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Why Are There Gnats in My Bedroom? 4 Likely Reasons
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
It’s funny how insects as tiny as gnats can constitute such a huge nuisance in homes. The moment your banana begins to get overripe, you forget to take out the trash in your kitchen, or there is any sign of decay, be sure to expect the gnats to come flocking around in their thousands.
If you are wondering why your home seems to be infested with these unrepentant pests, then we have some answers for you.
Understanding Gnats
So, what exactly are gnats? Gnat is a common name used to describe tiny flying insects of the family Diptera and the suborder Nematocera. They are mostly black or dark brown, and they have six legs. They are usually long, slender, and oval, and you will likely find them outside unless you invite them indoors. They thrive in warm, humid areas and have a lifespan of about 3 to 5 days.
Gnats can be fungus gnats, drain flies, or fruit flies. There are different species of gnats, some biting and others non-biting. Biting gnats will feed on blood, while non-biting gnats feed on plants.
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Why Should You Get Rid of Gnats?
Most species of gnats do not have mouths designed for biting. Therefore, most gnats do not bite. However, with the ability to spread germs from dirty surfaces to neat ones, they are quite harmful. Gnats have fast reproductive abilities. Research shows that an adult female gnat can lay up to 300 eggs in up to 30 batches.
If not gotten rid of early, gnats can easily take over your home, distracting and embarrassing you and constituting a big nuisance. Within a few days of having gnats in your home, you will be in dire need of thorough pest fumigation on your property. To avoid all these, it is best to keep gnats away from your home.
What Attracts Gnats? 4 Likely Reasons There Are Gnats in Your Bedroom
So, gnats will only commune where they are invited. If gnats are gathering in your bedroom, then you most likely have invited them there, albeit unknowingly. Here are some likely reasons why you have gnats in your bedroom.
1. Fruits
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Gnats are very attracted to decaying substances. The fastest way to see a gnat is to leave fruit out on the kitchen counter or a table in your bedroom until it starts to rot. In a few minutes, there will be hundreds of gnats hovering around that fruit. In another day or two, that number will triple.
2. Decay
If you have the trash can around and it is full, gnats will find their way to the can and can easily slip into your home and bedroom through open doors and windows. Remember that they are very small, so they do not necessarily need a wide door before they can gain access.
3. Moisture
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Gnats also love moist areas, so if you have a pool of stagnant water around your home, then be sure that gnats live there and will certainly find their way to your bedroom in a short while.
4. Larvae in Fruits
Gnats can also enter your home in fruits. Some gnat eggs are laid in unripe fruits, so when the fruit begins to ripen, the larvae grow into an adult and eventually pop out of their hiding place and multiply.
Signs of a Gnat Infestation
In case you are not certain about the presence of the pests in your home, here is how to know that your home is under an attack by gnats;
Finding a group of gnats relaxing in drains and damp areas of your home: If you always see a group of tiny insects flying around a water puddle or damp areas of your home, then that is probably just a quarter of the entire cloud. Your home is likely under attack.
Houseplants start to wilt and wither: Gnats love to feed and relax on plants, so if you see your houseplants begin to fade and look pale, then it is very likely that your home is under a gnat attack.
Gnats flying around your fruits and trash area: Even after you empty the trash and you notice some small insects flying around the garbage can area, then they are probably wondering what happened to their little home, and the entire cloud is likely in other parts of your home.
How to Get Rid of the Gnats in Your Home
There are certain measures you can take to get rid of these insects.
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Repel Them
This is the easiest way to get rid of gnats in your home. If you did something to attract them, simply undo it, and they will leave when they see that they are no longer welcome in your space. Here are some tips to repel gnats:
Ensure that you do not allow fruits to get rotten. Eat them or get rid of them before they have a chance to rot.
Fix leaky roofs and ensure that no puddles are forming around your home.
Ensure that the drain is cleaned out regularly.
Empty your bin regularly, and make sure that it has a tight lid.
Stop Overwatering Your Soil
Gnats and other pests love damp soil and will always be attracted to them. Ensure that you are not overwatering your plants, as this will cause the soil to be moist always. If you have a houseplant, overwatering it can both hurt the plant and introduce gnats to your home.
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Build a Trap
One common method that is used to eliminate gnats is by trapping them. There are several traps that you can try.
Apple cider and soap trap: Mix an equal amount of apple cider vinegar, and dishwashing liquid in a container and place it in a strategic place where they are likely to gather. The apple cider will attract them into the bowl, and the dishwashing liquid will drown them.
Mashed rotten fruit trap: Mash some rotten fruits in a bowl and cover the bowl with perforated plastic wrap. The gnats will quickly and easily find their way into the bowl, but they will be trapped by the plastic wrap and unable to leave.
Diluted bleach: If there are gnats around your drain, then dilute a cup of bleach and pour it down the drain, and they will be gone for good.
Red wine and soap trap: If you do not have apple cider, replace it with red wine. Pour a glass of red wine and add the dishwashing liquid to it. When the gnats come to the feast, it will be their last feast.
Bottom Line
The best method to avoid gnats is prevention, but the methods above will help get rid of the infestation easily. Still, the best action to take is to keep your surroundings clean and intentionally make your home unfriendly to pests.
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
