8 Crucial Differences between Gnats and Fruit Flies with Table

What is the difference between gnats and fruit flies?

Gnats and fruit flies are tiny pests that measure about an eighth of an inch long. They look more similar to each other hence it is difficult for someone to distinguish them.

The two are from different families. Gnats are from different families including Sciaridae, Anisopodidae, and Mycetophilid. They are of many species. Fruit flies come from the family of Drosophilidae.

The main difference between gnats and fruit flies is that gnats feature dangling legs and long bodies that make them appear similar to a small mosquito while fruit flies have a rounded silhouette like a small version of a common housefly.

You May Also Like: Difference between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito

Comparison Table (Gnats vs Fruit Flies)

Characteristics	Gnats	Fruit flies
Color	They are dark gray or black.	Their color ranges from tan to black.
Shape	They features dangling legs and long bodies that make them appear similar to a small mosquito.	They have a rounded silhouette like a small version of a common housefly.
Habitat	They inhabit soil gardens and indoor potted plants.	They inhabit kitchens, drainages, and compost bins.
What they feed on	They feed on organic matter	They feed on fruits, rotting plants and fruit flies larvae.
Eyes	They have small eyes that are difficult to see.	They have big, red eyes.
Dangers	They eat the roots of the plants and may cause them to fall.	They may contaminate food transmitting diseases to human beings.
Life cycle	Their life cycle takes 4 weeks.	Their life cycle takes 30 days but it may take up to 3 months if the conditions are conducive.

What are Gnats?

Gnats are small flying insects from the families of Sciaridae, Anisopodidae, and Mycetophilid. They are of three species. They refer to a large variety of flying mosquitos.

They are very irritant. They are mostly found outdoors in soil gardens or indoor potted plants. They are easily distinguished from fruit flies as they have skinny bodies and they are black in color.

They are also found in well-lit areas such as window sills. They are mostly attracted to warm moist places.

They feed on organic matter and roots of plants hence that is why they prefer moist places. They may cause a tree to fall as the roots may be eaten hence the tree not able to be anchored in the ground.

They can be removed from the house by removing the source of moisture and that will make them migrate to another conducive environment.

You May Also Like: Difference Between Bed Bugs and Scabies

What are Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies are small flying insects from the family of Drosophilidae. They are smaller than house fly but can be easily recognized from their bulbous lower bodies.

They mainly inhabit kitchens, compost bins, and drainages. This is because that is where they can find their food.

They mainly feed on fruits that are found in kitchens, rotting food found in compost bins, and fruit fly larvae found in drainages.

They are carried to kitchens by their larvae being transported on the skins of the fruits then they grow from the bowls where the fruits are placed.

They are attracted to the smell of fruits so getting rid of them you can fruit peelings in a well-ventilated bowl overnight and all fruit flies will be attracted to the bowl and they will all be trapped.

They may cause danger to human beings by contaminating food and this may transmit diseases to human beings.

You May Also Like: Difference Between Pest and Insect

Main Differences between Gnats and Fruit Flies

Gnats are dark gray and black in color while fruit flies range from tan to black.
Gnats have skinny bodies while fruit flies have bulbous lower bodies.
Gnats have small eyes which are difficult to see while fruit flies have big, red eyes.
Gnats feed on organic matter and roots of plants while fruit flies feed on fruits, rotting food, and fruit flies’ larvae.
Gnats inhabit soil garden and indoor potted plants while fruit flies inhabit kitchens and compost bins,

Similarities between Gnats and Fruit Flies

They are both small flying insects.
They are both irritant insects.
They both measure about an eighth inch long.

In Conclusion

Gnats and fruit flies are small flying insects but a nuisance to human beings. As they are all nuisance it makes many people confuse them.

Gnats are skinny while fruit flies have lower bulbous bodies. Gnats inhabit soli gardens and indoor potted plants while fruit flies inhabit kitchens and compost bins.

The main feature that makes gnats to be different from fruit flies in the shape of their bodies.

Sources and References: