Fungus Gnats

Small black flies that hover at the soil and flutter up when you water. Their larvae eat roots in wet soil. Fix: let the soil dry, use sticky traps, top-dress with sand or grit.

Spider Mites

Tiny, near-invisible; leave fine webbing and pale stippling on leaves, worst in hot dry air. Fix: spray with water, neem oil, or insecticidal soap; raise humidity.

Key Difference

Gnats live at the soil and fly; mites live on leaves and weave webs. Different homes, different cures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can one treatment kill both?

A:

Neem covers both, but drying the soil specifically kills gnat larvae.

Q: Why do I only see them after watering?

A:

Gnats emerge from damp soil; mites show damage rather than movement.

Right ID, right fix. Confirm with the pest identifier.