fungus gnat

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) resembling mosquitoes and having larvae that feed on fungi and decaying organic matter

Examples of fungus gnat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its pungent aroma and sulfur compounds can deter common garden pests, such as sap-sucking aphids and fungus gnats. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026

Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a compound found to disrupt the nervous system of insects, and works as a chemical-free pesticide to deter ants, fungus gnats, mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, flies, and wasps. —Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 23 May 2026

Keep Pests Out Of Your Garden Slugs and fungus gnats are attracted to the smell of potato peels, so use them as natural pest control in your garden. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026

Doing this can also kill off any fungus gnats that have made the moist soil their home. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fungus gnat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat