Tiny, tiny, tiny flying invaders in enclosure?

Somehow I've got some tiny, tiny, tiny flying invaders in Z's enclosure.
So tiny you could probably fit 10 or more on the head of a pin. Not sure where they came from--possibly potting soil(?) They're so tiny, ZaRDoZ ignores them--too small to waste energy hunting/eating them. When I had a water dish in there (for humidity) I'd find 1 or 2 dead floaters every day. Too tiny to photograph. There are usually a few (2-5 or 6) in the enclosure at any time, and eventually they find their way out and into the house. They probably only live a few days, but can be a PITA when they get out & fly up your nose... They don't seem to bite either Z or us. They're just... annoying.

Anyone know what these are and how to get rid of them?

Get Zardoz out of his layer and grab your trusty propane torch and roast them, that's what I do out in my shop in the summertime. Just wave it around (don't stay in one spot to long :roll: ) in the viv till they are all gone. You"re basically burning their wings off and, roasting them!!!

:? I can't tell if you're yanking my chain or not :?: :?

The enclosure is all wood (birch & pine) sealed in urethane. Open flames are a definite, "Nuh-uh."
(And the danged thing weighs 300 lbs.--it ain't going anywhere unless/until I die or move. :roll: )

MrSpectrum":1fej962y said:

:? I can't tell if you're yanking my chain or not :?: :?

The enclosure is all wood (birch & pine) sealed in urethane. Open flames are a definite, "Nuh-uh."
(And the danged thing weighs 300 lbs.--it ain't going anywhere unless/until I die or move. :roll: )

Click to expand...

You would have to be in one spot for a bit to cause any damage. Have you ever run you hand over a candle, if done slowly it will burn you, if done quickly it won't. Same principle applies here.
I hate gnats!!!

I'm not sure they're gnats as they don't cloud/swarm--just a couple/few individuals at a time.

I understand what you're saying about the torch, but I really don't think that will do anything.
The more I study the situation, the more I'm thinking they're coming from the potting soil, though I don't know why. I'm not looking forward to tearing all the plants out, washing roots, and replanting. DW has a spray she uses, but it contains a few things harmful to beardies, and he tastes everything. Just caught him in the basil forest (2nd time ever on his own ) and he nibbled a few leaves off an echeveria (which is fine--all the plants are safe/edible).

Talking it through, I guess I'm looking for something beardie-safe to spray on the soil to get rid of the li'l buggers. If I knew specifically what they were, that might help too. :dontknow:

I know this is an older post but I personally would tear down the tank to bare bones. Throw away the substrate, bake any rocks or wood perches in a 220 degree oven for an hour to kill any parasites that may be calling them home and I'd give the tank and good cleaning with a chlorhexidine solution.

Once all this is done, I'd keep Z with the bare essentials for a few days just to ensure that no insects remain. A basking spot, food and water dish along with a hideaway of you do that. Potting soil even when sourced from a reputable place harbors all kinds of creepers. Even if the soil is clean, creepers find their way into the soil from fruits and veggies that you may be feeding Z.

Hope this helps. Wish you luck with your extermination efforts.

Please see below link,

https://getbusygardening.com/control-soil-gnats/