fungus gnat
noun
: any of various small dipteran flies (families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) resembling mosquitoes and having larvae that feed on fungi and decaying organic matter
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The second bug, a fungus gnat, survives the winter by allowing half of its body to freeze. 
Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Feb. 2022 Although tiny fungus gnat adults are more of a nuisance than a pest, the immature stage (larvae) feeds on plant roots and can cause growth problems, especially on young plants. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2021 At one point there was a fungus gnat corpse in every single one of their sticky little mouths. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2021 Mosquito bits are little pellets that contain a bacteria that’s toxic to fungus gnat and mosquito larvae. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2021 Two rare fungus gnats were found in Scotland, and two monarch-butterfly activists were murdered in Mexico. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 These mini-donut-sized Mosquito Dunks contain BTI, a bacterium that's lethal to mosquito larvae, black flies and fungus gnats for up to 30 days, but won't harm plants or animals (including humans). Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2019 Pests controlled: Yellow traps attract whiteflies, fruit flies, male winged scales, leafhoppers, fungus gnats, midges, male winged mealybugs and leafminers, thrips, psyllids, and winged aphids. The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 18 Dec. 2017 Fruit flies obviously like the kitchen, drain flies congregate around drains and fungus gnats like potted plants, Orkin entomologist Chelle Hartzer explains.2. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 8 May 2018 See More
Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Feb. 2022 Although tiny fungus gnat adults are more of a nuisance than a pest, the immature stage (larvae) feeds on plant roots and can cause growth problems, especially on young plants. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2021 At one point there was a fungus gnat corpse in every single one of their sticky little mouths. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2021 Mosquito bits are little pellets that contain a bacteria that’s toxic to fungus gnat and mosquito larvae. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2021 Two rare fungus gnats were found in Scotland, and two monarch-butterfly activists were murdered in Mexico. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 These mini-donut-sized Mosquito Dunks contain BTI, a bacterium that's lethal to mosquito larvae, black flies and fungus gnats for up to 30 days, but won't harm plants or animals (including humans). Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2019 Pests controlled: Yellow traps attract whiteflies, fruit flies, male winged scales, leafhoppers, fungus gnats, midges, male winged mealybugs and leafminers, thrips, psyllids, and winged aphids. The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 18 Dec. 2017 Fruit flies obviously like the kitchen, drain flies congregate around drains and fungus gnats like potted plants, Orkin entomologist Chelle Hartzer explains.2. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 8 May 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1862, in the meaning defined above