Fungus Gnats

[BuddhaSeeds]

Hello, today I write about fly of the substrate...
Also known as black flies, soil and / or fly Substrate, its scientific name is Sciaridae.
As always, the first thing is to know our enemy:

[align=center]Attachment 288139[/align]

Adult flies, as shown in the picture, are of a size of approximately 2 to 4 mm. and are usually black, although it may be some dark gray. He observed her long legs, like their slender antennae.
Your environment is optimal humidity (hence the name), are often seen walking on the wet substrate or pots, even flying around them, but that flight is rather slow. Also be located in hydroponics
Females can get to put two hundred eggs per individual, with a time of hatching 2-3 days.
These larvae pass through four different stages in a time period of 2 to 3 weeks, having a length of about 5 millimeters, with a translucent white and black color head. Later in the substrate form a cocoon, which in about three days adult flies are ready to follow their life cycle (3-4 weeks) and reproduction.
With temperatures above 24 � C (35 � C until even) continue to play almost endlessly.

Crop damage
Actual damages not believe in growing larvae of these flies, as not only feed on dead organic matter (algae, fungi), but also make root hairs or stems, drill them.
Besides destroying the roots, limiting access to nutrients for the plant, but the damage they do pave the way for other diseases such as Fusarium, Pythium, Pytophtora or Botrytis.
Minimum attack will create a slowdown in growth, a strong attack of this pest will lead to plant death.
The survival of the plant usually also depend on their status in young plants can be very damaging. Mature plants better withstand this attack, but as we said, an uncontrolled plague can kill them without problems.

Better safe than sorry
An irrigation with Neem oil is perfect for prevention, and if you add a good layer of vermiculite for substrate should not have such problems.

It is also useful to insert in a lemon several nails (spices) and leave it in the culture, as previously stated, this is not like the wet fly, and not usually colonize crops
And of course do not overdo puddle or irrigation.

I HAVE FLY OF SUBSTRATE ...WHAT CAN I DO?

One of the most used is the neem oil in irrigation, which operates in approximately 5-7 days, preventing the digestion of larvae and taking them to death by starvation.
The following would cover the pots with vermiculite to prevent flies again established in the substrate.
Another method, but not as effective, and even less recommended is irrigation with hydrogen peroxide diluted to 30% in distilled water. The problem is that the hydrogen peroxide only just larvae, eggs that have not been opened will not be affected. So it is not very effective, so we added further that hydrogen peroxide kills all kinds of "bugs" in our substrate (such as mycorrhizae) not only the "bad".

To stop and adult flies, you can do several "tricks":
From the classic yellow sticky traps to catch them (put them in areas close to the ground).
Also with two bananas, one of them spent in a blender and add sugar (lots of it), the other left to rot. Place the bananas and liquid in a container rotten ... flies will go to the mixture and die.

If your crop needs a radical solution, we recommend Confidor Bayer systemic insecticide that can be used in spray (0.4 ml / L of water once a week to extinguish all the plague), and also in irrigation (0 , 4 mL / L of water every 5/7 days)
This product has a security within 15/20 days in spraying and 20/30 days in irrigation. NOT IN FINAL BLOOM.

Of course you can stop it by natural predators, through biological control:

NATURAL ENEMIES

The most recommended are:
The predatory beetle, Atheta Coriaria, is extremely voracious and very efficient in controlling fly larvae.


The mite predator , Hypoapsis Miles, is one of the specialists in the biological control of soil fly.


The Steinernema-System. Nematodes move through thin water films around soil particles and actively seek larvae. After detecting larvae, nematodes invade through natural openings of the body and inject bacteria inside. The bacteria grows and the insect dies of septicemia. Under optimal conditions the insect dies within 12-24 hours.


Hope this info be useful for you!
:smokin:

BuddhaSeeds Reviewed by BuddhaSeeds on 12-03-2012. Fungus Gnats Hello, today I write about fly of the substrate... Also known as black flies, soil and / or fly Substrate, its scientific name is Sciaridae. As always, the first thing is to know our enemy: 288139 Adult flies, as shown in the picture, are of a size of approximately 2 to 4 mm. and are usually black, although it may be some dark gray. He observed her long legs, like their slender antennae. Your environment is optimal humidity (hence the name), are often seen walking on the wet substrate Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

It's very common for gnat eggs to be in the potting soil, when you buy it.

[BuddhaSeeds]

Yes... If soil that you buy isn't a great soil, maybe be in it.
It's better looking for a serious place where to buy quality