Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Bibionomorpha » Dark-winged Fungus Gnats (Sciaridae)
Photo#104951
Fly on Houseplants
Copyright © 2007 Mardon Erbland

Fly on Houseplants
Logy Bay, Northeast Avalon, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
April 23, 2007
Size: 1.5mm body length
This fly and others like it are crawling/flying around the soil of our houseplants. Any ID?

Images of this individual: tag all
Fly on Houseplants Fly on Houseplants Fly on Houseplants
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Mardon Erbland on 23 April, 2007 - 3:23pm
Last updated 23 April, 2007 - 4:55pm

Sciaridae.
This is most likely a sciarid (dark-winged fungus gnat). They are well known for breeding in the potting soil of overwatered houseplants.
… Eric R. Eaton, 23 April, 2007 - 4:05pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks - Moved
Thanks for the quick ID. My wife is wondering if there is any good way to rid her plants of these flies, besides the point you already mentioned of watering them less.
… Mardon Erbland, 23 April, 2007 - 4:58pm login or register to post comments

 
Layer of sand....
She can sprinkle a fine layer of sand over the surface, which discourages the female flies from ovipositing. Sand grains are probably "boulders" to them:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 24 April, 2007 - 4:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
She'll be very happy if this works. I won't be so happy; no more photos of these little creatures. ;)
… Mardon Erbland, 24 April, 2007 - 4:45pm login or register to post comments

edit... nm
edit... nm
… Noah Elhardt, 23 April, 2007 - 3:32pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2008 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact