Seeking Insect Identification - Ask Extension
While taking down Christmas decorations we found these along three (out of four) windowsills in our living room.
Knowledgebase
Seeking Insect Identification #818817
Asked January 19, 2023, 2:31 AM EST
While taking down Christmas decorations we found these along three (out of four) windowsills in our living room.
Anchorage County Alaska
Expert Response
Hi Katherine,
From your photos it's tough to definitively identify your insects but they appear to be fungus gnats. (One of the insects looks like it may be a small parasitoid wasp as well.) Fungus gnats in the home most commonly are associated with houseplants, if you are noticing them around your houseplants there are some measures you can take to reduce their numbers: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/fungus-gnats-as-houseplant-and-indoor-pests-5-584/
If you would like me to take a closer look at the insects you are welcome to collect them into a container or zip top bag and can drop them off at our office: https://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/anchorage/
From your photos it's tough to definitively identify your insects but they appear to be fungus gnats. (One of the insects looks like it may be a small parasitoid wasp as well.) Fungus gnats in the home most commonly are associated with houseplants, if you are noticing them around your houseplants there are some measures you can take to reduce their numbers: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/fungus-gnats-as-houseplant-and-indoor-pests-5-584/
If you would like me to take a closer look at the insects you are welcome to collect them into a container or zip top bag and can drop them off at our office: https://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/anchorage/
