This is a new property for us and it looks like I have fungus gnats all over my humming bird feeder. Needless to say, no hummingbirds. They will only come if I drown the gnats and then refill with fresh syrup, but that only lasts for about a half hour and the feeder is covered with gnats again. I know gnats prefer moist soil, which of course, we have an abundance of right now. So, I can’t get rid of soil. Any suggestions to resolve this problem? Gross pictures for reference.
They are obviously after the nectar. Not sure this will help, but you could try relocating the feeder, and try and hang it over gravel or something that is not soil or grass. If we get some heavy frosts or even snow, it may solve the problem.
I have them in my greenhouse and use yellow sticky traps and cider vinegar soap and water traps but that’s hard to do outside. I don’t think they will be around for long outside as the temperatures drop.
UPDATE: while you were pondering a solution to my problem (thanks for the suggestions), I put that yellow sticky paper near where I saw the vast majority of them coming from the ground. Thankfully, and due to my laziness, I left the peony ring out and attached the sticky paper to that down low, so that I didn’t catch an unfortunate Hummer in the process. Also searched in line and a solution of 1tsp of hydrogen peroxide in one gallon of water will kill eggs.
Looked outside today - scads of the on sticky paper (so much so, there was no room for others, but I have replaced it with a new one) and none on the Hummingbird feeder. Not fooled that this is a one and done solution, but I have the gigantic oak of sticky paper and the 42gal drum of hydrogen peroxide from Costco, so I think I am set.
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