My newest indoor plant (a bonsai) seems to be attracting little gnats. Are they at all harmful or are they just irritating? How do i get rid of them?
Fungus gnats are a nuisance and a pain, but, I guess it could be worse, like having mealy bugs, scale or mites. The gnats were probably in the soil when you bought your bonsai. Unfortunately, fungus gnats love moist soil and that's where they like to lay their eggs. The larvae will eat the organtic matter in the soil with many potting mixes have a lot of peat moss. The larvae can also eat some of the tender roots. The flying adults can cause minor damage to leaves resembling thin landing strips, or white lines, some with tiny pin holes inside the white lines or strips, or just small holes will be present. I noticed the adults seem to be attracted to the same leaves over and over again until it's so damaged, it finally dies. If you only have the one plant, you might be able to get rid of easily by repotting "outdoors" when it's warm with a courser mix, one that won't stay as wet. You can try using those yellow sticky traps, or just get some yellow paper (they are attracted to the color) with Vaseline smeared on both sides and hang it by a string near, or off your plants. Also, let the soil dry out more between waterings. I've heard a thing layer of sand on top of the soil will rip apart the emerging larvae ( like glass shards to them) although I have never tried that method. You might want to look up Fungus Gnats to find other information that can help, and hopefully get rid of them for good!
