Question
PicOnKebab
Was wondering if you knew what these were and how to treat them.
We have tiny little almost 'silvery' in colour elongated insects that seems to have taken over almost all the solid in our indoor plants. They seem to be able to hop #like a flea# as well after observing and prodding them for some time.
I managed to get some quite close ups with my camera the item it's on is a shish-kebab stick.
Please help, we fear we are losing plants to these critters. Some of the plants we noticed some flying insects around them as well but these tiny ones specially one of the more infested plants don't seem to have the flying insects around it. They seem to stick to the soil mostly.
See images!
AnswerHi Brennan,
You seem to have an infestation of both shore flies (the ones that hop) and fungus gnats (the ones that fly). They are closely related and both lay their eggs or larvae in the soil when conditions are right for their development. What you are seeing are the adults hopping and flying about. The adults will die of their own accord within about a week. The key is to treat the larvae in the soil as they are the next generations to emerge.
The larvae of these critters feed on decaying organic matter, usually in the upper two inches or so of the soil. They are almost always a sign that the soil is being kept too wet and some of the roots are rotting. So the first step in control is to let the soil dry out as deep into the pot as possible before adding any water. This will deprive the larvae of the moisture they need to survive. It also helps to scrape off and remove all loose soil from the surface that is not in immediate contact with the roots. Removing this excess soil will also remove many of the larvae.
This removal of excess soil and allowing the soil to dry out properly is often enough to solve the problem. If the problem persists, then I suggest the following. Place raw potato slices on the surface of the soil. The slices will attract the larvae. Remove the slices daily and replace them with fresh slices. You will see a gradual reduction in the number of larvae on the potatoes and eventually their presence will no longer be necessary.
I have written an article on plant pests that I will email for free to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.
Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
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Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC
