Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Tiny
Diet: Decomposer
Activity: Crepuscular
Social: Colony
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: Worldwide
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

Fungus gnats are tiny flies whose larvae live in the moist soil of houseplants, feeding on fungi and decaying organic matter — and occasionally gnawing plant roots, causing wilting and yellowing. Adults live only 7–10 days but can lay up to 200 eggs in damp compost.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Sciaridae
Genus: Bradysia
Species: Bradysia impatiens