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Fungus Gnats and African Violets?

I just picked up this microscope to examine and take photography of my plants (especially buds). I might try to find something with a solid black bottom to add a couple drops of water and a pellet to, too see if I can see them grow.

Wireless Digital Microscope Handheld USB
HD Inspection Camera 50x-1000x Magnification with Stand Compatible with iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Android, Mac, Windows Computer

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We are both on the right track to eradication. Everyday it seems like more gnats are on the sticky traps in the mother tent! More so on the AV and basil next to it. I really think they like that AV best.

The Planet Natural site had this to say about these two methods;

5. Mosquito Bits and Microbe-Lift® BMC contain Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, a highly selective biological pesticide that kills damaging larvae, yet is SAFE for fish, wildlife, humans and non-target species. Contains NO harmful residues.

6. Top dress houseplants with Beneficial Nematodes to destroy the larvae stage. Nematodes are microscopic round worms that penetrate fungus gnat larvae, as well as harmful lawn and garden grubs, fleas, and other soil-borne pests (they do not harm earthworms), then release a bacterium that consumes the pest from the inside out. The long-lasting nematodes are safe for use around pets, plants, and your family.
 
Just noticed you have a sf4000 how is that working for you? Did you see their new sf7000 just came out
 
Those detachable drivers on the 7000 are nice. I’ve talked with a few guys about re-wiring the drivers on my 4000 should I need to move them in or out of the tent depending on season. That’s the hottest part of the light. It wouldn’t be that difficult.
 
I used my new microscope. I was wondering if I would be able to see the nematodes so I put one of the pellets in a few drops of water in a dark black lid. These are the photographs after the water dried up.

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These are my sticky traps in the mother tent and a photo from a government site. I haven’t seen but a few adults left. I’m sure the nematodes have done their job. I’ll put the rest in soon.

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That's how my pineapples were after a week until I did the soaking mosquito bits thing now I've had the same pineapples for nearly a month now and still don't have half the gnats of the middle one. I will be adding one of those balls to my next Amazon order to double down on the gnat bastards
 
Just after I took the pictures today I put some new sticky traps flat on the soil per the recommendation of the government site I added. A few hours later there is not a single gnat on all three. That’s a good sign.
 
Update: on the 8th I put in my nematodes and the gnats disappeared until a couple days ago. I now see a bunch of new gnats walking around on the soil. Only a few will fly. My sticky traps are catching most that fly.

so I read the instructions again and like a dummy I did the first application and forgot to do a second 7-10 days later to catch the next generation. I had enough from my order to treat the propagation plants in the small tent. There’s been virtually no gnats in the flowering tent so the single treatment must have done jobs.

i went ahead and order more Death Stars to do another treatment 7 day from now just to make sure I get them all.
 
MrPNW I was using the soaked mosquito bits water about once a week and there were no gnats (maybe 1-3). As a test I stopped using it on the 8th and yesterday I went in to check on the ladies and for the first time saw probably 10-15 of the little bastards. I'm concerned that the bits aren't good for my little critters in the living soil. I guess I have to go to using some bit water every other week to keep them down completely or once a month to just keep them in check. I think I'll try to email the bit guys and ask about using it in with living soil.
I was hoping to hear from you with some killer news on the nematode invasion and I would get myself a ball or two and go that route instead. Keep us updated once you get through the second treatment. I'm definitely leaning towards going to the nematodes because again I'm concerned about killing my soil critters.
Before switching over to living soil I would pile sand on top and use DE and allow the soil to dry almost completely and I didn't have gnats but you can't allow living to dry and because I top dress to feed sand is out DE is just about worthless when your soil is always wet because it sucks up the moisture and doesn't work.
I'll keep messin with the bits and stay in touch and maybe one of us will eradicate the little bastards, at least we'll have a fight going on from both ends.
 
Reading further on DE it says it’s like tiny razor blades to the larva.
I’m going to Email Natures Living Soil to see how they handle gnats. What better source?
 
I'm pretty sure it's the three things we're doing. DE. M. bits, and nematodes. That's what I keep seeing on the organic sites
 
Found Solution

Well it’s been a long trip but I finally beat the gnat problem in my small tent in the house.

Large Tent
Before I got my small tent, the gnats started in an African Violet in the big tent with a basil and my 4 cannabis. Once I moved the AV, basil and 1 of the cannabis (mother) to the small tent, they were quickly eradicated from the large tent. I think between the living soil (contains neem meal), and the neem oil I sprayed on them did the most damage to the adults. Then a dose of nematodes did in the next gen larva. The sticky cards have been the same ones since the nematodes treatment and no new adults are on them.

Small Tent
The small tent was a different story. They definitely preferred the AV but were moving to the mother and basil, until I bombarded them with nematodes and diatomaceous earth “DE”. I had to double up on nematodes two weeks apart, then a week after that laid down a layer of DE, worked that into the top inch of soil and put a second layer on top. That duster DE comes with is a dust nightmare! Just use a tablespoon to sprinkle it around and spread it out evenly with your fingers.

I have not seen a single gnat in 5 days and I was seeing them everyday for weeks. My cards were full of them.

Solution
So in the future I will hit the adults with neem oil spray and follow up with nematodes two weeks apart with a layer of DE. I check and DE does not harm nematodes. This is about as natural as it gets, no concentrated chemicals.

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Life Cycle of a Fungus Gnat

Adults live about one week and lay up to 300 eggs in rich, moist soils. Within 4-6 days tiny larvae emerge and begin feeding on plant roots during their two week period. The pupal stage lasts 3-4 days before young adults leave the soil and begin the next generation. The entire life cycle from egg to adult may be completed in as little as 3-4 weeks depending on temperature. Because of their proclivity and relative short gestation, potted plants can host each stage — egg, larvae, pupae, adult — in multiple generations at once. Because of this remedies usually require repeated applications until there are no surviving eggs.
 
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