Kansas State University

search

Extension Entomology

Tag: attracted to fecal materials

Fungus Gnats in Sorghum

— by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

We have had several calls this past week about large numbers small black flies/gnats on and around sorghum heads.  These are not a pest of sorghum but a type of fungus gnat and are probably attracted to the fecal material left behind from sorghum headworms.  In general, fungus gnats thrive in damp conditions and the larvae typically dwell in the soil where they feed on algae, fungi, and plant roots.

fungus-gnat