Gnats are a significant issue in Mississippi and the warmer Southern State. One day your home is insect-free, and suddenly there are a handful of gnats invading your house in Jackson, MS.
Have you ever wondered, “Where do gnats come from?” Then you’ve come to the right place! These tiny bugs that are no bigger than a fraction of an inch can be a real pain.
If you’ve dealt with gnats in your home, it’s good to know what they are and why they’re invading your space. Keep reading to find out more about these little bugs and what you can do to make them go away!
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What Are Gnats?
Gnats are small, flying insects that tend to fly in packs known as clouds. In a lot of ways, gnats are like smaller versions of mosquitos — and their bites itch with the same level of intensity. Though not all gnats bite, many of them do.
You might know gnats better by several other common names. Black flies, no-see-ums, and midges are alternative ways of addressing these pesky bugs. Ultimately, gnat is just an umbrella term that covers a large number of different insects.
Since most gnats don’t grow much larger than a fraction of an inch, you rarely will see them flying around you. Yes, that’s right — you’ll feel an itch on your arm and not know what caused it.
Many gnats are bloodsuckers, so they’re perfectly happy to sit on your arm, bite you, and draw blood. Their lifecycle doesn’t last much longer than two weeks, so they need to make the most of their time (at your expense).
You can find gnats anywhere in the world, with the notable exception of Antarctica. It’s a little too cold for them to thrive there!
Where Do Gnats Come From?
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where gnats come from since there is not just one type of gnat — there are thousands of different kinds! While each type of gnat may live in a different type of habitat, these little bugs share several qualities.
Where do gnats come from in the house? Many gnats are attracted to the soil used for houseplants, so if your living room doubles as a greenhouse, you might unintentionally be inviting gnats into your home. Fittingly, these gnats are called houseplant or fungus gnats.
Some gnats will emerge from drains and toilets. If you have plumbing or sewage issues, you may be attracting drain flies. You can expect these flying pests to show up if there is any sewage present, so call your plumber to take care of the situation.
Fruit flies are another variety. These flies hang around rotting fruit and veggies, and sometimes they even will hover around fresh veggies that are sitting out on the counter. Make sure you keep tabs on your fruit inventory or you could end up with a swarm of gnats around a moldy tomato!
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One more type of gnat that likes damp, marshy environments is the buffalo gnat. These insects are vicious biters and can kill chickens by assaulting them as a swarm. The good news is that these gnats usually don’t find their way into houses, so you’re less likely to have them hanging around your kitchen.
When it all comes down to it, gnats like damp environments. So if you have a leaky pipe, keep an abundance of plants, or live in a warm and humid climate, you’re likely to encounter gnats in the spring and summer months.
Gnats won’t sting you, but they are annoying. Take comfort in knowing that they don’t have to stick around forever if you take a few key steps.
How Do I Get Rid of Gnats?
When it comes to getting rid of gnats, you have several effective options. Flapping your arms at a swarm of gnats to shoo them away will only get you so far. While there’s nothing worse than running into a cloud of gnats on your evening jog, there are better ways to minimize your encounters with these bugs.
Mosquito repellant can work well to keep the gnats at bay. Use it as a preventative measure if you’re out for a hike or sitting by the fire on an early summer night. Many experts also advise wearing light-colored clothing as a good gnat deterrent.
Inside the home, you can try using a gnat trap. There are several different types, but one of the more common options consists of scented, sticky tape. The scent will attract the gnats and the sticky tape will make sure the bugs don’t escape.
If your in-laws gave you a bottle of bad red wine, you can use that to trap gnats, too. Pour the wine into a smaller bottle with a narrow opening, and the gnats will fly into the bottle. While bathing in red wine might sound pretty tempting to most people, it’s a dangerous temptation for the gnats and they end up drowning when they do it.
All of these home remedies and store-bought products can do wonders do reduce your gnat problems, but sometimes it pays to get the pros involved. They’ll have the experience to provide longterm results. When you’re tired of itching, it’s best to call a professional pest control service (such as the experts at Synergy²)to evict these troublesome gnats from your Madison or Brandon home!
How to Keep the Gnats Away
Now you know how to trap the gnats in your house, but there is a follow-up question to consider. How do you keep them from coming back? The key is to follow a few sanitary steps and make some minor adjustments to your routine.
For starters, make sure to clean up after eating. Remember that gnats like warm and moist environments — and sweet and sticky things like sugar. An easy solution is to load the dishwasher right away to ensure the cleanest environment.
While you’re at it in the kitchen, take out the trash before the trash bag is bursting at the seams. Rotting fruit is a magnet for gnats, so if it’s out of the house, it’s one less thing that will attract these flying pests.
Where do fungus gnats, one of the most common varieties, come from? They come from your drain. Make sure that your drain is secure and clean to keep gnats from congregating there.
Don’t forget to consider the outside of your house, too. Gnats will find their way into any areas that are decomposing or damp. Even though you might want your flowers to look as vibrant as possible, try not to water them too much since gnats are fond of oversaturated soil.
Do you have siding on your home? If so, check it for mold. Gnats like mold and they could be taking up residence in the crevices between your siding planks.
How Do I Stop the Itching?
If you find yourself scratching a bunch of gnat bites, you may be wondering if there is any relief available. There is. A simple dose of soap and water can start to provide relief right away, so head to the shower if you begin to notice bites.
You can try a cold compress, too. The chill of ice will help to reduce inflammation, so if your bite is especially red, reach for an ice cube. Use a towel to hold it while you apply the cold compress to your bite.
Some people swear by aloe vera gel as another anti-inflammatory product, so give that a try next. You’ll love the scent and soothing feeling.
Antihistamines are another good way to reduce the itchiness. You can find creams and gels in most pharmacies that you can apply directly to the bite as well as tablets and capsules taken orally. Be warned, though, that oral antihistamines can make you feel drowsy, so make sure you don’t have an important meeting on the docket right after use.
The good news is that most gnats don’t carry disease, so you don’t have to worry about getting infected with anything. And most of the time, gnat bites won’t cause an allergic reaction. But if you notice anything suspicious about your bite or find it hard to breathe, head to a doctor’s office right away.
The Bottom Line
Where do gnats come from? In May or June, it can seem like they come from all around you. Gnats might not be your favorite part of springtime, but they are a familiar presence.
When you see a cloud of them hovering near you on your evening walk, you’ll know that winter is officially over — and it’s time to safeguard your home and body from these pesky little creatures!
If you want to know more about gnat and other filth flies, or need pest control services in your home or business please visit our site at https://synergy2ms.com. Feel free to read more about us and decide if Synergy² is the right company for you. We have over 200 Five-Star Google reviews for pest control service in the Jackson metro area (Jackson/Madison/Brandon/Ridgeland). Check out our newest location reviews for pest control service in Jackson, MS here!
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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