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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Fungus gnats
#23979905 - 01/03/17 08:21 PM (7 years, 27 days ago) |
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So had some fly paper by my mini greenhouse. It has caught some fungus gnats. Turns out my roommate has brought home some plants that were infected. I've put a honey water trap by his plants. It has been collecting some. Now some gnats have gotten into my greenhouse.
I've put some honey water traps in there. I am thinking of putting olive oil on the inside of my greenhouse or coconut oil(undefined. Would be a soild at room temp busy sticky)
Any input would be nice
I'd order some nematodes and be breeding an army but average temperatures has been 15F and too low for nematodes http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/rearing_nematodes_do_it_yourself_guide
Edited by vatman (01/03/17 08:35 PM)
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23980041 - 01/03/17 09:15 PM (7 years, 27 days ago) |
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I've tried a lot of things against fungus gnats. Sticky paper, soap and Apple cider vinegar in bowls works pretty well. But unfortunately the best defense against them is early prevention. Sometimes, especially with oysters I mix in a good amount of B.T. var. israelensis in with the sub after pasteurization sometimes sold under the name thuricide. It keeps their eggs from ever being hatched and really helps reduce the populations early.
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Quadman
Challenged


Registered: 04/23/16
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Loc: IL
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Haven't tried on fungus gnats. Fruit flies we used apple cider vinegar in a small bowl then stretch saran wrap tightly over the whole bowl then punch like 4 holes in the surface with a toothpick. They can find their way in but not out. Would catch 20 or 30 in a day.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: Quadman]
#23980916 - 01/04/17 09:45 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis
is nontoxic to humans?
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Quadman
Challenged


Registered: 04/23/16
Posts: 2,529
Loc: IL
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23980921 - 01/04/17 09:46 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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It is a bacteria that the larva ingest and kills. Organic and perfectly safe for humans.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: Quadman]
#23980942 - 01/04/17 09:58 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Ahh neat, I thought the misquote dunks were toxic.
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23980979 - 01/04/17 10:12 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
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Loc: TN
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best prevention is cold temps. we have a lot of garbage mushrooms perpetually rotting on the floor with substrate, only clean it once or twice a week. so there are some flies, but as long as you keep temps below 60-65 , they don't seem to get out of hand. I reckon it slows down their reproductive cycle. That and not keeping substrate in there for more than a month.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Edited by vatman (01/04/17 10:28 AM)
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RolledUhhp
Amateur Cultivator

Registered: 08/10/16
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: Quadman]
#23981083 - 01/04/17 10:59 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
Quadman said: It is a bacteria that the larva ingest and kills. Organic and perfectly safe for humans.
Any info on pet safety? I'll look into it more myself when I'm off work.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Something you might need to keep an Wye on for mold. It is corn bits coated with the bacteria. I might look into breeding my own like the nematodes.
Amazon reviews say it is pet safe
Edited by vatman (01/04/17 11:09 AM)
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981102 - 01/04/17 11:09 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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"Bt-i is a highly specific biological pesticide for use against mosquito, black fly and fungus gnat larvae. It may be applied safely to irrigation and roadside ditches, pastures, marshes and ponds, water gardens, flower pots, bird baths, rain gutters…any place there is standing water! Once ingested, Bt-i kills 95-100% of mosquito larvae within 24 hours. Highly effective because it kills these pests before they become biting adults. Will not harm people, pets, wildlife or fish. Mosquito Dunks are a commercial form of Bt-i." -- Source
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Consider it symbiotic and beneficial
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981150 - 01/04/17 11:35 AM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
vatman said: Something you might need to keep an Wye on for mold. It is corn bits coated with the bacteria. I might look into breeding my own like the nematodes.
Amazon reviews say it is pet safe
It is not corn bits covered in bacteria. It is concentrated spore crystals in a liquid solution that become active when combined with water. There are a few different forms you can buy, but you want the liquid solution. You can even propagate bti, since you seem interested in doing that with the nematodes. It will not contaminate your sub if you are pastuerizing. I used to use my cement mixer to mix my spawn into my pasteurized sub and I would just spray it straight on the sub while it was mixing. I had great results. Fungus gnats/fruit flies are a huge problem here in the South.
Now if only there were an easy solution for fungus beetles
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
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I agree, I did some light testing with symbiotic bacteria on King oyster. The conclusion I came to was to produce a defensive casing.
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RolledUhhp
Amateur Cultivator

Registered: 08/10/16
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Quote:
MycoFlora said:
Quote:
vatman said: Something you might need to keep an Wye on for mold. It is corn bits coated with the bacteria. I might look into breeding my own like the nematodes.
Amazon reviews say it is pet safe
It is not corn bits covered in bacteria. It is concentrated spore crystals in a liquid solution that become active when combined with water. There are a few different forms you can buy, but you want the liquid solution. You can even propagate bti, since you seem interested in doing that with the nematodes. It will not contaminate your sub if you are pastuerizing. I used to use my cement mixer to mix my spawn into my pasteurized sub and I would just spray it straight on the sub while it was mixing. I had great results. Fungus gnats/fruit flies are a huge problem here in the South.
Now if only there were an easy solution for fungus beetles
I just did a quick Google on fungus gnats. The short of it is they are mycological kryptonite.
The only solutions that come to mind right away are really inconvenient and probably equally as inefficient.
Anyone have any proven defenses?
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Bti, completely screened and sealed grow room, fly paper, picking early before they sporulate. All of these things combined are very effective, but you will never keep 100% of the pests out.
I've considered implementing the whole leopard frog defense. Each frog will supposedly eat 100+ flies a day. But since you don't wash mushrooms before they get in your customers hands it would be hard to guarantee their level of cleanliness.
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pblcenmy1
str8 noob



Registered: 11/24/09
Posts: 221
Loc: Colo. Rockies
Last seen: 7 years, 23 days
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Tobacco spray water or sprinkle a layer on any substrate.
-------------------- ~LoveLife~ Down 2 Earth, Up N Space!
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: drake89]
#23981352 - 01/04/17 12:44 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Well take Drakes advice, because both gnats and beetles are attracted to the same environment.
Quote:
drake89 said: best prevention is cold temps. we have a lot of garbage mushrooms perpetually rotting on the floor with substrate, only clean it once or twice a week. so there are some flies, but as long as you keep temps below 60-65 , they don't seem to get out of hand. I reckon it slows down their reproductive cycle. That and not keeping substrate in there for more than a month.
I would google their favored conditions, adjust and take the hit in speed.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981356 - 01/04/17 12:46 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Bti is only allowed in a few States in the US.
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Mosquito-Dunks-6-Count-Tablets-Insecticide-Pesticide/3047384
This is not bti but still can be used as a control from what I can tell.
I'm going to put two in my 5 Gallon bucket today that has my ultrasonic mister. Rest I'm going to put in a spray (1/3 at a time) bottle and hit my blocks daily with it.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981363 - 01/04/17 12:49 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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yes, those are bti. Read the description.
Solid advice from drake, as usual.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Yeah my house temp is 59-67. Only have the heat kick on at 55. Still having gnats. Not a massive infection but I want to kick it in the balls before it gets to that point
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RolledUhhp
Amateur Cultivator

Registered: 08/10/16
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981769 - 01/04/17 03:49 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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The gnats will win that game, my friend.
From the wiki:
"Some fungus gnats are exceptionally hardy, being able to tolerate cold conditions through their possession of antifreeze proteins. Typically, overwintering organisms can either avoid freezing or tolerate freezing, but Excechia nugatoria can do both. For E. nugatoria, the production of noncolligative antifreeze proteins (NAPs) protect the head and thorax from freezing, but they do not protect the abdomen. Freezing of the head and thorax in other insects tends to have adverse effects on neural tissue, so it is not surprising that these protective mechanisms have been observed in certain species, but E. nugatoria is the only insect known to semi-freeze through the winter, which may be an evolutionary advantage. According to Sformo, by allowing the abdomen to freeze, evaporative water loss is reduced over the course of the winter."
I'll see if I can look into these a bit more tonight, but I'm sure they've been tried - Anyone have any experience with Hypoaspis miles mites?
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pblcenmy1
str8 noob



Registered: 11/24/09
Posts: 221
Loc: Colo. Rockies
Last seen: 7 years, 23 days
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The mites lay a ton of eggs and its debated if they become cannibalistic after other food sources depleat. I dont beleive they just die off either. Just try to control moisture content better. Anything that contains vermiculite coco or clay should never remain moist
-------------------- ~LoveLife~ Down 2 Earth, Up N Space!
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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I like the nematodes as they can be applied with water. The mites don't want you to water before applying.
Gr0wer has had success with nematodes himself. They are also rather easy to keep the population going.
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pblcenmy1
str8 noob



Registered: 11/24/09
Posts: 221
Loc: Colo. Rockies
Last seen: 7 years, 23 days
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981840 - 01/04/17 04:18 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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Theres that water word again. Fungus gnats are a product of excess moisture. Bacteria love that shit too. Dry things out once in a while. Quit adding more water
-------------------- ~LoveLife~ Down 2 Earth, Up N Space!
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Lol I don't mist my stuff and they still go after my substrate. The substrate has enough water content for them to breed.
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pblcenmy1
str8 noob



Registered: 11/24/09
Posts: 221
Loc: Colo. Rockies
Last seen: 7 years, 23 days
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23981956 - 01/04/17 04:58 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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We will never avoid this problem... Only remedy their numbers. Good Luck getting those high fivin' shits!
-------------------- ~LoveLife~ Down 2 Earth, Up N Space!
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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They will even go after monotubs that are not misted. Mushroom myc is the perfect env for them.
Nematodes are nice as they can be added to a water supply for a misting system if you have one. They can withstand high PSI
Edited by vatman (01/04/17 05:01 PM)
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RolledUhhp
Amateur Cultivator

Registered: 08/10/16
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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23982264 - 01/04/17 06:58 PM (7 years, 26 days ago) |
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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shiitz how did you find a picture of me?
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poponon
Quaaaack!!!



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Re: Fungus gnats [Re: vatman]
#23985898 - 01/06/17 07:35 AM (7 years, 24 days ago) |
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noticed that biological controls have not been mentioned in this thread. I've heard that it may be worth trying out both frogs and carnivorous plants in the fruiting room to fight off bugs. The plants will benefit from the high CO2 environment as well. not sure about the moisture though. I'd like to try this after i get my production rolled out
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