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Quelaag
Pandinus
Quelaag


Number of posts : 30
Age : 31
Location : New York
Registration date : 2012-11-18

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PostSubject: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 2:01 am

My house is prone to gnats, since we keep many plants. Lately they've been getting in my room and scorpion cage. How do I keep them out? (they annoy the hell out of me when they fly in front of my face when I'm gaming.) The cage is clean, smells nice (no decay or anything) and is kept in ideal conditions for my scorpion (unfortunately, the gnats love it too.) I use Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate and a little sphagnum moss. I mist the cage a couple times a day and the substrate retains the moisture pretty well. However, I think it's just gnat heaven. Do you think I could get rid of the gnats if I take out the moss or something? What other things can I try, maybe change the substrate when it gets too moist?

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas you may have.
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Yames
Tityus
Yames


Number of posts : 521
Age : 45
Registration date : 2012-09-18

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 2:20 am

You don't need to mist multiple times a day. That sounds excessive. If your substrate gets too moist stop spraying it and it will even out. People recommend a substrate change every 6 months to a year.

These pests came from your plants for sure but now that you have them I have no idea how to get rid of them.

On a side note what cha playing that a few flying insects disrupt the game? It can't be Black Ops as the game would only be improved with insects flying around.
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Quelaag
Pandinus
Quelaag


Number of posts : 30
Age : 31
Location : New York
Registration date : 2012-11-18

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 2:44 am

haha! Best response ever. I've been playing multiple things lately: finished the Resident Evil 6 Demo (would love to own that) and the new DMC: Devil May Cry Demo (can't wait to get that). I just beat Devil May Cry 4 and am playing through again on hard; I'm also in the process of playing Dark Souls DLC (favorite game), and I also just finished Alan Wake.

I'm not big on COD, I kind of liked the Nazi Zombies mode but it's not a game I can say I really enjoy. Plus people on there are soooo rude and relentlessly annoying so I just get frustrated and quit. I'm more into Halo but I've yet to get Halo 4 due to using my money to get the games I bought on Black Friday for my bf's Christmas presents xD. I got myself one too but not as expensive as Halo.

Thing about the gnats, I guess they like the glow of the screen too (they just love my room :l ) so while I'm playing, they're flying in front of my face like they're about to land on me and I don't know about you but I'd really prefer not to hang around with gnats on my face. One flew directly into my eye once! I hate to hate an insect but damn they're bothering me.
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robert44
Tityus



Number of posts : 535
Age : 63
Location : Houston, Texas, USA
Registration date : 2012-08-25

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 11:30 am

Maybe you could try an electronic bug zapper? It has a light that attacts flying bugs and then they get zapped by electricity. They work pretty well for mosquitos but I'm not sure about gnats.
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Gnat
Centruroides
Gnat


Number of posts : 180
Age : 44
Location : Georgia, USA
Registration date : 2009-09-26

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 12:47 pm

Quelaag wrote:
My house is prone to gnats,

I have never been to your house!
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Yames
Tityus
Yames


Number of posts : 521
Age : 45
Registration date : 2012-09-18

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 1:14 pm

The bug zapper would work for sure and you could get a small one. I've had one in my backyard for years. The dead soldiers would have to be swept up as they hit the zapping parts and I'm not sure but with the gnats coming from the soil of your plants it may never stop the problem. But you will be killing the annoying flying ones. So it's kinda a win. And nothing says cozy bedroom like the perpetual warm glow of a purple humming light bulb. The more I think of it the worse it sounds. You definitely need to rid yourself of those annoying gnats.
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Callum B
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Callum B


Number of posts : 1096
Age : 34
Registration date : 2008-09-21

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 4:44 pm

There are a couple different types of fly they could be. Fungus gnats are little black flies that feed on decaying matter. Phorid flies are again little black flies but these guys are known to be parasitic and can cause problems in invert collections if left to get out of hand. You can easily differentiate between the two by looking at how they move.

Gnat, if disturbed will immediately try to fly away.

Phorid, if disturbed will usually scuttle away.

They generally end up in your collection from bought feeder insects or plants I beleive.

To get rid of them you can allow the scorpions substrate to dry out. This worked well when I ended up with Phorid flies in some of my Euscorpius spp. tubs. Although this is more difficult to do with species that require humid conditions. You could instead change the substrate.

Obviously keep on top of cleaning. Don't leave any cricket bits in the enclosure etc. If you're scorpions are fat and healthy, you could cease feeding for around a month to ensure there are definately no bits of leftover food for the flies to eat.

Fly papers can also be hung up in the room.

If the problem gets really bad, or if you fancy giving them a go anyway, you could get hold of some Hypoaspis miles. They're a predatory mite that will eat the fly larva. Google them to find a supplier near you.

Both types are an absolute pain to get rid of completely, but with some perseverance they will eventually disappear (hopefully....).
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Quelaag
Pandinus
Quelaag


Number of posts : 30
Age : 31
Location : New York
Registration date : 2012-11-18

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 6:14 pm

I am 100% against zappers. While I hate gnats; I love moths, truly, I do. I don't want to be responsible for the deaths of creatures I appreciate.

Quote :
Both types are an absolute pain to get rid of completely, but with some perseverance they will eventually disappear (hopefully....).

I am sure they are gnats. I've seen them before. Plus they evade my flailing arms like little ninjas and laugh as they fly away. Thanks for your response. I take all decaying matter out immediately. Not just for the scorpion's sake but I can't stand bad smells. I've kept silkworms, mealworms and stick insects before that just lived in decaying messes that just smelled awful. I don't think I want that ever again.
Anyway I'll try out different things and hope they lose interest.
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Quelaag
Pandinus
Quelaag


Number of posts : 30
Age : 31
Location : New York
Registration date : 2012-11-18

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PostSubject: Re: gnats    gnats  Empty11/26/2012, 6:17 pm

Gnat wrote:
Quelaag wrote:
My house is prone to gnats,

I have never been to your house!

You're too busy thinking it's YOUR house that you don't realize it!!! ; ___ ;
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