Need help dealing with insects in my apt

[Giant Robot]

I kind of feel silly for asking for help on this, but it is frustrating and rather gross in my opinion.

In my bathroom there seems to be a community of gnat-like flies that have decided this is a good place to live and raise thousands of generations. These are really small black fly-like things that are about the size of the head of a pin, maybe slightly bigger. I only occasionally see them outside the bathroom, like maybe two or three times, but inside the bathroom, I will see them in multiples. I have been killing them when I see them, but I will kill 5-10 of them in one day and then they will be gone for a few days and then be back at full force after a period of a few days. My guess is that I am just killing successive generations of them, but I don't know. They are hanging out mostly in the sink. I cannot tell you what they are living off of, where they "nest" or whatever the proper term is, or much else about them.

I do not wish to use any pesticides in there for a variety of reasons. My bathroom may not be the cleanest on the planet, but I see it as far from being disgusting. I have talked with my landlord about this, and he is willing to work on this with me, but wants to see what they are and talk with a pest control person about them. This will take some coordination and I am not feeling patient right now.

So is there anything I can do to make these friggin things go away?

[AlCzervik]

1. have you checked the trap yet? Something icky might be stuck in it

it's a pretty easy job to remove and clean it out, i would start there first.

[Giant Robot]

3. That sounds like a good place to start

But how does one do that? Really I am not very handy.

[AlCzervik]

4. it's actually pretty easy to remove but you may want to have your

landlord do it, here are step by step instructions on how to replace one, ignore the "Replace" part.
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/home/article/0,2019,DIY_13952_2272189,00.html

i had to do this a few months ago when i dropped my ring down the drain.

[Giant Robot]

5. Hey thanks!

That looks do-able.

[AlCzervik]

6. good luck and you can totally do this.

[trof]

2. Try a little dish of vinegar.

Works for fruit flies.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. This home remedy works for ants,

I'm not sure about gnats but, if I'm not mistaken, they could be some sort of fruit fly which means they're attracted to sweet. Here's a recipe:

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup suger
1 tsp. borax (find this in the laundry section in the grocery store)

Mix until everything is dissolved. I have an old Mason Jar I use to store the solution and I use tops off of plastic containers (cottage cheese, butter, etc.) to portion out to the infested area. Pour a little of the mixture in the lid and let sit for a few days to see if it attracts the gnats/fruit flies. If you're using the above for ants, place the lid in the ant path and keep filling as it evaporates. Usually takes about 2 weeks and the trail should disappear.

It's a cheap, non-toxic (trace amounts of borax should not hurt your animals should they have a drink of the solution) and a sure-fire way to get rid of the little buggers.

[Darth_Kitten]

8. Deal with the landlord and pest control person........

it sounds like your landlord wants to help, let him/her see the situation and call in the pest control people. They will know what to do.

[AngryAmish]

9. DDT?

[Fla Dem]

10. Two things......

Know just what you're talking about. I have a relatively new home...8 years old. Had the same thing. Annoying as all get out, but harmless. Do you have a drain that is infrequently used, like a bath tub drain. If so, water may have collected there and provided a breeding ground for these gnat like critters. We don't use the tub that much,it's separate from the shower and we're shower folks. Poured some bleach down the tub drain, let it stand for a while then flush it out. No more gnats.

Second thing.... found when I had plants in the bath, and in fact the kitchen, they sometimes drew these gnats. So if you have plants in the bath, where moisture from shower makes a nice environment, you might want to try removing the plant.

[Deja Q]

11. Turn off the music and call the cops.

In seriousness, I had an infestation once. Target sells these little bug bomb things that fill the room with smoke. They kill lots of bugs and it gets into the places where they do the nasty and make little bugs.

Don't keep animal pets in the same room, and when the stated time is over, hold your breath and go open the window.

[Giant Robot]

12. Thanks HT

But I am paranoid about pesticides and what they may or may not do to us humans. They were at one time just a mild form of nerve gas I believe.

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Sounds like fungus gnats

Do you have plants in your bathroom? Fungus gnats from plants can generate quickly, will leave the host plant(s), but mostly stay near the host. Fungus gnats can also live in structural walls. Moisture is the key.

Here's some info on these pesky critters:
http://www.pestproducts.com/fungusgnat.htm

[Giant Robot]

14. OMG that sounds so much like it!

We have a problem with mold in our bathroom to the point where drywall was removed around the tub and re-done. The critters we have don't quite look like the pics of fungus gnats that I have just looked up, but somehow I have a feeling mold is a key issue with this. Thanks!

[LoZoccolo]

15. If you have leaking pipes and moisture they could be there because of water.

I know that a lot of insects are really where they are in houses because they have water there.

[Giant Robot]

16. Our pipes are not leaking

But they have to be hanging out in the bathroom for a reason I think, and water is a pretty good one.

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Other pics of fungus gnat

more info:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/fungusgnat.htm


Another pic of an adult fungus gnat, wings closed:


And more info:
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/biocon/plantscape/fungusgnats.htm

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. Fungus gnats like decaying matter

Possible that there is still a problem not visibly evident in your bathroom. Fungus gnats will regenerate in mold. Be sure to also check the outside (outdoor) areas of the bathroom wall, possibly tapping with a screwdriver to see of there is deterioration occurring at the foundation level.

More info with other pic links for other insect identification:
(you may be seeing drain flies)

http://www.terminix.com/commercial/pestlibrary/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&pestCategory=Flies&pestID=123
Habitat – In nature, fungus gnats breed in the soil, in fungi, and any place where suitable molds might grow, e.g., a rotting log. In buildings, they are most often associated with the soil in potted plants and in atriums. When plants are overwatered, molds in the soil are capable of reproducing thus providing a breeding medium for fungus gnats. On occasion, these flies have been found breeding in ceilings and walls where water leaks are present or have occurred, but have not thoroughly dried. Molds thrive in such damp areas and provide a place for fungus gnats (and certain fungus-feeding beetles) to breed.

and other info site:
http://www.buginfo.com/articles/gnatsinthehome.cfm

[Giant Robot]

19. Drain flies!

That is what I am seeing! Just saw the picture and that is it! All right now I know what I am dealing with I can try to get soemthing on the way home to clean out the drain! Thanks Whoa_Nelly!

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Glad to help--you may want to check for any drain leaks as well

If a drain is leaking under the subflooring or foundation, drain flies will continue to accumulate and infest the area.