Fungus gnats are common household pests, pests are known to be against the well-being of humans. So do fungus gnats bite humans?
Fungus gnats, both male and female, feed on nectar from flowers. When reproducing, females of several species require a blood meal.
It’s for this reason that they attack and bite mammals, including domesticated animals, wild birds, pets, and humans.
Fungus gnats have mouths that look like scissor blades, which they employ to sever skin when they bite. Keeping reading to learn more!
Facts About Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are small flying insects that can be either black or dark brown in color. They have long legs, slender bodies, and thin wings.
Fungus gnats, fruit flies, and drain flies are the three species of gnat-like insects that are most likely to be found in a home (also known as phorid flies). They are typically poor fliers and have the propensity to travel in big groups that are referred to as clouds.
There are important distinctions that can be made between gnats and fruit flies, which can be helpful if you’re not sure which pest you’re dealing with.
The most obvious distinction lies in their eyes: Gnats have eyes that are difficult to compare to human eyes because they are so little. Fruit flies have eyes that are much larger.
Read also: How to Prevent Fungus and Disease on Lawn
The Life Cycle of Fungus Gnats
The lifecycle of a fungus gnat consists of four distinct stages: the egg, the larva, the pupa, and the adult. It is brief and depends on a variety of different factors.
They are the species of insects that resemble gnats, the potential for offspring production in a species, the availability of various sources of food, and the provision of a source of moisture Defensibility within their natural environment.
Although the lifespans of the most common types of insects that resemble gnats are very comparable, this fact is not nearly as essential as the rate at which they may reproduce.
These annoying pests will continue to fly around your kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of your home as long as they have the ability to reproduce so quickly.
- Adult Lifespan – 7 to 14 days
- Life Cycle – 8 to 30 days
- 100–150 eggs are produced by the hens.
- Habitat – Found in close proximity to containerized plants, most frequently spider plants, African violets, peace lilies, geraniums, and inch plants.
- Diet consists of organic mulch, fungi, root hairs, leaf mold, and compost, as well as grass clippings and leaf mold.
Read also: 10 Smells That Gnats Hate (Pictures)
Do Fungus Gnats Bite Humans?
Fungus gnats come in both biting and non-biting varieties, depending on the species. Fungus gnats, fruit flies, and phorid flies are the three varieties of houseflies that are least likely to bite humans.
Most likely to be found in homes, they lack the necessary teeth and mouthparts to take a bite and penetrate the skin of their prey.
There are several species, including biting midges, sand flies, and black flies, that are capable of biting. They will puncture and cut your skin with the pointed mouthparts in order to gain access to your blood, which will then be sucked into their digestive system.
Fungus gnats that bite will bite any skin that is exposed and uncovered. Gnats are able to drink blood without blood clotting because they create anticoagulant molecules in their saliva.
Unfortunately, the same compounds also cause their bites to be itchy. Your reaction is brought on by these anticoagulant chemicals, which are present and want to itch.
If you are able to, refrain from scratching the bite site because repeated scratching can lead to open sores that are more likely to become infected with bacteria that are pathogenic to the bite wound.
Read also: How to Identify, Prevent and Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
What Attracts Gnats?
Inside your home, gnats will congregate in any damp spot, whether it’s potting soil that hasn’t dried out or food remnants in your sinks and drains.
They are also drawn to garbage cans that are either open or overflowing with food scraps or other decaying organic waste such as rotten fruit or greenery.
Finally, gnats are drawn to your body chemistry (sweat, body heat, mucus from the nose, tears from the eyes, and carbon dioxide from your breath) as well as that of your dogs (heat, mucus, tears, and carbon dioxide).
Where Do Gnats Come From?
Gnats are pests that can be found in natural environments. The true query should be, “where do gnats come from?
Because of their keen sense of smell, gnats are drawn to your home by things like the garbage that has overflowed onto your kitchen table, the sludge at the bottom of your kitchen drain, and the delicious aroma of a bunch of overripe bananas.
They could be looking for water, and if so, they might be attracted to the dripping faucet in your kitchen or the overflowing plant pots.
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