{"id":1263,"date":"2020-10-15T16:49:59","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T13:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/ru\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2022-08-12T00:06:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T21:06:48","slug":"scziaridy-ili-pochvennye-komariki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/scziaridy-ili-pochvennye-komariki\/","title":{"rendered":"Sciaridae or Soil gnats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sciaridae<\/em> are dipteran insects of the order Detritus<\/em>. They are popularly identified simply as midges or gnats. Fungus, cucumber, leaf, soil gnats are all the same dipteran. It is considered the largest and most poorly studied family of insects. At the moment, about 2,300 species have been identified and described, and according to approximate estimates, this statistic will reach 20 thousand names. The most famous representatives of the family are Sciara<\/em>, Lycoriella <\/em>and Bradysia<\/em>. If we take into account the huge number of species of these gnats represented, then Europe can be considered a \u201cpioneer\u201d. A total of 600 species of Detritus <\/em>have been found on the continent. Much more of them are observed in the tropics, which is due to a more suitable habitat. Like the gnats familiar to us, the Sciaridae <\/em>prefer a warm and humid climate. But the conditions of active trade, an increase in the number of greenhouses and greenhouses contribute to population growth and the emergence of new species that are not typical for the region. Even if we take into account that many species are described by entomologists, several species are identified by farmers as dangerous pests, even despite all this, Sciaridae<\/em> are difficult to classify without significant experience or special equipment. It is good for us that the methods of dealing with them are reduced to one specific system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Description<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sciaridae<\/em> are tiny gnats 1-3 mm in size, usually dark with a predominant black or gray tint. Imago Sciaridae<\/em> has an underdeveloped oral apparatus, as a result of which it does not feed. Most species have developed wings, but there are also wingless individuals. The body structure is characterized by a rounded head and a narrow body. At first glance, given its tiny size, it can be confused with a fruit fly. Sexual dimorphism is expressed by the smaller size of the male. The female’s fertility reaches 200-250 eggs, which she lays in moist soil or vegetation decomposition products. The frequent mention of the species under the name fungus gnat or fungus fly is characterized by suitable conditions for growing mushrooms (fungi).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The life cycle of soil gnats has 4 stages, characteristic of most insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egg.<\/strong> Laying takes place in moist soil or substrate, also on the fruit bodies of fungi and similar habitats suitable for the development of offspring. The small size and transparent colour allows the egg to develop safely for 5-6 days before the larvae appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larva.<\/strong> The most harmful stage of the development of a gnat. This is a small worm 5-10 mm long, translucent, with a pronounced translucent intestine and a black head compartment. It is these features that are their main difference from small annelid worms, which also like to live in a moist or rotting environment. The largest individuals of larvae leave behind a moist, slimy trail. Larvae do not survive in conditions of low humidity and die quickly if they are removed from a state of comfortable conditions. After 14 days of life, the larvae pass into the pupal stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pupa.<\/strong> Pupation takes place in moist soil or plant waste subject to the process of rotting. Pupation lasts about 5 days, after which the insect moves to the next stage of development<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imago.<\/strong> An adult insect, that lives for a week, does not directly harm the plant, due to an atrophied oral apparatus and lack of ability to feed. But the harm caused by an adult is also an important factor that motivates the eradication of the species in its greenhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The damage caused<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The damage caused by Sciaridae <\/em>is more dangerous for seedlings and may not even be noticeable at the stage of an adult plant. Since seedlings require abundant watering, this accompanies the creation of an optimal environment for the development of leaf gnats. The larva feeds on the weakened part (rotten remains) of the root system in the soil or substrate with excessive humidity. If this is not critical for an adult plant and is replenished in the process of vital activity, then it can be disastrous for seedlings and young seedlings. In the case of mass settlement, the parasite, in search of food, moves to healthy parts of the plant and affects the root system completely, which leads the plant to disease, and later to death. The imago of fungus gnat also causes damage, albeit indirectly. They are carriers of fungal infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detection methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How to detect a representative of Sciaridae<\/em>? Despite its small size, it’s not that difficult. First, pay attention to the very midges hovering near the plant, if you stir it up a little. Secondly, pay attention to the soil under the plant. And not just to turn, but to dig up and look at the inhabitants of this soil. Above we described the appearance of the larvae and their distinctive features, they should be looked for in the ground, because our main enemies in this event are the larvae of the mushroom gnat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methods of struggle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The fight against the fungus gnat should always be approached comprehensively. As long as their population is insignificant, they do not cause serious harm, but if the number of insects is attaining a critical point, then it’s time to sound the alarm. The destruction of only larvae or only imago will not give results. It is necessary to exterminate the parasite at all stages of development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to control soil moisture and the frequency of watering plants, so as not to create comfortable conditions for Sciaridae <\/em>larvae. Various insecticides can help in the fight against adult individuals. In the conditions of the flat, there were cases when an ordinary insecticide for home use coped. In the fight against the larval stage, in addition to chemical agents, a representative of bio plant protection products, the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles<\/em>, copes well. It is significant when combining chemistry and biology to take into account the nuances of the effects of various insecticides on beneficial insects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sciaridae are dipteran insects of the order Detritus. They are popularly identified simply as midges or gnats. Fungus, cucumber, leaf, soil gnats are all the same dipteran. It is considered the largest and most poorly studied family of insects. At the moment, about 2,300 species have been identified and described, and according to approximate estimates, …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-enciklopedia.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vrediteli"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/b-ento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}