Fungus Gnats on Mounted Orchids

[Clawhammer]

I have fungus gnats on a couple of my mounted orchids in my "terrarium" (see pic).

Is there are spray I can use to kill these guys?

I get that the root cause here is that I am keeping things too wet and I am working on dialing that in... In the meantime these guys have to go.

Neem did not do the trick.

[aliceinwl]

I think people have had luck using those mosquito dunks successfully for control. They have a bacterium that would attack the larvae.

[Ray]

Agreed. Any insecticide spray will kill the adults, and yellow "sticky traps" will get 'em too, but the Bacillus thuringiensis in the mosquito dunks will be needed to wipe out the population.

[SouthPark]

You know those pyrethrum spray cans fitted with small little electronically controlled spray-firing mechanisms ----- which fires a puff of pyrethrum into the air every hour, or every few hours. If you can incorporate something like that somewhere - where water or humidity doesn't create issues for the spray can or electronics, then that's one extra idea.

In my region, even though I don't use it for orchids, there is 'pestrol'. Anything like that, or a modification of it could work.

[OrchidSue]

I grow a cape sundew (Drosera capensis) with my orchids. It doesn't completely eliminate fungus gnats, but does make a big difference. It is also an opportunity to grow another cool plant and watch a carnivorous plant in action.


Susan

[OrchidBro]

I 2nd OrchidSue's suggestion. I have several butterworts (pinguicula) that are covered in dead fungus gnats. As she said, it probably won't completely eradicate them but it will help.

[DirtyCoconuts]

with overhead misting i would be concerned that the sundew would not be happy about that

id try it but i would keep an eye on the sundew

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[Leafmite]

I have many plants that need to be kept damp and prefer a medium with organic materials added--perfect for gnats.
Best way to get rid of fungus gnats is to put a pinguicula under a bright lamp near the plants infected. The gnats are attracted to the light and land on the ping, thus getting caught. You can clear an infestation in a single night, two if you are unlucky. After a good harvest of gnats, my pings will soon bloom and produce new plants. The pings do such a good job keeping the gnat numbers down, I rarely have issues with gnats.