Question: How do I get rid of gnats? Im pretty sure they are gnats at least. They are really, really tiny and look like black dots. I bought a house spray and have been spraying about 4-6 times a week. They are only in my kitchen at the base of my back door. I cant tell where they are coming from. What must I do? P. S. My home is new construction. Would this be a factor?.
If you have gnats in the house, it’s likely that one or both of these small flies are also there:
Fungus Gnats: Fungus gnats are likely the flies that are small, black, and flying around windows or plants in pots. These flies are the most common small fly in houses. They are small, delicate black flies that are weak flyers and often collect at windows. The immature stages are small and maggot-like, but with dark brown heads. They live in the soil of potted plants. The immature stages feed on the decaying organic material in the soil. They generally do no harm to the plant roots.
The larvae often live in the wet soil of plants that have been watered too much, where the soil stays wet or very wet. The plants may do this when they are brought inside for the winter in the fall, or when they are overwatered in the winter. Read more about gnat control.
It’s likely that the flies are fruit flies if they are small, light brown, and seem to be drawn to places in the kitchen. To get rid of these flies, you should first get rid of any fruit or vegetables that are too ripe. This is where the larvae live. If you want to get rid of the adults, which can live for a few weeks, you can put some vinegar in a shallow pan and put it where the flies are often seen. They are drawn to the vinegar, and some may get stuck in it. You can use an aerosol to spray the others that are waiting there. Read more about fruit fly control from Orkin.
When the flies are on the ground, they move in a zigzag pattern instead of a straight line, are small, light brown to black, and walk in a jerky or erratic way. These could be phorid flies. These are sometimes called sewer flies. They’re about the same size as fruit flies, but they walk, and they seem to be active at night while fruit flies aren’t. Phorid flies usually have a direct connection to a broken sewer line (inside or outside the house). If these are the flies you have, you should have your septic tank or sewer system checked out. Read more about phorid fly control.
Answer: These are probably midges that are active outside this time of year. They like lights at night, so you might want to turn off your outside lights.
Finding tiny brown flying bugs buzzing around your house can be annoying and downright frustrating You do your best to keep your home clean, so where are these little insects coming from? While some flying bugs like fruit flies are harmless, others like drain flies can indicate a bigger problem Identifying what type of tiny brown bug has invaded your home is the first step in getting rid of them.
Common Tiny Brown Flying Bugs
Here are some of the most common small brown flying bugs found in homes
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Fruit Flies – These tiny flies are about 1/8 inch long and usually have red eyes. They are attracted to ripe and rotting fruit and vegetables. Fruit flies lay their eggs near the produce and once the larvae hatch they feed on the fermenting juices. Limiting the food source is key to getting rid of a fruit fly infestation.
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Drain Flies – Drain flies are also known as moth flies or sewer flies. They live and breed in the moist gunk that builds up in drains. The flies are about 1/5 inch long and have fuzzy wings. An infestation usually means you have a plumbing issue that needs to be addressed. Fixing any clogged or broken drains will get rid of the flies’ breeding grounds.
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Fungus Gnats – Fungus gnats are dark flies about 1/8 inch long with long legs and antennae. They are attracted to the moist soil of houseplants. Overwatering your plants allows the gnats to breed and their larvae to feed on plant roots. Letting plants dry out between waterings helps control fungus gnats.
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Phorid Flies – Sometimes called coffinfly or humpbacked fly, these tiny flies have a distinctive humpbacked shape. They breed in sewers and drains like drain flies. A phorid fly infestation also indicates you have a plumbing issue that needs to be repaired.
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Midges – Midges are tiny mosquito-like insects that tend to fly in swarms. They don’t actually bite but can be an annoyance. Turning off exterior lights at night helps keep midges from swarming around your home.
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Moth Flies – Moth flies are commonly mistaken for drain flies or fungus gnats. They are covered in lots of fine hairs which gives them a moth-like appearance. Moth flies do not bite and are more of a nuisance.
What Attracts Tiny Flying Bugs Into Your House?
There are a few common things that can attract tiny flying bugs into your home:
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Standing water – Fruit flies and drain flies lay their eggs in standing water sources like sink and shower drains. Keeping drains free of gunk eliminates breeding grounds.
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Ripe produce – Fruit flies feast on the yeast from fermenting fruits and vegetables. Properly storing ripe produce in sealed containers keeps fruit flies away.
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Moist houseplants – Overwatered plants create the ideal moist environment for fungus gnats to thrive. Letting the soil dry out stops breeding.
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Poor sanitation – Dirty drains, garbage disposals, trash cans, and recycling bins can attract all kinds of flies. Regular cleaning keeps these areas fly-free.
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Exterior lights – Lights around entryways attract all sorts of flying insects inside your home at night. Turn off lights you don’t need.
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Open windows and doors – Flying insects easily fly or get blown into your house through open windows and doors. Use screens to keep bugs out when airing out your home.
How To Get Rid Of Tiny Brown Flying Bugs
If you have an infestation of tiny brown flies buzzing around, here are some tips to get rid of them:
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Find and remove breeding sites – Search for and dump out any standing water. Look for gunk buildup in drains. Removing breeding grounds breaks the reproductive cycle.
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Clean with disinfectants – Use antibacterial cleaners when washing dishes, cleaning countertops, and scrubbing floors. This kills flies on contact and removes food sources.
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Set out traps – DIY vinegar and dish soap traps attract and drown flies. Sticky fly paper also catches flying bugs. Traps help reduce the population.
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Seal food – Store ripe fruits and vegetables in airtight containers to take away access to food sources. Garbage cans should have tight-fitting lids.
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Use fans – Run ceiling fans on high and point floor fans outward when entertaining outdoors. The air current pushes flying bugs away from your guests.
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Hire a pest control company – For severe infestations, it may be time to bring in the professionals. Exterminators use specialized products and methods to eliminate flies.
Prevent Tiny Brown Flying Bugs From Returning
Once you get rid of the flies, you’ll want to take precautions to keep them from coming back:
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Clean drains weekly using boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar to prevent gunk buildup.
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Allow houseplants to dry out between waterings so fungus gnats don’t return.
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Quickly clean up ripe produce spills which can attract fruit flies.
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Take out the garbage frequently so it doesn’t overflow and draw in flies.
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Fix any leaky plumbing to eliminate moisture that flies need to breed.
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Install door and window screens to keep flying insects outside where they belong.
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Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels low and your home less inviting for flies.
Dealing with tiny flying bugs in your house can be annoying, but a few simple prevention and control measures should keep these pests at bay. Identifying the type of fly and locating the source allows you to target your efforts for maximum effectiveness. With some diligent cleaning and monitoring, you can kick those pesky flies out of your home for good.
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How To Deal With Fruit Flies And Drain Flies
Are there flying bugs in Your House?
Having small flying bugs in your house can be an annoyance and disrupt the peace of your living space. These tiny flying bugs can range from wasps to gnats with each having unique characteristics and habits. Identification of some small black flying in the house not fruit flies can be a daunting experience.
What are the tiny brown bugs in my home?
Tiny little brown bugs in your home can be almost anything, such as ticks, fruit flies, or weevils. To narrow down what variety you’re dealing with, try to figure out the bugs’ food source and where they congregate.
Are brown flying bugs fruit flies?
Many people assume that tiny brown flying bugs in house are fruit flies. But some tiny flying bugs might have different colors to reduce the chance of them being fruits. Here is a list of other t ypes of small flying insects in the house: Wasps come in various colors, including yellow, black, and metallic blue.
How do you identify small Bugs flying in your home?
To identify small bugs flying in your home, look at their behavior, shape, and where they tend to be. Try to find out what attracts the annoying flies — odors, dampness, poor sanitation, or heat. Some flies are typically found in the kitchen near drains, garbage cans, or rotten food. Then look at the color of the flying bugs to identify them.
