I hate those things! Little black pests that fly around your head.
And, there is never just one of them.
They go up your nose, in your ears and even wind up as a protein late lunch for those of us unfortunate enough to swallow a big mouthful.
These pests are found throughout the world, even in the arctic.
They are flies but as they are so small not often thought of in that manner.
They go by a number of different names including midges, no-see-ums, buffalo gnats, fungus gnat, vinegar gnat, fruit flies, eye gnats, black gnat and punkys.
Gnats are found both in your yard and in your home.
They like warm and moist places just like mosquitos, so it's important to rid your home and yard of their breeding grounds.
While most gnats are just plain bothersome, some gnats bite.
Also similar to mosquitos, it's the female gnat that bites and utilizes the blood to grow their eggs.
Male gnats are the ones that swarm in a mating dance around your noggin.
The swarm usually assembles at dusk and is called a ghost.
Gnats like to eat various decomposing matter.
We have all seen the fruit flies found around your ripe peaches or apples.
Others enjoy munching on compost piles or yard clippings.
They lay their eggs in wet soil or standing water just like mosquitoes.
If you see them in your yard or flying around your fruit and veggies or around your sink, chances are they are laying their eggs close by.
One gnat can lay up to two hundred eggs in its one to four month life-cycle.
That's right; they can evolve from egg to adult all within about a month.
You do the math.
In one season one gnat's offspring can grow tremendously.
There are two different ways to get rid of gnats.
The first is to cut off their food source.
In your house that means storing your fruit and veggies in the fridge.
Make sure you adequately water your house plants so that they are damp but not collecting water.
Remove your garbage frequently so that no decomposing food sits in the garbage can.
Keep your drains clean.
Don't let dirty dishes sit in the sink.
Outdoors, you can limit mulch piles and standing water.
Make sure you tip over any flower pots or children's toys.
Get rid of standing water in gutters and hollows in trees.
While all these things will help eliminate the annoying swarms, it is not a cure all as there is no way to effectively plant life.
The best way to treat your yard for gnats is to hire a pest control professional.
Many of the same techniques that they use to barrier spray your yard of ticks and mosquitos can be utilized to get rid of gnats in your yard.
Barrier spray treatments can prove to be an effective technique.