Fungus gnats develop in moist, often-shaded areas in decaying organic matter such as leaf litter. However, adult flies may disperse short distances and … What's nice is the adult fungus gnat only lives around one week, but in that time they can lay up to 300 eggs each. Adults emerge about one week later. Gnats enjoy the damp places in the glasshouse. The fungus gnat life cycle is quick, and they can quickly take over your entire interior plants if they are left untreated. To successfully get rid of fungus gnats for good, you need to know something about their lifecycle. In about 4-6 days these eggs hatch into larvae and begin snacking on the roots of your plants in the moisture rich soil. With a life span of about four weeks from egg to adult, each female can lay 200 to 300 eggs and cause havoc all year. The breeding and reproduction patterns are reasons to eliminate gnats as soon as possible. The adults themselves generally do little harm; it is the larvae that do the damage. Adult fungus gnats are small (1/8 inch long), black-gray flies with long legs, many segmented antennae and a single pair of grayish transparent wings with a Y-shaped vein near the wing tip. Although the adults are harmless, their larvae may begin to attack the roots when a large infestation is present. Figure 2: Fungus gnat life cycle. They complete their life cycle in about four weeks depending on temperature and other environmental conditions. Life Cycle of Fungus Gnats. They are only seen as adults, since the other three stages of their life cycle are too small to … Life Cycle. Fungus gnat adults are weak fliers, typically flying in short, erratic patterns. Adults are weak fliers and often found near light sources or along the soil surface. Fungus gnats are not the same as fruit flies, but copy them very closely. The female can lay up to thirty eggs a day - two hundred in total. The fungus gnat is about the same size as a fruit fly, and generally found attacking plants indoors. Fungus gnats quickly go through four stages of development. Gnats have a short life cycle but reproduce prolifically. Reproduction and Life Cycle of Fungus Gnats. Fungus Gnat Biology and Life Cycle. Fungus Gnat Life Cycle. Larvae are considered the most dangerous life stage to gardeners, because they cause root damage and are linked to the spread of fungal problems. Fungus Gnats are small black flies that roam around the house predominantly in autumn and winter. The gnats have a quick lifecycle and multiply prolifically. The Diptera are insects that metamorphose, or alter shape, completely. Life Cycle - Up to thirty days. Fungus gnats are attracted to the moistness of potting soil, with the adults laying as many as 200 eggs near the surface in organic matter. > Life cycle and general description of fungus gnats. In homes, they usually are seen in the near vicinity of an infested houseplant. You may also see fungus gnats on cannabis. 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