Gnats are small, common insects often found hovering in homes and gardens. These flies can be bothersome, leading many to seek ways to deter them. A frequent question concerns their attraction to honey. This article explores the science behind gnat attraction, particularly concerning honey, and identifies other factors that bring these insects into living spaces.
Do Gnats Seek Out Honey?
Gnats are attracted to honey due to its high sugar content. Like many insects, they are drawn to sweet scents. However, the attraction to honey is often nuanced, depending on the gnat species and the honey’s condition. Fruit flies, for instance, are highly sensitive to sugar and will approach diluted honey.
Honey’s appeal to gnats, especially fruit flies, often increases when it ferments. Fermentation involves yeast converting sugars into alcohol and acetic acid, creating a pungent, sour aroma that gnats find irresistible. This explains why apple cider vinegar, which contains acetic acid, is a more potent attractant for fruit flies in traps than pure honey. While some gnats may get stuck in honey due to its stickiness, its fermenting properties are often the primary draw for specific gnat species.
Beyond Honey: Other Gnat Attractants
Gnats are drawn to various environmental factors beyond sweet substances, reflecting their diverse needs for food, moisture, and breeding sites. Many gnat species, including fruit flies and fungus gnats, are attracted to decaying organic matter. This includes overripe fruits and vegetables, food scraps, and food residue in sink drains. These decomposing materials provide both a food source and an ideal location for gnats to lay their eggs.
Moisture is another significant attractant for most gnat varieties. They thrive in damp environments, such as overwatered houseplants, leaky pipes, standing water, and damp towels. Fungus gnats, for example, are particularly drawn to moist potting soil where fungi and decaying organic matter are present, as their larvae feed on these materials. The presence of mold, which often accompanies dampness, also attracts gnats due to its distinct musty odor and its role as a food source for larvae. Gnats can also be attracted to body heat, sweat, and the carbon dioxide humans exhale.
Keeping Gnats Away
Preventing gnat infestations involves managing the attractants that draw them into living spaces. Proper food storage is a primary step; keeping fruits and vegetables refrigerated or in sealed containers reduces their appeal. Promptly cleaning up food spills and crumbs, and regularly emptying and cleaning trash cans, especially those with food waste, also helps eliminate potential food sources and breeding grounds.
Controlling moisture is also an important strategy. Avoiding overwatering houseplants and allowing the soil to dry between waterings can deter fungus gnats. Repairing leaky pipes and ensuring good ventilation in damp areas like bathrooms and kitchens can also reduce gnat habitats. For drains, regularly flushing them with hot water or a mixture of baking soda, salt, and vinegar can break down organic buildup. Simple traps, such as those made with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap, can effectively capture adult gnats.