Have you noticed more gnats this summer than you remember seeing in years past? We agree there are more gnats around than ever, but how come?

In short, because of climate change and the extinction risks gnats’ predators face. Stay tuned to learn more about identifying gnats, why they’re so bad this year, and how to eliminate them. Your trusted experts at Vulcan Termite & Pest Control are here to cover all your questions!

 

How Can I Identify Gnats?

Knowing the exact kind of pest you’re dealing with is essential for getting rid of them. Most of the time, this is a simple task, but not all gnats are created equal. Gnats can oftentimes be mistaken for other small insects like fruit flies. 

Gnats are small flies that belong to the same insect group as midges, mosquitoes, and crane flies. Identifying their unique characteristics is the first step in knowing how to eradicate and prevent them in the future.

Biting vs. Non-Biting Gnats

There are two categories of gnats: biting and non-biting. 

Some gnats, such as black gnats, have piercing mouthparts, similar to mosquitoes, that allow them to feed on blood. Their bites also cause a similar reaction to a mosquito bite, such as itching, swelling, and skin irritation. Non-biting gnats like fungus gnats don’t bite, but they grow quickly in numbers, infest your home, and spread fungus everywhere they go. 

Types of Biting and Non-Biting Gnats

Now that we’ve covered the difference between biting and non-biting gnats, let’s take a closer look at the types of gnats you might encounter:

• Fungus gnats. The most common kind of gnat dwells near overwatered houseplants, where they can lay their eggs and feed on the fungus that grows with their hatchlings.

• Drain flies. As their name implies, these tiny fuzzy insects feed on the buildup inside sink drains. Needless to say, you should always run your garbage disposal after putting food down the sink. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, don’t let anything go down your kitchen sink drains except water; everything else must go in the trash. 

• Midges. This type of gnat resembles mosquitoes and similarly likes to swarm around lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

• Black gnats. These guys aren’t necessarily a kind of gnat, but “black gnats” is a broad term for dark-colored gnats like fungus gnats and phorid flies. 

• Sand flies. These are biting gnats found in tropical environments. Alabama has a subtropical climate, so you’ll find these little guys in most places where you can find sand, like Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Why Are Gnats So Bad This Year?

Alabama’s subtropical climate makes an excellent breeding ground for insects to thrive, especially in the summer, but why are gnats so bad this year?

Climate Change

When the hot and humid summer days approach, so do the gnats. But they seem to be worse than ever before. Climate change could have a thing or two to do with this. Climate change has increased outdoor temperatures and humidity, two things that gnats depend on.

During the summertime, gnats and other cold-blooded insects must live in warm weather conditions to mate and lay their eggs. But that leaves us wondering, why do they come inside?

Availability of Resources

Consider this: Where do you notice gnats in your home the most? The sources that attract them are key to removing them. 

Gnats gravitate towards standing water in your sink, leftover bits of food in the garbage disposal, overripe aromas from the fruit bowl on the counter, and overwatered houseplants… the list goes on. 

Gnats love moisture and the scent of things they feed on, such as organic waste and matter like potting soil, produce, plants, and sewage. Summer pest control is essential to fight all the insects that want to enter your home.

 

The Best Ways To Eliminate Gnats

Here are a few prevention tips to keep in mind when handling nasty gnats:

Keep the Kitchen Clean

Gnats like to stick around the kitchen because it has everything they want and need. Here’s a quick checklist to help keep them away:

1. Take out the trash (and occasionally wash out your trash can, especially if it stinks even without garbage).
2. Don’t leave dishes with food or food residue in the sink or dishwasher.
3. Ensure no standing water or food residue is in your sink drains or garbage disposal.
4. After preparing meals, wipe down your countertops and stove with the cleaner of your choice (not just water). 
5. Mop and sweep the floors.
6. Cover the fruit bowl or put it in the fridge.
7. Store food in sealed containers.

Clean Up the Bathroom

Keeping your bathroom nice and tidy will ensure gnats stay out with these easy tips: 

 

• Always flush the toilet and keep the lid down.
• Ensure your sink and shower drains are never clogged, and unclog them with a drain snake, chemical drain cleaner, or—for best results—both. 
• Take out the trash, and line trash cans with bags instead of throwing trash straight into them unprotected.
• Wash used towels and replace them with clean, dry ones. 
• Cover your toothbrush or stow it away in a drawer.

Other Things to Remember 

Our valuable tips for gnat control don’t stop at the kitchen or in your bathroom:

 

Windows and Doors: Try to keep windows or doors open only for a short time

Plant Watering: Try not to overwater your plants; gnats are attracted to the soil as a place to lay their eggs

Plant Choices: Indoor plants like rosemary, mint, and basil are excellent, all-natural deterrents 

Vacuuming: It’s essential in carpeted areas, especially if you eat there often.

 

Contact Us For Your Pest Control Needs

Hopefully, with our tips, you won’t have to continue asking yourself, “Why are gnats so bad this year?” Indoor pests are inevitable during the hot summer, but following our pointers should help eliminate them. 

For over 40 years, Vulcan Termite & Pest Control has provided expert solutions for pests of all kinds. If you are struggling with indoor pests this season, please explore our home insect control services!

Click the button below to request a specific service, ask questions, or schedule your free inspection. We look forward to helping you keep your home pest-free!

 

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