How to deal with mushroom flies appearing in plants
Today, the editor will explain how to deal with mushroom flies in plants and share experience in green plant maintenance with three effective methods for controlling these insects. Let's take a look together.
It is now March, and the "Jingzhe" solar term has just passed. The weather is getting warmer, and all kinds of pests are beginning to stir. Recently, many flower enthusiasts have left messages saying that many "little black flies" have appeared in their flowerpots, flying around and causing a lot of trouble. Some of these little black flies will even fly to water or food when they爆发 in indoor potted flowers.
"Little black flies" is a nickname given to this pest by flower enthusiasts. Its scientific name is Bradysia. They like to lay eggs in moist soil and become particularly active when the temperature is above 15 degrees Celsius. After discovering little black flies, flower enthusiasts must act promptly to treat them. If left unchecked, they will breed more and become difficult to eradicate later. Below are three prevention and control methods, let's take a look~
1. Spread a layer of sand on the surface of the potting soil
When growing flowers, we usually use fertile soil rich in organic matter, which the little black flies love. They feed on decaying fertilizers and organic matter like leaves in the soil, and they also need to lay eggs in moist soil. Since the potting soil is rich in organic matter and kept moist by regular watering, it becomes a "breeding ground" for little black flies.
The simplest and most direct method to deal with little black flies is to spread a layer of sand on the surface of the potting soil. Sand does not contain organic matter, so without a food source and being unable to fly into the soil to lay eggs due to the sand barrier, the flies are isolated from the soil. After a while, with no food and no offspring, the little black flies will gradually disappear.
(If there is no sand at home, you can also use small particle soil like perlite or vermiculite instead of sand)
2. Hang sticky insect boards
How to deal with mushroom flies in plants
Little black flies, in addition to liking fertile soil, are also easily attracted to yellow. If there are yellow objects nearby, they will gather on them in groups. Taking advantage of this, you can buy yellow sticky insect boards from the flower market or online stores and hang them around the plants. When the little black flies see the yellow sticky board, they will fly to it in droves and get stuck, achieving a wide-area insect-killing effect.
However, sticky boards can only trap the adult flies when there are many of them, and they cannot kill the eggs in the soil. They can control the infestation but not completely eradicate the little black flies. If you want to completely eliminate them, in addition to the sand spreading method mentioned above, you can also use the喷药 method introduced below.
3. Spray insecticide
Spraying insecticides can also solve the problem of little black flies. Most insecticides are effective against them, and "imidacloprid" is recommended here. This insecticide is easy to purchase and available in many flower shops and online stores. (Brand doesn't matter, as long as it is produced by a正规 manufacturer)
Dilute imidacloprid in water at a ratio of 1:1000 to make a pesticide solution. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it on the branches and leaves of the plants in the early morning or evening. Remember to also spray some on the soil surface to reach the eggs in the soil. Spray once every 3 days, and after about 2 to 3 times, you can achieve a good insect-killing effect.
The above is all about how to deal with mushroom flies in plants and the three effective methods for controlling insects, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!