Gnats getting rid of outside


How to Control Gnat Infestation in Backyard

Biting and Non-Biting Gnats

There is some disagreement surrounding what small flies should be referred to as gnats. To help clarify this issue, we will consider the most common indoors gnats to be non-biters and the most common outdoor gnats to the biting gnats. These biting gnats are not only nuisances, but create extreme discomfort and may cause medically-related problems because of their biting behaviors.

Outside Control of Non-Biting Gnats

Usually, control of non-biting gnats involves the complete elimination of their developmental sites. The most common gnats in this group are fruit flies, fungus gnats, phorid flies and moth flies.

Eye Gnat Control - A non-biting gnat that is rarely a problem inside, but is a very troublesome nuisance gnat outdoors, is the eye gnat. Eye gnats are attracted to the moisture of the eyes and nose and are especially annoying in the spring and fall, but in some areas are year-round problems.

Female eye gnats lay their eggs in or on soils that are moist and contain organic matter. Generally eye gnats populations are something one may have to simply put up with since there are few, effective ways to even temporarily control them using insecticides or habitat elimination.

Outdoor control of the non-biting group of gnats is often needed since outside breeding and developmental sources are producing large populations of gnats that may eventually get inside our homes and businesses. Therefore, the reduction or elimination of their exterior developmental sites is very important and may include:

Biting Gnat Control

Gnats included in this group are those that are frequent nuisances and bite people and animals to consume blood. Biting gnats can cause medically related problems such as allergic reactions to their bites.

The more common biting gnats include biting midges also known as no-see-ums, punkies, sand flies, plus black flies that are also called buffalo gnats. There are many other biting flies such as horse flies, stable flies and deer flies, but those flies are not generally considered to be small flies and thus do not fit into the group of flies called gnats.

Biting midges affecting people generally develop and live in moist habitats, coastal marshes springtime pools of water and freshwater inlets along the coastal regions. Black flies usually develop in flowing streams and rivers with waters containing high oxygen content and have flight ranges up to several miles from their developmental sites to where they take a blood meal.

These habitats are generally large, variable and provide little access to anyone other than private or government mosquito abatement and control organizations. Therefore, biting midge and black fly control is very challenging, only marginally effective, and quite expensive for individual homeowners. However, there are a few things that can help prevent and control of biting midges. Some include:

How to Get Control of Fungus Gnats Outdoors

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Home Home Improvement How to Get Control of Fungus Gnats Outdoors

Gnats tend to congregate in mulch and shrubbery.

While we frequently use the word “gnats” to refer to any number of tiny winged insects (such as biting midges and punkies), true fungus gnats are small non-biting insects that are drawn to wet, rotten organic matter where they lay their eggs and soon hatch into larvae.

In general, they are relatively harmless creatures, but their incessant swarming is annoying enough to drive even the toughest of gardeners indoors.

Like mosquitoes, fungus gnats can be difficult to control, because the problem may go beyond your property line.

It’s pretty hard to deal with any insect in your own yard if they’re flying in from a nearby lake or farm, and some parts of the world seem to be overrun during the warmer months.

Here are some tips to keep them away.


A little vanilla extract on the brim of your hat acts as a natural gnat repellent. (pixelshot)

How to Tend Your Yard to Avoid Fungus Gnats

Take these steps to make your yard less inviting to fungas gnats:


Mulch is great for holding in moisture, but it shouldn’t be moldy or soggy.

To address existing infestations, here are some other ideas:


DIY your own gnat trap with pine oil, citronella and vanilla. (fotogal/Getty Images)

Repellents and Homemade Gnat Traps

You can find a variety of organic fungus gnat control products, including repellents and predatory insects, at your local garden center or at online retailers such as Planet Natural and Golden Harvest Organics.

If you’re not sure what sort of insect you’re dealing with, or if you’re being bitten, contact your local agricultural extension service for advice specific to your region.

Further Reading

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DANNY LIPFORD

https://www.aboutdannylipford.com/

Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.

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