Fungus Gnats Vs Fruit Flies
Fungus gnats and fruit flies might be confused with each other due to their small size and ability to fly. However, their similarities end here.
Fungus gnats differ from fruit flies due to their color, speed, size, and area where they reproduce. More precisely, fungus gnats are often dark, while fruit flies are yellowish. Fruit flies have a more spherical body compared, and they are slower than Fungus gnat. Moreover, fungus gnats have way larger wings. Finally, you find fruit flies close to decaying fruits . At the same time, fungus gnats are more common around houseplants and animals.
Getting Rid Of Fungus Gnats Is Easy
The hardest part about getting an infestation of fungus gnats is learning to deal with them. Getting rid of them and preventing them is pretty simple, so the whole thing becomes quite the relief.
You just have to go through the process, which is a piece of cake. And then you’ll have supplies on hand for next time.
How To Identify Fungus Gnats
You want to make sure you’re dealing with fungus gnats and not fruit flies. First let’s talk about their activity levels. This will help you make sure you’re dealing with the right pest and employing the right methods to exterminate them in the present and prevent them in the future.
Activity Levels & Location
You’ll typically find fruit flies in the kitchen, in your banana bags, coming out of your trashcans, and often in the garbage disposal and sink pipes .
Fungus gnats will fly around the home but usually stay in the room where your plants are and very close to those plants, which they turn into their own homes.
They’ll lay eggs in your houseplant soil, and that’s why they tend to stay close, though they’ll get distracted by light like any insect will.
So you might see them around the windows, your TV or computer monitor, and around lightbulbs, too. But most often they stick to the plants and soil.
They’ll walk around a lot and only occasionally fly around because they can’t do it for long periods of time. When they do fly, they dart around a lot more than fruit flies do, and will explore the area in front of your face and around your sugary and sweet drinks.
Size & Appearance
The adult fungus gnat is what you’ll notice. You’ll find that they’re small, as tiny as a fruit fly at about 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch in length. If you can see their larvae, you’ll find they’re around 1/8th of an inch long.
You May Like: What To Do For Foot Fungus
About Fungal Nail Infection
Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life. It’s not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted.
Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails.
The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis.
Nail Anatomy And Onychomycosis Infection
Figure 1 shows the composition of the nail, including the nail plate , nail bed and nail matrix.
Figure 1: Nail anatomy and physiology
The nail plate and nail bed are joined by layers of hard, translucent, keratinised cells. The nail bed and nail matrix are vascular components of the nail, with nail cells located within the nail matrix where the nail plate is formed. The thickness of the nail plate determines the length of the matrix
- Apply cosmetic nail varnishes or artificial nails
- Walk without footwear in public areas
- Cut nails too short.
Also Check: Can Tinactin Cure Toenail Fungus
Fungus Ate Nail Comolw
How Can I Get Rid Of Fungus On My Skin Best Nail Fungus Doctor Nyc Nail Fungus Stripe, Laser Nail Fungus Removal Near Me Fungus Under The Fingernail And Green Fingernail Fungus Vicks Vapor Rub.
Toenailfunguscurei.com
Best Shoes For Nail Fungus Does Lotrimin Af Work On Toenail Fungus. Skin Fungus Meaning In Hindi Nail Fungus Cure Natural Way Epsom Salt And Bleach Toenail Fungus Soak. Laser Toenail Fungus Removal Overland Park Ks Hydrogen Peroxide Uses Toenail Fungus.
What Are The Different Types Of Toenail Fungus Ways To Hide Toenail Fungus For Men
How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Fungus Kill Foot How Do You Get Rid Of Nail Fungus Naturally. Clove Oil And Nail Fungus Toe Fungus Treatment. Are Ringworm And Toenail Fungus The Same Terbinafine Li For Toenail Fungus. Treat Foot Fungus Funny Nail Bed Fungus Hands.
White Vinegar On Toenail Fungus Clippers To Trim Toenail Fungus Nails. Toe Nail Fungus On Pinky Toe Chineese Hommade Cream For Toe Fungus Nail Fungus Washington Dc. Oleozon For Toenail Fungus Do Laser Treatments For Toenail Fungus Work.
Read Also: How To Treat Really Bad Toenail Fungus
Prevent Tree Fungus From Growing
The first and best method of getting rid of tree fungus is preventing it from growing in the first place. To protect your trees and shrugs, you need to understand when they are susceptible to tree fungus. Tree fungus can start to grow and spread because of things you do or don’t do. Here are some tips:
Baking Soda And Water
Another method to help get rid of tree fungus is using a baking soda and water mixture. Baking soda is a great gentle solution that prevent fungus from growing because it acts as an antifungal agent. Keep in mind that this solution will not completely get rid of tree fungus. It will simply act as a preventative to stop fungus from growing. Youll need to use another method to get rid of the existing fungus. Heres how you can create your own baking soda and water spray:
Now that you have your baking soda mixture, water your trees and shrubs and then wait 2-3 days before applying your baking soda mixture. Its important to not apply the solution when the fungus is fully exposed to the sun. Spray down the infected area as well as around the tree for best results.
Don’t Miss: What Spice Helps Toenail Fungus
Tips To Prevent Fungal Nail Infections
Making a few simple lifestyle changes can help prevent a fungal infection of the nails. Taking good care of your nails by keeping them well trimmed and clean is a good way to prevent infections.
Also avoid injuring the skin around your nails. If youre going to have damp or wet hands for an extended amount of time, you may want to wear rubber gloves.
Other ways to prevent fungal infections of the nails include:
- washing your hands after touching infected nails
- drying your feet well after showering, especially between your toes
- getting manicures or pedicures from trustworthy salons
- avoiding being barefoot in public places
- reducing your use of artificial nails and nail polish
Products to help you avoid nail fungus
If youre prone to excessive moisture around your fingernails or toenails, consider buying:
Give Them More Sunlight:
Nothing scares mold and mold-producing conditions better than good old fashioned Vitamin D. Put your plant closer to a window during peak sunlight hours and let their soil conditions dry out and warm up a bit.
Note: This may not be a good idea for some plants. Certain species require indirect or even very little sunlight and may start to wither, dry out or die if given too much sunlight.
You May Like: Will Apple Cider Vinegar Kill Nail Fungus
A Pharmacist Can Help With Fungal Nail Infections
Speak to a pharmacist if the look of your nail bothers you or it’s painful.
They may suggest:
- antifungal nail cream it can take up to 12 months to cure the infection and does not always work
- nail-softening cream it’s used for 2 weeks to soften the nail so the infected part can be scraped off
The infection is cured when you see healthy nail growing back at the base.
This Is A Internal Wall In A Prefabricated Built Bungalow No Water Pipes On This Wall It Is A Plasterboard Wall Could It Be Rising Damp
Rising damp will only occur if this wall sits on a concrete slab. If there is a crawl space below this floor, youre not dealing with capillary action. Youll need a moisture meter to verify the moisture source. These can often be rented at local construction rental shops. If its dry, the mold is likely due to damp materials during the original construction of the wall. Because its an interior wall, condensation is unlikely unless the interior RH is extremely high. If its wet , you might have a roof leak. Though rare, Ive certainly observed roof leaks traveling down walls without leaving obvious damage on the ceiling.
You May Like: Will Epsom Salt Cure Toenail Fungus
Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also be washed in hot water to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear.
Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus.
Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
One of the most dreaded and, lets face it, a disgusting ailment is toenail fungus . As most who read my blogs know, I usually write about topics that I have experienced personally and/or observed in patients. Well, for this one, it is both. For years, one of my toes would become afflicted, Id treat it, and then a year or two later, it would return.
The truth is that fungus is among us! You may view yourself as one with good hygiene, but even you are loaded with fungus on your skin. Fungus does not need much to overgrow and is exceedingly difficult to get rid of when it does. The three changes in our local skin environment that cause it to grow are 1. A decrease in good bacteria , since bacteria can suppress its growth 2. Excessive water/moisture 3. Sugar.
But to get fungus on your nail, a few things must happen. Diabetics, because of elevated sugar, are at higher risk. However, many, like myself, who dont have diabetes, are still prime targets. Thats because of what I call the blotter effect. To understand this effect, imagine the following scenario. You are sitting behind a wooden desk with a glass blotter on top to protect the surface. You place a cup of water on the blotter and turn to work on your computer. As you turn, your elbow knocks over youre cup, and the water spills over the edge of the desk. You then see some water track itself under the blotter.
The following natural approaches will work whether you have taken a medication or not .
Recommended Reading: How To Rid Toenail Fungus
Softening And Scraping Away The Nail
As it can take a long time for antifungal medication to work, some people may prefer to use a treatment that involves softening and removing infected parts of nail over a few weeks.
Treatment kits are available from pharmacies that contain a 40% urea paste, plasters and a scraping device. The paste softens the infected parts of the nail, allowing them to be scraped away so they can be gradually replaced with healthy nail.
To use the treatment:
Prune Trees At The Right Time
Many people prune their trees and shrubs to keep them healthy and strong. Pruning trees at the right time will actually make the tree healthier and more beautiful.
However, pruning them at the wrong time increases the risk of tree fungus. Very generally speaking, the best time to prune your trees is during the winter months while theyre dormant. If you prune trees during the warmer months, the wounds on the trees will not heal as fast as they should. This makes them vulnerable to catch diseases.
The kicker is that the right time prune a tree often varies based on the species, so it is important to do a little research. For example, pruning an oak tree in the early spring will increase the chances of fungus entering, while other species are best pruned during this time. Again, generally speaking, winter dormancy is usually a good time to prune.
Recommended Reading: How To Kill Toe Fungus With Apple Cider Vinegar
How To Prevent Fungus Gnats
Of course, once you get rid of your fungus gnat problem, you’ll want to do what you can to prevent it the next time. Thankfully these are very passive methods that take nearly zero effort the first time and then you don’t have to do anything else.
Inspect Plants Before Purchase – If you see any fungus gnats fly up when handling the potted plant, reject it and those around it. You can turn up an inch or two of soil and see if you can find any larvae.
Let Your Soil Dry Out – The first thing you can do is make sure you allow more time to pass between waterings of your plants.
Fungus gnats like to lay their eggs in moist soil, so if the top is too dry for their taste, they’ll move on to another location . Just pinch the top inch of your soil occasionally to check dryness.
Add a Layer of Sand – Another way to keep your soil dry is to place about a 1/2 of an inch of coarse sand across the top of your soil. It’s not the prettiest solution but it drains quickly so adult gnats won’t be tempted to lay eggs.
It also helps stop growing larvae from every being able to emerge out of the soil and through the sand. The annoyance with this is you’ll need to start watering from the bottom of your container so you don’t wash the sand away.
Cover the Drainage Holes – If you’re taking care of the top portions of the soil as mentioned above, fungus gnats will still seek out the moist drainage holes, so you need to cover them too.
Care During The Monsoon
Dont leave any wet items lying around: Whether it is damp clothes, towels, mops, shoes or bags, mould loves moisture. Make sure to dry out clothes well before putting them into the washing machine or laundry basket. Avoid storing wet shoes in closed cupboards. It is best to air out damp items under the fan before storing them away.
Clothing, especially less-used items, are prone to fungus attacks in the rainy season. Clothes that you carefully iron, fold and store away become magnets for fungus. In the rainy season, never store clothes when they are damp. Protect your wardrobe with dehumidifiers such as silica gels, activated charcoal and other moisture absorbers that can keep humidity from building up.
Avoid washing too many clothes at once if you have to dry your laundry indoors. Space out the washed items and dry them in a well-ventilated space. Avoid washing curtains, bed linen, blankets and thick towels in the monsoon, opting instead to have them dry cleaned. Soak clothes in a mild disinfectant before putting them in the washing machine.
The key is to prevent as much moisture as possible from building up. Cover dishes while cooking to prevent steam from escaping, dont overwater or mist indoor plants, and avoid letting water stand in buckets or accumulate in the dishes in your sink.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus In 10 Minutes
Castile Soap Essential Oil Solution
If you see large numbers of fungus gnats, then one organic insecticide to try is a castile soap solution. For those of you who do not know, this is not a generic soap. Castile soap was made in the Mediterranean area before its use spread to Europe. Traditionally, castile soap was made of olive oil. It gets its name from the Castile region of Spain.
Castile soap is produced based only on vegetables with no animal fat or synthetic ingredients. This is a 100% organic soap that will not damage the environment when it ends up in the drain. It is not toxic, and it is usually sold both in liquid and solid form. These days, the soap is also made with coconut, castor, or hemp oils. Sometimes its made with avocado, walnut, and almond oils as well.
Castile soap is not meant to be used as an insecticide but mainly as a body cleaning product due to its lathering, moisturizing, and cleansing properties. However, there are more than 20 uses of this soap, from deodorant, dish soap, shampoo, body wash, and plant spray for bugs.
In case you want to use this soap as a fungus gnats killer, here what to do: