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Fungus Gnat Life Cycle

Fungus gnats are 1/8-inch-long insects that resemble mosquitoes. They live in damp areas where fungus is likely to grow and use it in their diet. Fungus gnat larvae can also feed on other plant matter and can damage greenhouse crops.

Egg Stage
- The life cycle of the fungus gnat begins with an egg. Eggs are laid in clusters of 20 or 30 in crevices in moist soil that is rich in organic material and hatch four to six days after being laid.
Larval Stage
- Each egg will hatch, producing a larva, which will feed, opportunistically, on an available food source for 12 to 14 days.
Pupal Stage
- The larva will then spin a silk pupal chamber and metamorphose into an adult, which will emerge four to six days later.
Adult Stage
- The adult gnat will then begin to feed on fungal growths within the local environment. Adult fungus gnats do not feed on other plants.
Reproduction
- The adult fungus gnat is fully mature at this time and capable of mating. Once the gnats mate, the female will lay her eggs, beginning the life cycle again.

Insects & Science