Indoor flowers are the joy of every housewife. Thanks to them, comfort and harmony reign in the rooms. And the air is significantly enriched with oxygen. Even regular care of your “green friends” does not guarantee that pests will not infest them. Almost every amateur gardener in his life has encountered such a harmful insect as the flower midge - a small black insect with wings that always catches the eye and irritates with its intrusiveness. If you have midges in your indoor flowers, you will learn how to get rid of them and what products are best to use in this article.
Midges in indoor flowers
Parasites often appear in plants in winter. It is at this time that the plants are weak. When small midges are found in indoor plants, first of all you need to determine to what stage the damage to the flower has reached. Damage is caused both by the insects themselves and their larvae. If you do not immediately resort to any measures, the flower will die.
Initially, it is recommended to dig out the soil in the flower pot and make sure that there are no fly larvae there. After all, getting rid of midges is much easier than getting rid of their larvae.
The danger of insect bites for humans
Biting insects such as fleas are extremely dangerous because... are carriers of many infectious diseases that require long-term treatment.
Among them:
- plague;
- encephalitis;
- listeriosis;
- anthrax;
- typhus;
- tuberculosis;
- hepatitis;
- tularemia.
Flea bites.
Flea bites are a source of helminthic and fungal infestation. The parasite injects its saliva during feeding. The bite site is very itchy and may become red. People who are sensitive to the enzymes present in the saliva of these fleas may experience allergic reactions.
First aid
The feet, ankles and ankles are the most common sites where the legs are affected. Areas of insect attack may be invisible, but damage to the skin is indicated by itching. If there are no severe allergic reactions, bites can be treated at home.
The affected area must be treated with a disinfectant. A cold compress helps relieve itching. In addition, it is recommended to use an ointment that includes antihistamines. If signs of allergy or intoxication of the body appear, you cannot carry out treatment on your own; you should seek medical help.
If fleas have bitten a child
Focal redness appears on children's skin at the sites of bites. The child experiences severe discomfort due to itching. Bite areas must be treated with a disinfectant and a cold compress applied. If there are many areas of damage, you should consult a doctor, because... Antihistamines may be required to relieve symptoms.
Varieties of midges in flowers and flower pots
Flower midges can be classified as insects of the Diptera family. They number about 2000 subspecies. Let's list the most common ones.
White midges on flowers - whiteflies, scale insects
White midges , called whiteflies or scale insects , look very similar to aphids. Among indoor plants in pots, soft leaves of fuchsia or begonia are preferred.
White midges on house flowers are whiteflies, also called “scale insects.”
Black midges in flowers - sciarids
Black midges living in home flowers are called sciarids , and another name for these parasites is fungus gnats . They prefer to live near the root system of flowers such as aloe, Decembrist, ficus, azalea. For humans, this type of insect creates considerable inconvenience in the apartment - it gets into food or drink. Settling in the soil where the flower grows, they make it dense and impervious to air, thus causing enormous damage to the roots of the plants.
Black midges on house flowers are called sciarids or fungus gnats
Ground fleas in flower pots - fools
Podura ( ground fleas - white flies ), the second name is springtails . These are jumping wingless parasites. You can see them in places where there is high humidity (the bottom of a pot, a wet tray, the top of the soil of a heavily watered flower). White larvae of podurs cause damage to plant roots. They differ from other parasites in their speed and jumping if someone wants to touch them.
White insects that are found in the soil of home flowers - podras or springtails
Why are uninvited guests dangerous?
Indoor plants are both a home and a source of food for midges.
Insects feed on sap from stems and leaves and infect the roots. Because of this, the infected plant withers. Its foliage becomes limp and it reacts poorly to feeding. And then it dies completely.
The result of exposure to scale insects
In addition, when feeding on juices, pests leave microscopic wounds on stems, leaves and roots. Through these wounds, flowers become infected with fungal, bacterial and infectious diseases. Their carriers, by the way, are the same flower midges.
That is why, simultaneously with parasites, flowers often suffer from various fungal diseases. But not every plant can withstand such a double blow to the immune system.
IMPORTANT! If midges are not dealt with, they will very quickly spread throughout the house. And instead of just one sick pet, you get an epidemic.
Why are there small midges in indoor flowers?
It is important not to forget that excessively moist soil is the best place for midges to exist and reproduce. So, if you do not want to breed white bugs in the soil of indoor plants, then you should not neglect attention to the soil in pots.
The main source of reproduction of flower parasites is considered to be excess moisture in the soil of indoor flowers.
Secondary reasons for the appearance of harmful insects include:
- Pouring low-quality soil into flower pots. It leads to an invasion of harmful midges, the larvae of which will already live in the soil. As a result, you will need to quickly look for ways to get rid of the emerging parasites.
- The appearance of insects can be facilitated by transplanting plants into huge pots. The soil at the bottom of the flower pot is most saturated with moisture, only the root system of the plant does not reach there. High humidity is a suitable breeding ground for pests.
- The use of organic fertilizers will also encourage the appearance of bugs. Even if the soil is watered moderately, the presence of organic impurities will attract midges, which will settle well on the indoor plant.
- A fly can fly into an apartment from another living space, from the basement, through ventilation or an exhaust pipe. Moreover, the flying insects immediately find suitable flower pots with abundantly moistened soil.
Hairy aphid
This type of aphid is also called mealybugs. They are one of the most dangerous insects for plants. As a rule, they can be found on the underside of leaves. Their presence is indicated by a cobweb-like white coating, as well as the presence of a sticky liquid.
These insects are distinguished by a high degree of fertility. Female mealybugs lay eggs in miniature formations that resemble balls of cotton wool. After a certain time, fairly mobile larvae emerge from these lumps, which are then distributed throughout the plant. Fighting them requires an instant reaction. The sooner you start fighting this pest, the greater the chance of saving the plant.
Ways to get rid of midges in house plants
There are many ways to get rid of these harmful parasites - both chemical and folk. To get rid of insects, you should resort to the following measures.
First of all, when flower midges are detected, it is necessary to remove the affected flower away from other plants.
Flower soil in which insects have already settled should be thrown away. The flower is removed from the pot, the root system is washed and the already treated plant is transplanted into disinfected soil. There is an option to replace the top layer of soil.
If it is not possible to change the affected soil, it is recommended to treat it with an insecticide. More effective drugs against flower flies include Fitoverm , Aktara , Tanrek . Flycatcher insecticide , which is available in granules, is also effective in combating annoying midges.
If there are not too many pests yet, then fly sticky tape hung next to the flower pots will help catch them.
If there are already a lot of insects, then it is recommended to use aerosol preparations for destruction, such as Dichlorvos and Raptor . By lightly spraying the product, treat window sills, shelves, and walls located near house plants. Plus, the soil in the flower pot and its bottom. The result of the treatment will be the death of adult individuals and their eggs laid in the ground.
Another good remedy for midges is to reduce the number of waterings of the flower that has been affected by parasites. Dry soil will contribute to the death of the larvae.
Still, the best way to combat midges is to follow all the rules for the care and maintenance of house plants.
Prevention measures
To protect indoor flowers from various insects, you need to follow a few simple rules.
- Do not over-moisten the soil; leave it to dry between waterings.
- Monitor air humidity. The room should always have an optimal level of humidity, not excess.
- Periodically inspect indoor flowers for pests. A putrid odor may also be a symptom.
- Periodically water and spray with potassium permanganate.
- All new plants brought in from the street must be quarantined for 14 days.
- When replanting, use only special, purchased soil. And it is even recommended to disinfect it, warm it up or freeze it.
- If pests are found on one of the plants, you need to treat everyone nearby.
Folk remedies for midges in flowers
Midges have appeared in flowers - the problem arises of what means to use to rid your favorite plants of them without harm. One of the ways to independently remove irritable insects is to use various folk remedies.
An effective folk remedy against flies is garlic . The smell of garlic has a detrimental effect on some insects, including flower midges. Just two procedures - and black midges completely die. To prepare the required solution, take three heads of garlic and chop them using a garlic press. The resulting mass is poured with one liter of boiled water. After 4 hours, strain. The leaves of the plants are sprayed with this solution and the soil in the pot is treated.
If soil flies are detected, a solution of potassium permanganate . The soil in the pot is being cultivated. It is recommended to repeat watering the damaged flower after 2 days. In order not to harm the roots of the plant, the solution should be weak.
You can kill flower flies in the soil of a houseplant using soap . To do this, you need to grate laundry soap (20g) and fill it with 1 liter of water. The resulting soap solution is used to treat the leaves and water the soil in the pot.
You can also get rid of flower midges using regular matches . In a pot with a flower, you should deepen about five matches of sulfur into the soil and lightly water the soil. Matches in flowers are replaced every day, as sulfur dissolves in the soil. A certain number of such procedures will rid the plant of both midges and their larvae.
Wood ash is an equally effective folk remedy in the fight against insects on indoor flowers. The soil in the pot is simply covered with such ash and the midges will forever leave the flower they have chosen alone. Plus, wood ash is considered an excellent fertilizer that gives the plant strength.
tobacco helps fight bugs . To prepare the tincture, take 50g of dried tobacco and add one liter of water. Infuses for 2 days. The resulting tincture is sprayed onto the leaves of the flower. The disadvantage is that tobacco tincture has a detrimental effect only on adult insects; the larvae do not die from it.
Ground flies do not like the smell of mint . The edge of the pot can be smeared with the well-known “Star”. This will help get rid of harmful insects.
Celandine tincture (100g of celandine per 1 liter of boiled water) also gets rid of annoying bugs. Treated by spraying plant leaves.
You can also destroy insects in house plants using ammonia . In addition, it improves plant growth. The solution can be prepared by taking 50 ml of ammonia and diluting it in 4 liters of water.
Orange peels also help get rid of harmful insects that attack indoor flowers. The citrus smell irritates them. It is recommended to cover the flower pot with such crusts or to deepen them directly into the soil. The pests will blow away like the wind.
Or you can simply dry the soil . Also an excellent way to combat flower midges. Until the soil is completely dry, it is not advisable to water your “green friend”. Then cover the top of the soil with fried sand and sprinkle it with weak potassium permanganate.
Treatment of infected plants with folk remedies is considered the safest method compared to the use of chemicals.
What to use to protect your pet.
Before using anything, it is better to consult a veterinarian so that he can prescribe exactly what is most suitable for your shaggy friend in terms of age, weight, and lifestyle. And you definitely shouldn’t use several drugs at the same time, so as not to inadvertently poison your own animal along with fleas. Here are the possible options:
a special collar; drops that are applied to the withers; specialized sprays that are sprayed onto the animal’s fur; the use of a special shampoo when bathing a pet; the use of antiparasitic powders, powders, tablets.
Effective insecticides to control midges
But, in some cases, the use of folk remedies only temporarily rids the houseplant of parasites. Time passes, they appear again. Therefore, in order to forget about flower flies forever, it is recommended to resort to the use of chemicals. There are both liquid insecticides, which can be sprayed and watered, and granular ones, intended for mixing with the soil.
It is best to opt for safe drugs. When processing plants, be sure to use personal protective equipment.
The liquid and safest insecticides include “ Agravertin ”, “ Fitoverm ”, “ Fufanon ”, “ Aktara ”, “ Inta-vir ”. These chemicals can be used at home. The course of treatment is carried out over two weeks. Watering the plant is done once a week. After the plant has been watered with an insecticide, it is not advisable to water it with clean water for 5 days.
Dangerous liquid insecticides include Actellik , which has very high toxicity. Its use is prohibited in residential premises.
Granular insecticides include “ Bazudin ”, “ Grom-2 ”, “ Fly-eater ”. The main thing is to mix the granules with the top layer of soil, and not just scatter them on top of the ground. These insecticides do not act as quickly, but they are just as effective as liquid ones.
Do not forget that absolutely all chemicals are toxic. When processing plants, you must wear gloves, safety glasses and a respirator. After work, be sure to ventilate the room.
Bona Forte ), which can paralyze flying pests in an instant, are considered very effective and easy to use Aerosol and spray consist of substances that are harmless to humans and the environment.
Armored mites
These pests are most familiar to orchid lovers, and they look similar to the regular small brown mites that hop around the stems and leaves of the plant. In reality, they are practically not dangerous for flowers, but they can carry the larvae of other pests, and in general they are not very pleasant. For control, we recommend using special acaricides, because ticks are very tenacious and adapt well to anything.
General recommendations for all types of midges
If you do not use traditional methods, but use modern drugs, then the following have proven themselves best:
- Regular fumigator (for mosquitoes). Just insert it into an outlet in close proximity to an indoor flower with midges, or vice versa, take the plant to an outlet with a fumigator. Flying insects will disappear.
- An insecticide based on imidacloprid or thiamethoxam. They must be used strictly according to the instructions. Such preparations are excellent against whiteflies and black midges.
- Aerosol type Dichlorvos. To do this, place the plant in a bag and spray an aerosol on the soil. Tie the bag for 4-5 hours. This time is enough for the midges to die.
Various preparationsTip: but try to spray the spray so that it does not get on the leaves and stems of the plant. Only on the ground.
Where do fleas live
Only 5% of fleas enter the home as adult insects. 95% are larvae brought on the soles of shoes and with animals. In an apartment they can live in upholstered furniture, mattresses and carpets. Not all types of fleas remain in the apartment after being brought from the street, especially if hygiene measures are observed in the room and wet cleaning is carried out. Often the first signs of fleas are small itchy red dots on the arms and legs that a person discovers in the morning: the insects are especially active at night. Flea bites are very painful and difficult to ignore.
Insects prefer warm climates and high humidity. The ideal temperature range is 23–33 °C. Therefore, heated basements often become a habitat for fleas, especially if there are leaks in the pipes (or water enters through basement windows). The life cycle of a flea depends on the environment. When conditions are favorable, the adult insect lives 18–21 days, but flea larvae can remain dormant for several months, waiting for favorable conditions to grow. In the cold season, the female lays eggs approximately once a month, in the warm season - every two to four days.
Fleas prefer secluded places and breed in closets, household garbage, soft toys, crevices behind baseboards or in the floor. An adult insect 2–2.5 mm long can be seen with the naked eye. In addition, the flea moves by jumping, so you will not confuse it with midges or ants. The situation is much more complicated with flea eggs, which look like small black specks and are almost indistinguishable on dark surfaces.
Correct care
It is recommended to regularly loosen the soil in flowerpots so that it can breathe.
Be careful with watering. As mentioned above, flowers do not like excess moisture. To prevent water from accumulating in the pot, drainage should be installed. If you water the plant from below, it will take only the amount of moisture that it needs.
For high-quality cultivation of beautiful and healthy flowers, the room in which they are located should be regularly ventilated.
An important factor is prevention against midges in the form of a weak solution of manganese. You can water the plant with it once every two weeks.
And the most important thing. Various flowers grow on windowsills and in living corners, differing from each other not only in color and shape, but also in the way they grow and feed. This means that their care will also be different. Therefore, before planting this or that type of flowering plant, information about it should be studied in detail: how often to water, what to fertilize, whether to prune, and so on.
How to solve a pest problem as quickly as possible
When insects are only found downstairs - in the basement, over time they can in any case be found in your home. A factor that will affect this even more is the presence of a cat or dog at home. If this is the case, then poisoning of parasites must begin using slightly different methods. Such that will not harm the human and animal body:
- Raptor. Available in the form of a spray, it is a completely safe product for humans, allowing you to eliminate not only adult fleas, but also eggs laid by fleas. The effect lasts for about a month;
- Sinuzan. Used by professional disinfectors. The most effective flea treatment. The downside is that the smell is too strong and takes quite a long time to dissipate;
- Biorin. Also used only by special services. Valid for 2 months, has an unpleasant aroma;
- Raid. An aerosol that allows you to quickly treat an entire apartment or small room. After use, the apartment should be closed for a couple of hours, then ventilated;
- Butox. A completely harmless substance, sold in regular veterinary pharmacies. Available in ampoules, the contents of which must be mixed with water and sprayed throughout the room.
Important!
Absolutely everything in the house needs to be treated. This is the only way to really get rid of absolutely all insects. If you miss some “secluded” places, the pests will simply “wait out” the etching and begin to breed again.
