Do Bug Zappers Work on Gnats? 5 Alternatives to Try (2024)

Do bug zappers work on gnats?

Gnats are tiny flying bugs that are usually hard to see. However, you can definitely feel their effect when they start invading your house in swarms. There are several ways to get rid of gnats, but some of them are better than the rest.

So, do bug zappers work on gnats? Or are there better options to help you get rid of this annoying insect for good? Keep on reading to find out.

Why Do Gnats Infest my House?

There are multiple reasons why you might see more gnats in your house. You might have forgotten to wipe a sugary spill or left the garbage for too long. Gnats will be attracted to filth, as well as unattended water, in case you have overwatered your plants as they love moisture.

Fungus gnats are usually black or dark gray and have long wings. They might seem harmless, but they can start touching you and are definitely disgusting. Even if they don’t bite, gnats can be quite irritating, so you need to get rid of them.

Moreover, gnats can damage your houseplants. They infect the roots, leaves, and stems of your plants, making them wither and wilt.

Some gnats actually bite, but they don’t penetrate the skin. There are several diseases that can be transferred from bugs to humans, and some are lethal.

However, gnats are not that harmful. The bites usually cause irritation and can make your skin red or itchy. If you have allergies, you might have worse symptoms.

If a gnat bites you, you should apply a cold compress to ease the pain. You can also apply cream to reduce the allergic reaction.

People usually confuse fungus gnats with other black flying bugs like fruit flies. You need to take a look at the bugs to make sure that you’re dealing with gnats.

Fruit flies range from tan to black and have rounded bodies. They look like a smaller version of house flies. Gnats have longer bodies and look like tiny mosquitos.

Unfortunately, gnats reproduce very fast, so you need to take action as soon as you see these bugs roaming around your house.

Ignoring them will only make the problem worse, so do but do bug zappers work on gnats?

Do Bug Zappers Work on Gnats?

Yes, they do. Bug zappers attract bugs like gnats to a source of light. When they touch the light, they get electrocuted and die. Bug zappers are usually called electronic traps because the bugs fall and collect in a basket, and you can dispose of them later.

However, zappers won’t get rid of the whole population of gnats. Nevertheless, you can still use zappers to get rid of some bugs while using other methods to keep them at bay.

Alternative Ways to Get Rid of Gnats

Gnats are quite annoying but are not impossible to get rid of. Here are a few alternatives to try if you’re dealing with them.

1. Eliminate their Food Source

Gnats won’t be able to survive if there’s no food to eat. The first step to getting rid of them is to make sure that they have no access to nutrition, so they won’t be able to reproduce and grow.

Keep your kitchen clean and take the garbage out because these bugs feed on bacteria, fungus, and filth. Use a cleaning solution and a clean sponge to clean countertops. Rotten fruits and vegetables should be thrown away because their smell attracts these bugs.

No products found.

You should also wash vegetables and fruits after getting them from the store because there might be some tiny eggs of gnats that you’re unable to see. After they hatch, you might be dealing with a severe infestation. Once cleaned, keep the produce in sealed bags and store your veggies and fruits in the fridge to prevent the gnats from eating and reproducing.

Gnats also love moisture, so you need to keep your drains clean. Use a potent drain cleaner to get rid of all the organic material that gnats love to feed on.

You should also avoid overwatering your plants because gnats love rotten plants. Too much water isn’t good for your plants, and will also tempt the gnats to live and reproduce around the stems and roots.

2. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

The smell of apple cider vinegar tempts gnats to get close because it reminds them of the fruits they like to eat. You can use apple cider vinegar to create a trap to kill gnats.

Get half a cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and a tablespoon of dish soap. Bugs will get attracted to the mixture and try to drink it. However, once they touch the mixture, they will get trapped in the soap and eventually die.

You can make several bowls and leave them where you see a lot of gnats. After a while, you will see the bowl filled with trapped bugs.

3. Make a Wine Trap

Stale or old wine has a powerful odor that smells almost like vinegar. This is why you can use old wine, just like apple cider vinegar. Use wine to create a sticky trap to catch gnats.

Add some old wine to a bowl and add a tablespoon of dish soap. Leave this bowl where you have lots of gnats, and they will get attracted to the mixture. Check the bowl after a while, and you will see lots of trapped bugs that got stuck in the soap.

4. Use Fly Paper

Fly paper can catch gnats and other flying bugs. Fly paper is made of sticky sheets of bright paper that gnats will be attracted to. Gnats are usually attracted to bright colors, so these sheets are usually yellow or orange.

These sticky sheets are available in many shapes, so you can stick them in a planting pot. Gnats will be attracted to the pot and eventually stick to the sheet. If you have lots of gnats in your house, you can stick these sheets on windows. Gnats are attracted to light, and as they try to reach the light outside, they will accidentally get stuck to the sheets.

5. Make a Candle Trap

This method works before gnats love the light. You should light up a few candles and keep the candles in a bowl of water. Add a tablespoon of dish soap to the water bowl to create a sticky trap.

You can set up these repellent candles outside the house or keep the lights out if you have gnats in the kitchen. You should never leave the candles unattended because one of them can accidentally fall.

Gnats will get attracted to the flame, as long as there’s no other source of light. They will either hit the flame and die or fall into the water. The dish soap traps the gnats, and they will be unable to fly.

Wrap Up – Do Bug Zappers Work on Gnats?

Gnats are annoying bugs that love to feed on fungus and prefer to live in moist areas. Although you can use a bug zapper for gnats to get rid of these insects, there are other ways that allow you to get rid of them for good.

First, you should eliminate any food source that might attract gnats to your house. You should also think about what gnats love and make traps that attract them to their death. Keeping your home clean and moisture-free is an excellent way to keep gnats away.

For more of our non-toxic gnat solutions, CLICK HERE!