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The Kitchen Table

Gnats!!!!

17 years ago

In all the 30+ years I've lived here, we've never had gnats. Black flies in May, yes, and some mosquitoes--usually when the sun starts to go down. But not swarms of gnats. Until this summer.

Everyone's blaming it on all the rain we had, but my daughter's property--at the edge of a lake--doesn't have any. The gnats are horrible! They swarm our faces, heading directly into our ears first, it seems, and then noses, eyes, and mouths. It has become torture to be outdoors, and as a result I'm not getting much gardening done. I'm also rushing Wolfy along on his walks.

I don't own insect repellant because I've never needed any. I've credited our bat population, but I guess even the bats can't keep up with these insane gnats.

Anyone else dealing with them all of a sudden? Any suggestions? Any good products (or, even better, home remedies) to repel them?

Thanks!

Susan

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Comments (7)

msmarion
17 years ago
We have them here in FL as well as no seeums. The dragonflies seem to help. Sorry I don't have any suggestions, we just deal with em.
mcmann
17 years ago
Susan- You haven't had gnats before? I am amazed. It's the one thing that I don't like about our place in the woods- the gnat season starts when the weather gets warm. We spray with Deep Woods Off and Cutter and it works fairly well.

Maybe you haven't had the problem because the area around your house isn't as wooded as mine. Gnats do like to breed in damp areas, especially if there's lots of decomposing leaves or grass. That pretty well describes the woods around my house.

Is it possible that your daughter gets more of a breeze off the lake and that keeps the gnats away? We don't have a problem with there's a little breeze.
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grammahony
17 years ago
A breeze helps a great deal. I've heard vanilla used as a repellant helps. We set up a fan on the deck if the gnats are a problem. I also use Cutters.
Leslie
alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
Maybe I can use one of those "personal fans" you see advertised, the ones that clip to your collar. LOL

I said that as a joke, but maybe it's not a bad idea!

Mcmann, we had more insects when we lived in Pike County. We're surrounded by woods here, too, but I really think the bat population makes a difference.
loggerbaby123
17 years ago
gnats or them dumb fruit flies? they are red colored and we have them here like nothing ive ever seen before. i cant get rid of them. they dont bite but they are a pain in the butt! go in youre face always! drives me crazy. wish i had a help for you i dont sorry, wish i had some. i did pour bleach down all the drains but that only worked for about 2 days.
alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
Nope, not fruit flies. We used to have those when we had a lot of garden produce in the house.

You should check your potatoes and onions--one rotten one will keep fruit flies around. Also tomatoes and any other fruit.
grammahony
17 years ago
Ditto what alisande said about the onions and potatoes. One rotten one will keep them like crazy. Something for that is dump a little vinegar in a flat bowl/dish, and add a drop of dish washing liquid. Cover with plastic wrap, and poke holes in the wrap. They'll go in and can't get out. Really works.

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