Tiny Soil Insects: Shore Flies and Fungus Gnats

Tiny Soil Insects: Shore Flies and Fungus Gnats

A reader has silvery, elongated insects that hop like fleas (shore flies) and tiny flying insects (fungus gnats) in almost all indoor plant soil.

Root Cause

Both lay eggs in moist soil. Their presence means soil is kept too wet and some roots are rotting.

Control Steps

1. Let soil dry as deep as possible before watering.
2. Scrape off loose surface soil not touching roots (removes many larvae).
3. If persistent: place raw potato slices on soil; larvae congregate there. Remove/replace daily until gone.

Drying out usually solves it.

For a plant pest guide, email wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com.