It’s Fall Right? What’s Up With All The Gnats In Mid-Michigan?
One thing we don't have a shortage of is bugs in Michigan.
But after a certain time or point in the year and when the seasons change, you expect some of them to go away.
Mercifully, when it starts to get cold even the mosquitoes start to back off a little right? Well most of them do.
And you do tend to notice the stink bugs trying to get inside and find a nice warm place for the winter.
But for some strange reason, it seems like the gnats get WORSE?
How is that possible?
It's fall and getting colder but the gnats are still here and there's more of them?
We need some people with degrees and PHDs in here to help us out with this one.
These tiny pests can be a problem any time of year, but they are particularly common in late summer and fall since they are attracted to ripe, damaged or fermenting fruits and vegetables. (journal star)
All are tiny flies that breed in some kind of decaying organic material — from rotting fruits to potting soil to the scum inside drain pipes. Because the food material for the larvae can be found inside your home, it doesn’t matter to these flies what the weather is like outside. (colonial pest)
Gnats don't care about the weather AND THEY BITE?
I have killed a decent-sized gnat or two and it looked like I swatted a mosquito because there was blood. And then it dawned on me these suckers bite and that's not their blood, it's mine.
Gnats usually fly in swarms and can include biting and nonbiting forms. For some species, males in search of partners assemble in large mating swarms known as a “ghost”. (griffin pest)
Head here for some tips on how to repel them. Did you know gnats hate certain kinds of scents?
Try Lighting citronella candles, using lemon or vanilla sprays. While gnats are a fan of sweet-smelling fruit, they can’t seem to stand vanilla, lemon, or even lavender. A little spritz can at least keep them at bay. (pest rangers)
More tips on how to get rid of gnats are here.