Is this a fungus gnat?

[OlderNOTwiser]

I bought a bag of compost to blend in with my soil. I'm going to (or rather I WAS going to) add to the bottom few inches with my soil in 5 gallon pots. Kind of like a super soil at the bottom of the pot kind of thing. However, when I turned the bag over it was crazy with these bugs. I'm real leery of using it now. Maybe I'll just garage the bag and let it freeze a couple times and use it in the actual garden come spring. Anyway, if this is indeed a gnat what can be done? I have sticky traps but I'd like to do something to the soil/compost to eradicate them prior to use. Suggestions?

 

[Xena]

It does look like a fungus gnat. No advice for how to deal with.....sorry.

 

[OlderNOTwiser]

Identification confirmed, eh? To be clear, the bag is unopened but of course there are perforations on it so the soil can breathe. Since I'd like to treat it prior to mixing with my main soil I'm wondering if a mosquito dunk tea applied to the bag or at least the amount I need to work with a day ahead would work. Of course since it is going into my pot pots so to speak, is it going to be an issue in a few months when smoked? I'd hate to get to the Sevin route.

 

[Xena]

I’m not 100% but looks like the picture of FG on the GWE main site. I don’t know a lot about them but if I was gonna try and use the soil I would probably open it up and put it in a tote or something and put DE in it for a while to kill em. I know DE is safe to use.

 

[Woodsman67]

If you don't have some kind of pest in incoming compost, I'd question the quality of it. Knats are an easy to control pest, look the soil for other nasties and use it. I make my own compost, its always got some flying critter around it. Top dress with diatomaceous earth and don't over water, knats won't survive in well drained, properly watered soil and the Diatomaceous earth won't let them breed and live on the soil surface. Dry it out well in the sun or oven bake at 200 degrees F until heat has fully saturated the center for over 20 minutes if really worried. Id say its standard to expect it, not that I like dealing with it. Happy growing