I don't know if it will allow me to post something again, but will give it a try. Here's what I found out about gnats.

GNAT: common name for any one of a number of small, fragile-looking two-winged flies of the suborder Nematocera, order Diptera, which includes the families Tipulidae ( crane flies ), Bibionidae (hairflies), Ceratopogonidae (biting midges ), Chironomidae (true midges), Cecidomyidae (gall midges), Simuliidae ( black flies ), Culicidae ( mosquitoes ), and others. They often assemble together in large mating swarms. In England mosquitoes are called gnats; in the United States it is chiefly the smaller forms of Diptera, especially irritating because of their great numbers and their vicious biting habits, that are referred to as gnats. All gnats have long, hairlike antennae, which are particularly well-developed in the males. Gnat larvae are free-living, most feeding on plants. Larval plant feeders, e.g., the Hessian fly larvae, cause root, stem, and leaf galls to be formed by the host plant. Some species of fungus gnats (families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) are very common pests of mushrooms and roots of potted plants in homes and greenhouses. One group of dipterans (family Chloropidae) of the suborder Cyclorrhapha are commonly called eye gnats, or eye flies . Gnats are classified in the phylum Arthropoda , class Insecta, order Diptera.

One particularly charming article said that they can fly in your eyes or ears, up your nose, or in your mouth. How well I know. Thanks for reminding me!!

I also found what may be a useful page for assorted sprays (pyrethrin, permethrin, etc) and dusts for control over assorted lengths of time. Some are safe for use in veggie gardens, and all are safe for people and pets as soon as they have dried. Some come with a hose-end attachment as well.

Hope it might help.

pat

Here is a link that might be useful: Gnat control

I had never noticed the gnats in OK before this year, but having run into them on an annual basis in the Sacramento Valley, I was slightly appalled when they seemed to be here this year. I wasn't absolutely positive until you sent in that post, but I thought there were some on our property. You just confirmed it. The fact that they're on your head and neck if pretty much a complete giveaway.

As I said earlier, Colusa County had great volumes of both, and I agree that the gnats are even worse than the mosquitoes. I hope they are going to have a short season here, just as they did there, but you can probably count on them being around for a month or so. Wretched creatures!!

Try the thing I used to do, with a bandana sprayed down with strong repellent. It does seems to help. When I found I can't use DEET any more, I began using a product called Sawyer's that's made for clothing. One spray treatment will last through 6 to 8 washings, and it will even repel chiggers. I'll attach a link to the product info. It's also listed on Amazon. I love the stuff. It's permethrin, and seems to have no odor. A spray can is about $9 and will last you for several seasons.
In the meantime, a spray can of Cutters from WalMart should get you some relief from any new bites. Spray a bandana liberally with it and then tie it over your hair and ears. It does help.

Pat

Here is a link that might be useful: Sawyer's Insect Repellent

Pat, thanks for all this great info. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As I have already said, my skin is SO thin that I must look like a strolling banquet to blood-sucking "critters". I have heard to put a Bounce sheet in your pocket when working outside to repel mosquitoes. Have NO idea if it works. Don't know what would be in a fabric softener sheet to repel bugs.......

Jeanie

Jeanie, maybe you can get some relief from those nasty things if you do a combination of measures, like I've had to do. First scrub yourself down with the special soap to see if you can get the bites to calm down. Then get some of the Bullfrog stuff for your skin, and a spray fabric repellent to treat your clothing or spray it down with Cutters or Off, as I suggested. Between the three, it should make life a lot more tolerable. And it should go a long ways toward deterring any more of the horrible bites.

I've never tried using Bounce, but I have to wonder how or why it would work. In some of the bug populations I've seen, nothing but the big guns will have any effect at all. As an example, I once bought a big, expensive ($175) bug zapper to hang outside my house on the ranch. The next day I took it back to the hardware store . . . . totally and completely fried with bugs. Ruined forever. The clerk asked what in the world happened. I replied with one word. "Gunnersfield." That was the name of the ranch. The clerk said "Ah!" and gave me an immediate refund.

Pat

If the chiggers and miserable black gnats are going to be an ongoing problem, and I imagine they are, you can also get the Grandpa's Pine Tar Shampoo. I've used it and it's pretty nice, other than the fact that I highly recommend it for bites on your scalp. When you use it, think of it sort of like doing a flea bath on the dog. (I know,we don't have fleas, right??) But lather it up good and then let it sit for a minute or two before rinsing. It seems to have a better effect on killing the itch if you do that.

I'm attaching a link for the catalog page where you can get the stuff. If you just need a bar of the soap in a hurry, I've got one I could send out to you tomorrow. Okay?

Pat

Here is a link that might be useful: Grandpa's Pine Tar Products

Pat,
Thank You so very much for the soap offer! You are so nice, but I think the shampoo is the answer, since most of the bites are in my hair and on my ears, neck and shoulders. Thanks for the Link, and I sure hope these durn things do a disappearing act soon.........

Jeanie