Latin: Mycethophilidae
The fungal mosquito also known as fungus midges or fungus gnats. Is a small mosquito that cannot sting and is not particularly dangerous to humans? They are found in different places and fly slowly around outdoors and indoors.
Appearance
The fungal mosquito, Mycethophilidae in Latin, is a small species of mosquito, which resembles the common mosquito in its appearance. It is however smaller and does not sting. The fungal mosquito is very slender and has a relatively dark body. The fungal mosquito appears in many subfamilies and alle types resemble each other a lot. The common feature is that they are small and do not sting. The fungal mosquito is 3-5 mm and therefore relatively small.
Biology and behavior
The fungal mosquito, as the name suggests, is often found in and around fungi. You can find them in the mushrooms you buy as well as those in nature. They are often seen as small worm-like insects that make cavities and passages inside the fungi. They are worm-like, as it is often the fungal mosquito larvae that are seen digging around inside the fungi. This can especially be an annoyance for mushroom enthusiasts how gather mushrooms in the nature.
The fungal mosquito can also be found in other places. They can be found both inside and outside. The fungal mosquito is naturally found in humid and dark places. In Denmark, they are found almost all year round in the wild, but not if the temperatures get below the freezing point during winter. It can also be found in bird nests and similar places.
Indoors it will often be found in moist potted plants, mainly as it likes to live in rotten plants, also compost and rotten wood. When it lives in the soil and the compost, it is often the fungal mosquito larva, whereas the adult fungal mosquitoes simply fly quietly around the moist soil. The fungal mosquito typically appears in and around potted plants if the soil has a lot of sphagnum. Sphagnum is moss, which prefers very moist and nutrient-poor conditions. The fungal mosquito prefers moist area, and they can be found in overwatered potted plants.
Damage
The fungal mosquito is not in itself dangerous or harmful to our health. But they can be a nuisance to find in mushrooms or potted plants. The fungal mosquito can especially be a nuisance in potted plants, mainly because of their large numbers in one place. Even though they are tiny, they do become annoying just by their numbers, which is why many people want to fight them or prevent them from getting into their plants.
The fungal mosquitoes can be a big nuisance in greenhouses, as they can eat the roots of various plants. Thereby damage the plants so severely that the plants die. In greenhouses, they often appear in exceptionally large numbers. They are even harder to get rid of in greenhouses. Often there are also several plants in the green house, which attract the fungal mosquitoes.
Prevention and pest control
One way to prevent the occurrence of fungal mosquitoes is not overwatering the plants. If they are already present in a potted plant, do not water the plant, allow the soil to dry or simply only water it from below. By doing so, the surface of the soil dries out, and the fungal mosquitoes disappear as they want to live in and around the moist soil. You can also change the soil completely so that the base of the fungal mosquitoes disappears. If it does not work drying the soil or replacing it, you can use an insecticide for the fungal mosquitoes. Insecticide intended for flying insects must be used. The insecticide is also available as a powder and be distributed over the moist soil surface.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)