Fruit Flies vs. Fungus Gnats: How to Tell the Difference and Get Rid of Them for Good
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Time to read 3 min
If you’ve ever spotted tiny flying bugs around your home and wondered, “Are these fruit flies or fungus gnats?” — you’re not alone. These common household pests are easily confused, but knowing the difference is key to getting rid of them effectively.
In this article, we’ll break down how to tell fruit flies and fungus gnats apart, where they come from, where they live, and most importantly — how to get rid of them using safe, effective, organic solutions from Arber and Aunt Fannie’s.
How to Identify Fruit Flies vs. Fungus Gnats
At a glance, fruit flies and fungus gnats can look similar: small, winged insects flying around your home. But their appearance and behavior have some key differences.
🪰 Fruit Flies
Color: Tan or light brown with red or dark eyes
Size: 1/8 inch long
Wings: Transparent and rounded
Flight Pattern: Slow, floating around food or drains
🪴 Fungus Gnats
Color: Dark gray or black with long legs
Size: About the same as a fruit fly (1/8 inch), but slimmer
Wings: Clear, longer than the body
Flight Pattern: Weak flyers, often found hovering near soil or base of houseplants
Where Do They Come From?
Knowing how these pests get into your home is the first step in prevention.
Fruit Flies:
Attracted to ripening or rotting fruits and vegetables
Can come in through open windows or on produce from the grocery store
Thrive in garbage disposals, trash bins, compost bins, and sugary spills
Fungus Gnats:
Most commonly come from infested potting soil or overwatered houseplants
Eggs and larvae live in damp soil rich in organic matter
Overwatering or lack of proper drainage creates the ideal breeding ground
Where You’ll Find Them in the House
- Fruit flies tend to hang out in kitchens , especially near fruit bowls, trash cans, drains, and any area with fermenting food.
- Fungus gnats live in and around indoor plants , particularly those with moist, organic-rich soil. You’ll spot them near plant pots or flying around leaves.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies and Fungus Gnats
The good news? You can eliminate both pests with targeted, natural solutions from Arber and Aunt Fannie’s.
✅ For Fungus Gnats – Use Arber
Arber Organic Bio Insecticide is a safe, organic solution made to treat fungus gnats at the source — the soil.
How to use it: Spray directly into the top layer of soil to kill larvae and prevent future eggs from hatching.
Pair it with: Arber Fungus Gnat Sticky Traps to catch adult gnats and stop the breeding cycle.
Bonus: It's safe to use around kids and pets, and won’t harm your houseplants.
✅ For Fruit Flies – Use Aunt Fannie’s
Aunt Fannie’s Fruit Fly Punch is a plant-based, non-toxic trap made specifically to attract and eliminate fruit flies.
How to use it: Simply open the bottle and place it near your fruit bowl, trash can, or sink.
The sweet, vinegar-based formula draws fruit flies in and traps them — no mixing or mess required.
👉 Struggling with fruit flies? Try Aunt Fannie’s Fruit Fly Punch.
👉 Dealing with fungus gnats? Use Arber’s Organic Bio Insecticide and Sticky Traps.
Both brands are committed to clean, effective, and non-toxic solutions for every corner of your home.
FAQs
How do I use Arber’s Organic Bio Insecticide and Sticky Traps to get rid of fungus gnats?
To effectively get rid of fungus gnats, start by treating the source: the soil. Arber’s Organic Bio Insecticide should be diluted according to the label instructions and sprayed directly onto the top layer of your plant’s soil. This targets the larvae hiding beneath the surface.
Next, place Arber’s Sticky Traps in the soil around the base of the plant. These non-toxic traps attract and capture adult gnats, helping break the life cycle. Repeat the spray treatment weekly as needed and reduce overwatering to prevent future infestations.
How does Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch work to eliminate fruit flies?
Aunt Fannie’s Fruit Fly Punch is a pre-mixed, ready-to-use solution that naturally attracts and traps fruit flies using a powerful vinegar-based formula. To use it, simply open the bottle and place it near areas where you’ve noticed fruit fly activity — like fruit bowls, kitchen counters, trash cans, or compost bins.
There’s no setup or cleanup involved. Fruit flies are drawn to the scent, enter the trap, and are unable to escape. Replace the bottle every 30 days or as needed during peak infestations.
How can I tell the difference between fruit flies and fungus gnats?
Though similar in size, fruit flies and fungus gnats have key differences in appearance and behavior. Fruit flies are tan or light brown with red or dark eyes and tend to hover around fruit, trash, or drains — especially in the kitchen. Fungus gnats , on the other hand, are darker (gray or black), have longer legs, and are commonly found flying near houseplants or crawling on moist soil.
If you see bugs flying near your fruit or garbage, it’s likely fruit flies. If they’re coming out of your plant pots, they’re probably fungus gnats.
