Anyone used Fungus Gnat Predators (Hypoaspis sp.)

[Laughingbuddah]

Has anyone used Fungus Gnat Predators (Hypoaspis sp.).I have tried nemetodes before with great success at fighting gnats ect. but never tried these mites...what I am woried about is will they go up into the plants like spider mites?? and web living off the plant?? or just live in the medium and eat unwanted guests??? anyone with experience with these I would love to hear.

[slater]

i dont find fungus gnats much trouble myself more annoying than anything but can eat young roots if left uncontroled. i think sticky traps are most cost effective. a bit pricey as well...now if i had thrips maybe worth treating

[Laughingbuddah]

I have been fighting a battle with springtails.I think came in a bad batch of humtea to start.Every grow is cleaned very well everything sanatized walls washed with pinsol cement floor is sealed as is cracks around the edge with sylicone.I started the next grows with new equiptment and have had success killing them with gnatrol witch is just BT and with nemetodes but always looking for a more effective way.I realy don't like using BT as it is a bacteria ...even though not harmful to humans ,animals ect...I preffer nemetodes now and think it wise for any grower to keep a sponge of them in the fridge just in case.But the thing with these springtails they are supposed to be benificial just tend to be a pain because they tend to reproduce quickly.I have read on natures control that these mites are the best thing to kill gnats and springtails.However I do agree with you about them not being a big threat to the outcome I do like to keep in control of everything possible ...
thanks Slater

[BUSH HATER!]

Has anyone used Fungus Gnat Predators (Hypoaspis sp.).I have tried nemetodes before with great success at fighting gnats ect. but never tried these mites...what I am woried about is will they go up into the plants like spider mites?? and web living off the plant?? or just live in the medium and eat unwanted guests??? anyone with experience with these I would love to hear.

Here's what I did to get rid of them recently. In Canada you can buy BTi bacteria in Home Hardware under the name of "Aqua Bac". It is in the same area as bug spray, rodent traps, etc. and is used to kill mosquito larvae. It is non chemical and will not harm you, your kids, pets, or plants. You mix a couple table spoons/gallon of water and let the mixture stand for a day or so until the bacteria builds up. Now, the soilless stuff I am using can take being soaked, and will dry out fast enough to to not rot the roots, so I leached the plants first, then soaked them for 20 minutes, then drained. From there I put yellow sticky strips above the soil, and sprayed the soil line and lower stalk with neem oil (20ml/litre + a bit of liquid soap). Haven't seen any bugs since. A couple adults got stuck to the strips a day or so after the treatment with the BTi, but nothing after that, and the only larvae I found in my run-off were dead.

Hope this helps.

d

[Med User420]

I had a massive gnat infestation to the point where dead gnats stuck to the buds! The only that helped is gnatoral. I also found that white duct tape works just as good as the sticky traps, very cost effective. Hope this helps

[chief tatanka]

save your money dont buy chemicals, instead use this symple cheap alternative..take raw garlic peel 1 clove and place in soil with just the tip exposed,,your gnat troubles will be gone.ask any one here about this treatment.......................

[Laughingbuddah]

Thanks twista and med420,
gnatrol works very well and is the best form of BT you can get in the states.I am always trying new things and was going to try something different.I have tried nemetodes in the past with awsome results too ...notice no flies within a week...these predators I am asking about are soil dweling mites that eat any soil/root damaging pests.
Hey chief ,
I am in hydro would you still suggest the garlic treatment?? and will it scare off other pests that live in the medium??

[chief tatanka]

try placing the garlic on each plant. not in solution

[leroy]

All I know is if you don't want fungus gnats put garlic in there someplace. Gnats just plain don't like it.

[Laughingbuddah]

sweet thanks chief I will try that....
thanks leroy I am going to try it out I bet it works for other pests to ...

[Laughingbuddah]

Hey guys ,
I just wanna say thanks again .I have read about companion planting before but realy never thought to use it with hydro.But now that I have I luv it.I got a couple heads of garlic and put a clove in the top of each plant with the tip exposed and in my clone trays and dam they have rooted fat and started growin already I just put them in there 2 nights ago.Should I worry about my meds tasting like garlic LOL ??? ANYWAYS theres no sign of any bug and the room smells of garlic.....

[leroy]

I grew acouple right in the pots with mine. I didn't really intend to, they just grew, the room smelled like garlic, but when I cut and dried the plant in a seperate room, no garlic smell or taste. Which is good cuz there for a while I was freaked out. Thought there for a bit that I was growing Italian spaggetti meds.

[Storm Crow]

Did growing it work as well as just the cloves for keeping the gnats away?

[leroy]

It sure seemed too. these were big giant garlic cloves. Called elephant garlic.

[leroy]

http://www.treatingyourself.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=7987&d=1138736310

[nogoodnamesleft]

if you want to rid yourself of fungus gnats, use "Bacillus Thuringiesis" found in safer brand "caterpillar killer"... use this in your media or solution and it will kill the larvae....good luck w yer gnats....if you have probs finding "caterpillar killer" by safer, pm me