fungus gnat

American  

noun

1. any of several mosquitolike insects of the family Mycetophilidae, the larvae of which feed on fungi or decaying vegetation.

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Etymology

Origin of fungus gnat

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The life cycle of the fungus gnat is 18 days from egg to egg.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 10, 2023

When I have a particularly bad fungus gnat infestation around my plants, I turn to sticky traps to capture the dozens of bugs flying around.

From Salon • May 9, 2022

At one point there was a fungus gnat corpse in every single one of their sticky little mouths.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2021

But unless you really, really soak the top 3 inches of the soil, it won’t kill all the fungus gnat larvae.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2021

A glowworm, aka fungus gnat larva, hangs its anterior from the ceiling while its arse glows magnificently, surrounded by its diaphanous snares.

From Scientific American • May 21, 2012