.	pyrethrin/PBO³ (PT Pyrethrum TR)	Whitmire MicroGen	12	3/27	An aerosol. Also effective against adults.
	B.	pyrethrin/rotenone (Pyrellin EC)	Webb Wright	12	3/21	Also effective against adults.
insect growth regulator	A.	azadirachtin (Azatin XL)	OHP	4	26	Must contact insect. Repeat applications as necessary. Only effective on larvae. Label permits low-volume application.
	B.	azadirachtin (Ornazin 3%EC)	SePRO	12	26	Do not exceed 22.5 oz/acre/application
	C.	cyromazine (Citation 75 WP)	Syngenta	12	17	Certification training required to use this product. Also effective against shorefly larvae.
	D.	diflubenzuron (Adept 25WP)	Chemtura	12	15	Apply as spray or drench to top 2 inches of soil.
	E.	pyriproxyfen (Distance)	Valent	12	7C	Do not apply more than 2 times per cropping cycle or per 6 months.
	F.	s-kinoprene (Enstar II)	Wellmark	4	7A	Apply prebloom. Also labeled for low volume use.
neonicotinoid	A.	acetamiprid (TriStar) 70WSP	Cleary	12	4A	Apply as a foliar spray.
	B.	dinotefuran (Safari) 20G	Valent	12	4A	Can be applied as a drench or foliar spray.
	C.	imidacloprid (Marathon 1G) (Marathon II)	OHP	12	4A	Not to be used more than once every 16 weeks. Do not apply to soils that are water logged or saturated. Do not apply to bedding plants intended to be used as food crops.
		(Marathon 60 WP)				As above. Apply only as a drench.
	D.	thiamethoxam (Flagship) 25WG	Syngenta	12	4A	Can be applied as a drench or foliar spray.
organophosphate	A.	acephate (Acephate 97UP)	United Phosphorus	24	1B
	B.	acephate (Orthene T, T&O Spray)	Valent	24	1B	A number of chrysanthemum varieties have exhibited phytotoxic reactions. In greenhouses only labeled for use on anthurium, cacti, carnation, rose, orchids, some foliage plants, young poinsettia, and some varieties of chrysanthemum. Can stunt new growth in roses.
	C.	acephate (PT 1300 Orthene TR)	Whitmire MicroGen	24	1B	An aerosol for greenhouse use only.
	D.	chlorpyrifos* (DuraGuard ME)	Whitmire MicroGen	24	1B
pyrethroid	A.	bifenthrin (Attain TR)	Whitmire MicroGen	12	3	Check label. A fogger for greenhouse use only.
	B.	bifenthrin* (Talstar Flowable)	FMC	12	3	Also effective against adults. Label permits low-volume application.
	C.	cyfluthrin (Decathlon 20 WP)	OHP	12	3	Also effective against adults. Label permits low-volume application.
	D.	deltamethrin* (DeltaGard)	Bayer	0	3
	E.	fenpropathrin* (Tame 2.4 EC Spray)	Valent	24	3	Also effective against adults. Label permits low-volume application.
	F.	fluvalinate (Mavrik Aquaflow)	Wellmark	12	3	Also effective against adults. Label permits low-volume application. Also labeled as a cutting dip at 5 fl oz/100 gal.
	G.	permethrin (Astro)	FMC	12	3	Direct application to blooms may cause browning of petals. Marginal leaf burn may occur on salvia, diffenbachia, and pteris fern. Label permits low-volume application. Do not apply more than 2 lb a.i./acre/year.

¹	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing.
²	Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.
³	PBO = piperonyl butoxide
*	Restricted use pesticide. Permit required for purchase or use.
#	Acceptable for use on organically grown ornamentals.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries
UC ANR Publication 3392
Insects and Mites
J. A. Bethke, Entomology, UC Riverside
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
K. L. Robb, UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego County
H. S. Costa, Entomology, UC Riverside
R. S. Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Windsor, CT
M. P. Parrella, Entomology, UC Davis

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