Gnats

[Jocccellynnn]

I’ve cleaned my lay bin and remade the soil sand mixture over 3 times now because it keeps getting infested with gnats. Is this okay? They’re small and I honestly don’t care they’re in their hit it concerns me cuz she’s going to be laying in it. Any advice? Lol

 

[JacksJill]

buy beneficial nematodes and mix them in you sand mixture. They won't hurt the eggs but do eat the gnat larva.

 

[Kamikaze Chameleon]

Yupp nemotodes are my go to, god send and have gotten me out of some REALLY rough summer months where they thrive. Carnivorus plants such as pitchchers, sundews, and butterworts are all great natural fly traps but you can just buy sticky pads for the adults just be sure you put it NOWHERE near your cham!Im aslo about to get one of those katchys, that should also help combat the bastards!

 

[Thesolecontender]

Nematodes as others said. The kind you want are steinernema feltiae. Also predatory mites stratiolaelaps scimitus. Neither will harm eggs.

The nematodes are phenomenal but a dual approach is going to be most effective as the predatory mites are more mobile and will eat a wider variety of small insect eggs (will not touch cham eggs). If you use nematodes make sure to mix them in a distilled water or a dechlorinated water source, avoid RO as it can be corrosive and damage nematodes. Water them by hand as most standard hose nozzles and pump nozzle will typically eviscerate the nematodes.

Get a sticky trap up and try to grab a few to look at under low magnification if you can. Proper identification is important. All fungus gnats will have a U/Y shape in the veins at the top of wing as shown in photo

 

[Thesolecontender]

I forgot the mention the best place to get small amounts of these at a reasonable price is going to be Arbico Organics. You will likely still have more than you need for one cage especially one lay bin but if you have other house plants/ cages/ a friend with plants you can use the rest in those. The best IPM is plans are proactive not reactive. Feel free to hit me up with any questions

 

[Thesolecontender]

Oh one more thing. Try putting a slice of potato in your bin and at the soil layer of any of you potted plants for like a day. If the gnats aren't going away they are laying somewhere. Larva chill in the first couple inches of moist soil/loam etc. The potato slice should attract any larva allowing you to locate where breeding is happening. constantly moist cham environments are literally heaven for gnats so theyll like always be one or two here or there.

A few more general pieces on info before I stop blowing up your post

To get rid of gnats or any pest the key is to break the breeding cycle. For example gnats develop from egg to adult in about 3 weeks. So you can dose nematodes 3 times each seven days apart.

 

[Tige21v]

Will these suggestions work with fruit flies also?

 

[Madmango]

Fungus gnats are attracted to the fungus that grows in overly wet/soggy soil. They will spread into your plant if you have any. You can cook the soil before using to kill the eggs that are dormant in your soil.

 

[Thesolecontender]

Will these suggestions work with fruit flies also?

Where are the fruit flies? In your soil?

 

[JacksJill]

few more general pieces on info before I stop blowing up your post

Feel free to blow up any posts you want with useful information.
Would like to know your background. If you haven't already you should introduce yourself in the-lizard-lounge

 

[Flick boy]

@Rhea’s mum

 

[Multivitamins]

Yupp nemotodes are my go to, god send and have gotten me out of some REALLY rough summer months where they thrive. Carnivorus plants such as pitchchers, sundews, and butterworts are all great natural fly traps but you can just buy sticky pads for the adults just be sure you put it NOWHERE near your cham!Im aslo about to get one of those katchys, that should also help combat the bastards!

Any luck with the katchy ... We used one at work and I was skeptical

 

[Kamikaze Chameleon]

Yeah it works pretty well, although your not suppose to keep it on all the time which sucks so I just threw it on a timer