SAND FLY - NO SEEUM CONTROL

    This article is about SAND FLY/NO SEEUM control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   Sand flies are a small blood sucking gnat which are
prevalent along coastal territories and regions with a
lot of water, dampness and marshland. Also known as
Punkies, Black Gnats and No Seeums, these annoying tiny
flies are very persistent and prolific. This article will
highlight some basic biology about Sand Flies and then
offer treatment options so you can help to minimize the
discomfort and unpleasantness experienced when sand flies
are active in your yard.
   Sand flies are small - usually less than 1/8 inch long -
but pack a lot of bite for their size. Only females bite
but since she needs several blood meals before she lays
eggs, they seem to linger longer than other flying pests
like mosquitoes. There are many species of sand fly which
are found primarily along coastal water ways where
marshland and swamps provide the damp, wet environment
in which they like to live. However, activity has been
found throughout the mainland as well. It is believed
that populations have migrated to previously uninfested
regions via plants, dirt and pots. Since sand flies
can breed successfully in something as little as the
soil of a small house plant in a pot, it has been
concluded that they have easily been introduced to 
virtually any part of the United States. There are simply
too many ways for them to find these remote areas and
though certain conditions need to exist outside for
them to live successfully, it is not uncommon for
whole populations to find reproductive sites in the
home. For this reason sand flies present a unique
dilemma making them hard to control.
   Sand flies will hatch in the spring emerging as both
larva and adults. Adults will immediately look for a
good blood meal; larva will spend their time in the
wet damp soil growing through several stages. This
growth could take as little as a month or more then
six months depending on both region and species.
Females need blood to start her egg laying and she
will seek this food from birds, amphibians, reptiles,
mammals and just about anything which is moving.
Closely related to Moth or Drain Flies, Sand flies
have a fairly delicate body type. They are easy to kill,
not particularly strong and susceptible to many predators.
However, what the sand fly lacks in physical presence
it more then makes up for in sheer numbers. Sand flies
are persistent and annoying. Their bite will cause
all types of reactions which range from small swollen
bumps to rashes. They are vectors of several diseases
including Carrions Disease and Leishmania. For this
reason sand flies are feared and rightfully so. Though
the likelihood of getting a disease from them is small,
the discomfort and pain their bite generates is more
then any reasonable person likes to withstand. This
is why sand flies are feared more then most any flying
biting pest where they are present.
   Sand flies are also referred to as No Seeums. This
name has been acquired over time because of all the 
biting stinging pests, sand flies are amongst the smallest.
However, they are commonly misidentified and many times
blamed for bites or stings when nothing else has been
found. There are several insects which could be the 
cause of such discomfort and if you are not 100% sure
that you have Sand Flies, you may consider reading
up on some of these other prospective pests. The guidelines
for trying to determine just what is doing the biting
should be first broken down into one of two groups:
they can only be either Crawling or Flying pests. There
are many crawling and flying pests which could be
responsible for bites and stings either in or outside
the home. The way to tell what type is responsible is
to see where and when the bites occur. If they only
occur in one or two regions of the yard or home, you
probably have a crawling pest. Flyers can strike
from anywhere to anywhere; crawlers take some time 
to move about and generally will be located in one
or two locations. When people and pets are removed
from that location they don't experience any bites
or discomfort; as soon as they enter these areas
they begin to get bit. Such is the main characteristic
of crawling pests. Here is a list of such pests which
could be biting or stinging. If you want to read up
on any one of them, simply click their link below to
go to their respective articles.

POSSIBLE CRAWLING INSECTS ACTIVE:  CHIGGERS
                    			FLEAS
                    			ITCHMITES
                    			LICE

   Flying pests have a much larger range and can attack
from greater distances much quicker. With sand flies, it
is not uncommon to be attacked as soon as you go outside
during certain times of the day. There are other flying
pests which behave the same way. If you think you may have
any of them, follow the link below to read up on how to
control such pests.

POSSIBLE FLYING INSECTS ACTIVE:    BITING FLIES
                    			MOSQUITOES
                    		      THRIPS

   Of all the other pests you might have besides Sand
Flies or No Seeums, Thrips might be the most aggravating and
common which are found biting people. Unlike most biting
insects, thrips are not interested in blood. For this
reason they are not targeting people due to CO2 or
Octenol, two common gases people exhale which biting
flies, mosquitoes and sand flies find attractive. Instead,
thrips are attracted to wet, moist and damp surfaces like
that of a sweating person. They thrive in mulch, flower
beds and other damp areas where Sand Flies can live as
well. However, the treatments for either pest will vary.
For this reason it is important that you know just which
one you have. Only this knowledge will enable you to
make the right decisions regarding which line of
products to use and where to apply them.
   The next section of this article will detail products
and treatments that can be used when combating No Seeums.
First, we will review repellents that can be used on 
people and premises; next we will detail treatment options
which can be done to turf and adjoining property where
activity is present.

  WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REPEL NO SEEUM'S FROM PEOPLE????
  
   Since No Seeums are attracted to people for much the same
reasons that mosquitoes are attracted to people, there are
several repellents which can be used to help keep them away
from people and property. Some can be applied to the turf,
others are applied to people. The following is a compilation
of products which have proven to help repel No Seeums on
and around the yard.
   If you are planning a party or some outdoor activity, the
use of some NO SEEUM REPELLENT is a good product to apply about
12 hours prior to the event. It works by releasing a slight
odor barely detectable by people but one which No Seeums
don't like. Used a lot for repelling mosquitoes, this
product won't hurt children or pets and will last a week
or two depending on local weather patterns. Combine this
with some Linalool Candles for superb control. Made with
essential plant oils, these candles will effectively
"block" you from biting pests like no-seeums. The burning
process will release a nice odor to people which is
citrus smelling. In the process the Linalool will
permeate the area making biting pests like mosquitoes
and no-seeums not able to locate targets. The 3" CANDLE
will last over 30 hours, the 6" CANDLE will last
over 65 hours and the JAR CANDLE will last 75-85
hours. Excellent for decks and patios, these candles
can be brought on camping trips and picnics too. If
you experience bites or expect to be getting bit
during a field trip or other outdoor activity, bring
some BITE OINTMENT. This material will both take
away the itch and help the wound to heal.
   Another great device for use out on decks, patios or just
out in the yard are MOSQUITO BLOCKERS. These are unique
repellers which works to "hide" people so No Seeums are not
able to find you. It releases a scent which works on No
Seeums by confusing and taking away their ability to use
their olfactory senses properly. By not being able to
"smell" people, they are not able to track them down.
No Seeums track people by detecting two gases we release
called Octenol and CO2. These gases are exhaled when we
breathe. As we sit outside exhaling, these gases will
permeate out and flow with the local air current. They
can be detected by No Seeums as well as mosquitoes for
over 100 yards. Once these biting pests get on the trail,
they will follow it back to it's source eagerly searching
for a blood meal. By placing these Blockers out slightly
downwind from where you are sitting, No Seeums won't be
able to do any tracking. Your exhales are basically being
masked so you can sit outside invisible to the local biting
insects like No Seeums. It is important to understand that any
No Seeums which are close to where you first go outside
will immediately be drawn to you since they are reacting
to your visible stimulus and not your exhales. Once this
first wave of activity ceases the Blockers will serve
to keep new ones away. Be sure to turn them on at least
10 minutes before going outside to get maximum benefit.
Also, be sure to keep plenty of BLOCKER REFILLS around
so you can change them out as needed.
   Another fairly effective repellent are the BUG BANDS
which can be used on children and adults. They are
light, barely noticeable and will confuse biting
flies and mosquitoes so they are not able to find you
quite as easily as normal. Though one will work well
on either wrist, consider keeping one on an ankle
as well if you will be wearing shorts. A step up from
the Bug Bands is the PERSONAL BITE SHIELD. This
device uses the latest natural repellent which is
basically comprised of plant oil. Several plants
have a natural insect repellent and this compound
has been identified and used in the Bite Shields. 
The device clips on your belt or can be set on a table
where you are sitting. When turned on, the little built
in fan will blow over replaceable cartridges which in
turn will release the active repellent. This product
will prove to work the best of all "natural" type products
available. Cartridges will last a long time and their
odor is barely noticeable and yet pleasant.
   If you want to step up in strength to some true
"chemical" repellents, there is always CITRONELLA LOTION
or DEET. The Citronella Lotion is mild and needs to be
applied more frequently than the Deet. The Deet is as
strong as it gets; Deet has been proven to effectively
repel all kinds of insects and it lasts a long time. We have
some scented forms which are not as strong smelling as when
Deet is used straight by itself. We also have low odor
100% Deet which is as strong as it gets. Use this on
arms, legs, necks and anywhere No Seeums are landing.
It will keep them off and away. You can also treat
clothing, equipment and anything else you are carrying
on your person with some PERMETHRIN AEROSOL. This is
another repellent which many insects just don't like.
They will avoid where it is found and combined with Deet
will provide the best personal protection you can get.
You can use this on inanimate objects since it will
last longer then just deet - usually several days.

 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO TREAT WHERE NO SEEUMS ARE LIVING???
 
   Since No Seeums like to live where it is moist, damp
and shady, there are many locations on anyones property
which can serve as both a nesting and breeding ground
for this pest. Unlike mosquitoes, No Seeums don't need
standing water to reproduce. All they need is moisture.
Though you may be subject to getting new ones all the
time from surrounding areas like marshes, swamps and
shorelines of rivers and oceans, keeping their
populations in check on your property will benefit all
who live there. Since No Seeums like to nest and live
where food is available, once they start biting you
on your property they will undoubtedly start laying
eggs as close to you as they can. Such "pockets" of
No Seeums can present a major problem to anyone who
walks outside. This is because adult females are poised 
and ready to feed once they become an adult. If they
are growing elsewhere, the chances of you becoming a
target are a lot less then if they are breeding right
on your property. Furthermore, once they start to feed
on your property, they will try to take advantage of any
moist areas that can be found. Such areas include
clogged gutters, mulch, wood chips, lawn thatch, dripping
faucets, planters - both inside and outside, water in
tires or other objects found in the yard, drainage
ditches, sewers, leaves and just about any place on or
close to the ground which is wet. If you irrigate a
garden or grass, you have prime turf for No Seeums to
live! 
   The good news is that they are easy to kill. Though
strong in numbers, No Seeums are quite vulnerable to
many products which can be applied to either the turf
or the air. Deciding which to use will depend largely
on just how much of an area you want to treat. If you
reside on a small plot of land or if you have only a
small area of land less than 1/2 acre which needs to
be protected, you can consider the use of either CYONARA RTS
or CYFLUTHRIN. Both are odorless and work well on a 
wide range of insects. The Cyonara is good for
yards 1/4 acre or less and it comes with it's own
hose end sprayer. The Cyfluthrin Concentrate will prove
better cost wise if you plan on treating yards 1/4 to
1/2 acre or larger. Use a HOSE END SPRAYER
to treat and be sure to focus your efforts where
conditions are good for No Seeums to thrive. Applying
this product once a month will assuredly prevent any turf
area from becoming a reproduction site.
   If you have an organic vegetable garden and need to spray
the plants directly, MULTI PURPOSE INSECT KILLER CONCENTRATE
will do a good job. It mixes with water and should be applied
with one of our PUMP SPRAYERS and can be used as needed. For
large open yard areas, ORGANIC MOSQUITO AND TICK KILLER RTS
comes with it's own sprayer like the Cyonara. Just hook it
up to your garden hose and you're ready to go. Neither one 
of these organic products will last long so expect to do 
weekly treatments till the populations are knocked down 
enough to acceptable levels. Remember, these all these
liquid options will be treating the ground and plants
and not the air. This is particularly helpful if you
know the problem is focused on your property. If you
are not sure where they are reproducing or centrally
located, consider volumetric or "open air" treatments.
   Space spraying has long been the standard way
to treat for mosquitoes and may be necessary for your
No Seeum problem. Since No Seeums are able to fly, they
may be coming to your yard for food and living
directly alongside your land in wet, swampy conditions
that offer shade and moisture. Such conditions, when
large, are hard to treat with Cyfluthrin as described
above. To penetrate dense foliage or to cover large
areas quickly, space spraying is the preferred
method of treatment. You may be able to treat small
areas like this with an aerosol like PT-565XLO. This
product uses pyrethrum as the active ingredient and
will kill No Seeums quickly. Spray it around decks
and picnic areas to provide yourself with a few hours
of relief. It is easy to use and is great for around
the garden, deck, patio or back yard area. If someone
has a "pyrethrin sensitivity issue", then use a new
synthetic called FLYING INSECT KILLER. It has a different
odor and is definitely a "stronger" material for noseeums
and has certain advantages. Besides using a different
active, Flying Insect Killer is also water based. This
means its ideal for indoor use. Water based aerosols are
less likely to have a reaction with treated surfaces and
if you intend on using either in the home, this could
be a matter of consideration. However, either aerosol
product is limited for small areas only.
   If the areas you want to treat are being used for something
like organic gardening, you should consider one of our organic
products. These products will not last as long residual wise 
like the aerosols listed above but they do provide quick relief 
from most any pest and can be used as needed since they don't
pose a hazard to people or the environment. We now have two
options that work well for No Seeums. For small outside
areas like a deck or patio, ORGANIC FLYING INSECT KILLER is
a good choice. It can be used inside and outside for space 
or open air spraying. If you are finding the sandflies only
on your plants or in the house, get the ORGANIC HOUSEPLANT 
INSECT KILLER. It's labeled to sprayed directly on the plant
and can be used in the garden, in the house and pretty much
anywhere you need to spray.
   If you are treating a really large area, use a fogging
machine like the FM6309. These machines are
able to pump a lot of chemical over a large area
in a short amount of time. They create a "fog" or
"mist" which floats around plant leaves and other
areas No Seeums like to hide. This machine produces
a cold fog which is adequate for most home owner
applications. It is able to treat 1/4 to 1/2 acre
in less than 20 minutes. (The machine will pump a 
gallon of material in around 12 minutes, but it takes
extra time to drag the extension cord to new treatment
areas.) If you have a lot of small areas to treat,
you may prefer the FM6208. This fogger is a 
step up from the FM6309 because it has a volume control
switch which allows you to adjust the rate of flow.
It still uses electricity to power it, but unlike
the FM6309 it has a rotation switch which can be
set to off, low, medium or high. This can be
a real help for two reasons. First, you are able
to turn it keep it low when treating around the home
and you only need a light mist. Such treatments can
be tough with the FM6309 because it only fogs at one
speed - high!  When you try to treat alongside
a structure, the fog is so strong it will bounce
off the building and come back at you. If you
have to do a lot of this type of fogging, get
the FM6208. It not only lets you turn it
down for these types of delicate applications
but the rotating switch will let you turn chemical flow
off. Though the machine is still on and trying
to fog, it will quickly run dry. This is handy
if you are interrupted during treatment. Simply
turn the switch to off and let the fogger use
up what's in it's system. Now you can store it 
for a few days without worrying about the
insides getting clogged. Two other models you may
want to consider are the FM7807 and the MINI FOGGER.
The FM7807 features the same controls as the FM6208
but also has a long extension. This extension is
great for reaching high, under and around things
which other machines have difficulty covering. The
FM7807 also features a quick on/off control on
the wand; great for when you need precise control of
flow. The Mini Fogger is basically a compact version
designed for the person who has only a very small
area to treat. It can cover areas from 2500-5000
sq/ft very well. It uses electricity, has a volume
control and a quart holding tank. Great for the
condo or townhouse owner who has a small area
to treat.  All these foggers are great for jobs
around the home but they do require electricity and are
not nearly as portable as the BACKPACK FOGGER.
This device has over a two gallon tank and is
gas powered. Perfect for those large jobs
where electricity is not available. Simply fill
up the holding tank, make sure you have enough
gas in the tank and you can go wherever the
No Seeums may be hiding! Great for property
where being free from electric cords is 
necessary or if you have a lot of areas to treat
on a regular basis but need to move from one
point to another as you treat.
   Once you decide on which type of fogger will
fits your needs, you will have to get some chemical.
Use water as the carrier with these machines
and try to reach as much of the shady, undercover
where No Seeums tend to nest. Though products
like Malathion have been used over the years for
such applications, you will achieve better
results with Pyrethrum and Permethrin and they have
little if any odor. PYRETHRUM 6% is natures own 
pesticide and is very active on No Seeums. It will
kill adults on contact and works on many other 
flying insects as well. As good as Pyrethrum is, it
will not provide any residual. Mix PERMETRHIN in
the tank for better results. Permethrin does not
provide the quick kill like Pyrethrum but it does
last from 1-2 weeks. For even longer
control, add some NYLAR to the mix. This special
material is a "growth regulator" which means it
intercepts or blocks the development of certain
insects like No Seeums, gnats and black flies. In
the long run, using Nylar will effectively be able
to stop the No Seeums from reproducing. It will also
last long so new ones entering the area won't be able
to lay eggs that will prosper. You can get a ready
to use mix from us which is water based. AQUACIDE
uses Pyrethrin as the active and that's it; there
is no component to provide residual protection. That
means you'll need to use it over and over. However,
there are some situations which require a pyrethrin
based product alone and if you have a small area
to treat, Aquacide might be a good choice.
   If you have larger areas to fog than an acre, you
should consider moving up to a thermal fogger. Thermal
foggers are "hot"; that is, they heat the chemical
before it is released. This type of fog is lighter and
comprised of smaller sized particles than that of 
a cold fog. This enables the applicator to cover a much
larger area in a lot less time since you don't have to
make as much of an effort to get complete coverage. Air
movement will help to carry and distribute the fog
out to areas which are remote and hard to reach with
a cold fog. Thermal foggers are more thorough during
application and require an oil based formulation instead
of water. The fog will stay in the air longer and
penetrate more providing better performance than fogs
created by electric machines. However, there are some
tradeoff for this better performance. First, machines
are costly. Don't waste you time with $100.00 to 
$200.00 units found at some hardware stores. These
devices will create some fog, but the flow is so
weak and slow you are better off using the PT-565XLO
listed above. If you have anything larger than a few
thousand feet to treat, these cheap machines are
just not able to do the job adequately. If you have
a large area that you want to keep No Seeum free,
invest your money with a machine that will do the
job. The GE THERMAL FOGGER is gas powered, electric
start and lightweight. It can be carried easily
to treat large areas or you can let it run out the
back of your ATV or truck as you drive through
the property you are treating. This machine will
create a fog which is light, penetrating and very
effective for No Seeum control. Be sure to use
the proper material when fogging to achieve the
best results. You'll need our OIL BASED PYRETHRUM
for this machine. This formulation will provide a
quick knockdown of existing populations and you
can add some Permethrin to the mix as detailed
above to get extra residual. If you intend on
doing a lot of fogging, you should consider
getting our DEODORIZED OIL in bulk form and then
adding the Pyrethrum and Permethrin mentioned above
to create your own mix. This will prove to be the most 
economical formulation to use in the long run
and probably a smart investment if you intend on
treating a large areas many times during the season. 
Like fogging with electric foggers you may need to treat 
twice a week initially to get control of bad problems, but once you knock
down the local population you will probably only
have to treat once every week or two.
   In summary, No Seeums can be a tough pest once
active around your yard. To help keep them off people
who are active outside, use any of the repellents we
have featured above. If you want to control local
populations which are breeding on or near where you
are living, use some Cyfluthrin. Fogging with any
of the machines we feature is better suited for
large areas since it will get coverage faster and
more thoroughly. Remember to treat throughout the
active season and you should be able to keep this
persistent and problematic pest under control.
   
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