Gnats are seasonal; they are a springtime pest. Once we get consistent summer weather, they will go away. Their life cycle is short - usually mid-May to late June is when we see gnats. Gnats don't cause major damage to homes.
Gnats are seasonal pests that thrive during the spring. With proper methods of control, they may eventually go away as the year progresses. Gnats have a short life cycle and will often disappear when the cold months start.
Gnats are active mostly during the day, especially around mid-morning and dusk. Biting usually peaks during a three-week period in late spring or early summer, and is usually more severe following droughts.
Gnats are attracted to moisture, so you're most likely to encounter them in the summer months--they often hang out in moist areas of your home like your kitchen drain or potted soil. That also means factors like food spills, unsealed garbage cans, or potted houseplants can all contribute to an infestation.
Combine 10-15 drops of essential oil with 1 cup of witch hazel or vodka and spray around problem areas. Planting natural gnat repelling plants like lavender, basil, catnip, rosemary, citronella grass or lemon balm around outdoor living areas can also help reduce gnat populations in a natural, eco-friendly way.
Use Lavender Spray Or Plants
Gnats are not fans of the aroma of lavender, so whether you want to plant your lavender because you enjoy the look as well as the scent or choose to use a liquid substitute to this scent, gnats will avoid it.
Use a small saucer to mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dishwashing soap and a little sugar. Put the saucer near the gnats. Use more than one saucer, if needed. The gnats will be drawn to the sweet solution, fall in and get trapped.
In general, gnats go through the four life stages of egg, larva, pupa and adult, similar to other flies. The fungus gnats lay their eggs in moist organic debris or soil, which hatch into larvae. The larvae feed on organic matter such as leaf mold, mulch, compost, grass clippings, root hairs and fungi.
Breeding Sites
Gnats lay their eggs in moist or decomposing organic matter. Gnats in plants are a common observation by homeowners, as well as in and around trash cans with organic waste, and clogged drains. Identifying and eliminating these breeding sites is crucial in controlling gnat populations.
Where do gnats come from? Gnats come to find a breeding ground and place to lay their eggs. They seek out moist places, decomposing organic matter and damp soil of houseplants, and can be found around your trash or recycling bin.
Breath, Sweat & Tears
A gnat is always searching for moisture and salt, which are found in sweat and tears. Unfortunately, the pests are vectors for pink eye. They are also drawn to the smell of bad breath and to the carbon dioxide people expel when exhaling.
While gnats may momentarily land on or fly around your hair, they do not typically take up residence or establish nests in human hair like some other pests. However, gnats can be a nuisance when they fly near your face or hair, especially in outdoor settings.
These flies thrive in temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They reproduce in decaying organic matter that is moist and shaded.
A diluted solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and water poured directly onto the soil will kill fungus gnat larvae on contact and help stop the gnats' life cycle.
The adult has about a 10 day lifespan but during that period may lay in excess of 250-300 eggs. The life cycle begins with the egg hatching in five to six days into a larva. Larvae feed for 10 to 14 days and then change into pupae in the soil.
Their saliva can cause an allergic reaction, which for most people is usually mild. They can't bite through fabric, so they only affect exposed skin. They usually feed in the morning and evening.
Eradicate your fungus gnat infestation for good with the following method: Put up a bunch of sticky traps, top-dress the soil with sand and do nematode soaks every 10 to 14 days until the problem is resolved. Also, stop overwatering your plants and eliminate any unnecessary sources of moisture. That's it.
If you don't have vinegar at home, bleach will kill drain gnats, but it's a potent environmental pollutant, so you're better off running to the store for vinegar, which is actually more effective for cleaning your drain pipes.
Essential oils such as lemongrass, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint work great to keep gnats out of your face. To make your own spray, fill a 4 oz (118 mL) glass spray bottle about halfway with distilled water, 1 oz (30 mL) of witch hazel, and 50-75 drops of any essential oil combination you'd like.
These tiny bugs serve as an important food source for many animals, including birds, bats and large insects, the Washington Post(Opens in a new window) reports. In addition, they help pollinate plants and flowers.
Hydrogen Peroxide
A peroxide solution apparently kills larvae and eggs on contact, effectively killing off all infant gnats and disrupting the lifecycle. You should be able to buy hydrogen peroxide from any high street pharmacy or online.
Gnats are tiny flying insects attracted to moisture and sweet smells. They're also a nuisance and very unhygienic. Once you have gnats, they will increase in numbers quickly because gnats lay eggs in moist areas of your home and on overripe or rotted fruit.
Fill a glass or a bowl with 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a half cup of warm water, and about 5 drops of liquid dish soap and stir well. Gnats will be attracted to the sweet sugar and pungent vinegar, but the sticky dish soap will disable them from escaping.
Gnats are attracted to anything that smells fruity and sweet. Therefore, fruit-scented hygiene and beauty products tend to draw gnats into the house. Rotting food in the drain. A buildup of food in the drain would, over time, result in an infestation of house gnats.
For hydrogen peroxide, mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Carefully pour this solution onto the top of the soil, ensuring it reaches the root zone. The hydrogen peroxide will help kill the gnat larvae and any eggs in the soil without harming your plant.