Where Do Gnats Come From

Summary: If you have ever had pesky little gnats flying around your home you may have wondered where they come from and how you can get rid of them. We have compiled some information that will help you out the next time you suffer a gnat infestation.

Ever wonder what those pesky little flies are that buzz around your head? While you're busy swatting at them, you're probably asking where they came from and how to get rid of them. These irritating bugs can be classified as gnats. Gnats can be found in all sorts of places, the particular species depends upon location and source.

Fungus gnats are usually found near plants in or around your home. Plants are the best places for this species to reproduce exponentially because its eggs are laid in moist soil. Fungus gnats feed on fungi, but it also feeds on the roots of wheat plants and the tubers of potatoes.

The gall gnat actually lays its eggs in plants, as opposed to just the soil. When this occurs, large bumps form in the plant. These bumps, known as galls, often

Swarming gnats

signal serious health problems with the plant.

Non-biting midges can be found in any source of freshwater or in damp soil. This gnat spicies loves moisture because it feeds off of most types of vegetation that grow in water, such as algae. As irritating as these midges might be, the good news is that they cannot bite you. If they are in or near your home they may be a nuisance, but at least you'll be bite-free.

Biting midges have a different habitat than non-biting ones. They are usually found in mud, sand, or near decomposing plants. Female biting midges look for blood meals, but will also eat nectar. Kind of makes you want to rethink eating peaches.

Tips to Get Rid of Gnats:
• Instead of using peat moss in your plant soil, try using vermiculite. Fungus gnats are highly attracted to peat moss because of the large amount of organic matter it contains.

• Check the dampness of the soil in your plants daily. If you have noticed fungus gnats buzzing around them, they have probably already laid eggs in the soil. The good news, though, is the gnat larvae cannot survive in dry soil. So, allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again. Make sure not to wait too long, though, or you may accidentally kill your plants.

• If your gnat infestation is out of control you may want consider using insecticide on your soil. However, do so with great caution, as many plants

Gnat relief

could get damaged by insecticides. Read the label to be sure you can use it on or around plants.

• If you do use an insecticide, make sure to apply the product to the soil once a week for about a month. This will ensure that if any gnats are not killed by the treatment, their young will most likely not survive. Talk about sticking it to the gnat.

• Try making a gnat trap. Take an empty milk carton and paint it bright yellow. After it dries, apply some sort of adhesive to the carton (like clear glue). Hang the trap near your plants or wherever the gnats seem to be congregating. Because gnats are not the brightest creatures on this plant, they will most likely be attracted to the bright object and get stuck on the carton. Granted, you will only dent their population, but if it makes you feel pro-active, go for it.

• Although this may seem like an obvious tip, make sure to keep your house clean to avoid gnat infestations. This includes taking your garbage out, washing dirty dishes, and storing food in pantries or cupboards on a regular basis. Think of a clean house as a gigantic bug zapper that will keep out a multitude of creatures.

• Some species of gnats may be attracted to vinegar, so setting up vinegar traps may help eliminate the bugs. Set out a jar of vinegar and poke tiny holes in the lid with a needle or other sharp object. Try to make the holes as small as possible so that the gnats cannot escape. You may want to put peanut butter or some other sticky ingredient on the inside of the lid. After configuring your trap, gnats will fly into the jar and will not be able to get out. They will either get stuck in the peanut butter, or will be unable to escape from the tiny holes. Say hasta la vista to the gnats for good.