Fruit flies – School Of Bugs

Seeing a cluster of tiny flies in your kitchen is always annoying. But what about when you see just one gnat? Is one gnat in my home a reason to worry?! Well, the answer is Yes and No. Gnats are usually fairly easy to get rid of. However, there are some key things to be aware of and it might be a sign that you're unintentionally creating an environment that is welcoming to gnats! Read on and I'll explain what to do if you see gnats in your home. Is Seeing One Gnat Normal? Yes, seeing one gnat pretty much anywhere is entirely normal. Gnats are so widespread that they can be found pretty much anywhere in the world. Plus, they don’t need a lot to survive, so it shouldn’t surprise us when we see a gnat. But is seeing one gnat inside your home bad news? Before we answer this question, we need to understand what exactly a gnat is. What is a Gnat? What exactly is a gnat? That question is more difficult to answer than one might expect! Yes, a gnat is a tiny flying insect, we can probably all agree on that - but the exact definition usually depends on where you live and who you ask. You can open any encyclopedia or dictionary and look it up - they usually say a gnat is a small fly - some say one that bites, and others actually refer to one that does not bite. No one seems to be sure. Entomologically, we can say that all gnats belong to the order of Nematocera, but not necessarily all of them. Would you call a mosquito or a midge fly a gnat? Some people do and some don’t. However, we all seem to agree that unidentified tiny flies are called gnats. For the sake of this article, though, we are going to focus on gnats you are most likely to find inside your home: fungus gnats, fruit flies, phorid flies and drain flies. All of these are small black flies. To learn more about how to differentiate different kinds of gnats, click here. Do Lone Gnats Exist? Well, gnats can exist alone, of course. However, a lonely gnat is an anomaly rather than the rule. Most gnats have a life-span of only a couple of weeks. During this time they manage to breed and give birth to a new generation of gnats too. As you can imagine, this means gnats do not have a lot of time to fly around and explore on their own. Most of the time, gnats will stay close to their food source and breed right on the spot. That’s why seeing a lonely gnat is often an early sign of a gnat infestation. Of course, it is also possible that a single gnat has wandered into your house by accident and once you get rid of it you don’t find any more gnats. But don’t expect that to happen every time you see a lonely gnat. Are Gnats Dangerous? In general, gnats are not dangerous to humans. As we mentioned, there are many species of tiny insects referred to as gnats - so the exact answer can vary. However, the most common household gnats (including fungus gnats, fruit flies, and drain flies) do not bite humans and do not even have biting parts. Now, if you consider mosquitoes or midge flies as gnats, then yes, gnats most definitely can bite you. However, even these bites are harmless most of the time. The bites can get dangerous if there is a heavy allergic reaction, which is something that does happen but is actually quite rare. In addition, it is entirely possible for a tiny fly (hence, gnat) to bite you, but aside from some tropical species that carry diseases, you should be fine. However, while gnats themselves are not too dangerous, they are not a good sign either. Gnats feed on decaying organic matter (i.e. trash and spoiled food) or stagnant water and, in general, these are not things you want in your home. Why Are There Gnats In My Home? If you are not sure why there could be gnats in your home, it could be helpful to first identify what kind of gnats you are dealing with. Fruit flies, for example, are attracted to rotting fruit. A fruit bowl that has been set out for a bit too long quickly becomes a fruit fly breeding ground. And, for that matter, they love all sorts of decaying organic matter, so make sure the gnats don’t have free access to your trash. Fungus gnats, on the other hand, lay their eggs in overwatered plant soil. The most common bathroom gnats, the drain flies, live in sources of stagnant water. So why are there gnats in your home? The short answer is - because there is a nice habitat and a good source of food for them somewhere in there. Check out the links below for more detailed information on what attracts gnats into your home: Where Do Gnats Come From? – 13 Most Common Examples! Where Do Gnats Come from in my Bathroom – Key Facts To Know Is Having Gnats In My Home Bad? Gnats are some of the most common insects and they live pretty much in every corner of the world. Therefore, having gnats in your home is not terribly strange. Probably every home has had a gnat infestation at least once. However, if gnats keep living in your home it is probably a sign that you need a thorough cleaning or some home maintenance. As we mentioned, gnats need decaying organic matter or stagnant water to feed on - and is that really something you want in your home? Find the source that feeds them before it gets out of control. What Should I Do If I Have Gnats? Obviously, if you have gnats, you’ll want to get rid of them. In most cases, gnats will not go away on their own, so you’ll need to be proactive. If you see a single gnat in your home, the thing to do is pay attention and see if there are more of them. A single gnat is not a case for concern, but these tiny bugs can multiply QUICKLY. The best way to get rid of gnats will depend on the exact type of gnats you are having. However, there is a universal rule: identify their source of food and breeding ground, and eliminate it. For fungus gnats, this will usually be the soil of indoor plants. You’ll want to let it dry out a bit to make it less hospitable to gnats. When it comes to fruit flies, you’ll need to get rid of any produce in questionable condition and if it’s drain flies look for sources of stagnant water in your home. Besides this, it is possible to create traps to catch the gnats that are already in your home. Another universal solution is sticky tape that will help trap the existing adult gnats. However, the sticky traps are usually not a complete solution since gnats have probably laid their eggs somewhere in your house. They do help reduce the population but usually don’t get rid of the problem completely. For more detailed info on how to get rid of gnats in your home, check out this guide. How Do I Prevent Gnats in My Home? Preventing gnats in your home ultimately comes down to one thing: keeping your house clean. It’s not always possible to eliminate all the things that might attract gnats, but a lot can be done to stop them. First of all, always clean your kitchen thoroughly. Keep your trash in a closed bin that gnats can’t get to easily, and take it out often. Do not leave any produce outside. Do not overwater your indoor plants and check for fungus gnats on a regular basis so you can handle them early if needed. Conclusion: Is One Gnat a Reason to Worry? As you have seen, answering questions regarding gnats can be a bit complicated as the name gnat actually encompasses a number of different insects. However, the general rule is that seeing one gnat in your home is not a reason to panic. Still, gnats are rarely found alone, so seeing one gnat probably means you have a population of gnats somewhere in your home. It is always a good idea to try and find out where they come from and get rid of the source. More about tiny bugs in your house: Everything You Need to Know About Fruit Flies What Are These Tiny Crawling Bugs in my House!? What Are The Tiny Bugs On My Windowsill? Answer & Next Steps