GNAT CONTROL

   This article is about GNAT control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   Gnats are prevalent throughout most of the world.
Gnats are really flies but because of their small size
and other behaviors, people don't generally think of
them as such. Gnats thrive outside when conditions
are both moist and warm. However, due to their
small size and ability to both reproduce quickly
and in many situations, gnats can easily be found
thriving inside most any structure. This article will
explain some basic biology about gnats, detail why
they are a problem in and around the home and then
offer ways to treat local infestations.

            JUST WHAT IS A GNAT ANYWAY?
			
   As stated above, gnats are actually flies. They go
by many names including punkies, punkys, buffalo gnats,
buffalo flies, eye gnats, black gnats, black flies, 
hippelates flies, no-seeums or just plain old "nats".
Most gnats bite. Females need a blood meal in order
to become fertile and once she mates, will lay hundreds
of eggs. Though she will look for moist damp areas
on which to lay her brood, each species will take
advantage of prime locations which can vary from
region to region. One region may find eggs common
throughout salt marshes and streams; another area
may find the eggs on animal droppings or rain
ditches. Flower pots which accumulate standing water,
along with gutters, rain barrels, old tires and buckets
all can hold more then enough water to provide the 
needed moisture for gnats to successfully grow and
thrive. Once eggs hatch, larva will feed for 2-3 weeks
and then undergo metamorphosis in a cocoon like stage
called pupa. Once they fully mature, they will hatch
out as adults with males immediately taking to wing to
find a female. 


        ADULT GNATS - THE REAL PROBLEM......
		
   The adult stage is the one which people find to be
so annoying and persistent. Eye gnats will regularly 
land on or around ones eye and nose; black flies or
buffalo gnats will land anywhere they can find skin
on which to suck blood. Essentially that is all the
females want; blood. They will seek this from any
mammal they can find and people will often times be
their prime target. Though not particularly a fast
flyer, gnats are hard to kill. They are elusive and
yet persistent. Swatting at them will rarely get
them to leave. In most cases you will have to leave
the immediate area if you wish to get relief. The
use of a HAND HELD ZAPPER can help; since these
pests tend to stay in territories, once you kill 
off the ones which are active around you, others 
won't come too quickly.


WHAT CAN BE USED ON YOUR PERSON TO KEEP THEM AWAY?

   If you are going afield where gnats are active,
consider some type of preventive application for 
either your skin or your clothes. A combination of
several products will prove to be most effective
but results will vary from region to region. For the
skin, use some CITRONELLA LOTION or DEET. Both of
these materials will repel gnats and other flying
insects and keep them off your skin. The Deet will
prove to be longer lasting of the two. Additionally,
treating your clothes with some PERMETHRIN will
help. This product is repellent to most insects and
is a great help at keeping ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes,
gnats and most any biting insect away. If you prefer
"non-chemical" protection, or if you don't want to 
treat your skin or clothing directly, the use of
either BUG BANDS or BITE SHIELDS will prove helpful.
The Bands fit around your wrist and release a light
Citronella odor; the Bite Shields are usually attached
to your belt and offer better protection overall. If
you plan on being at one location most of the time,
then some Linalool Candles can really help. Made with
essential plant oils, these candles will effectively
"block" you from biting pests like gnats. 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 gnats not able to locate targets. The SMALL CANDLE
will last over 30 hours, the LARGE 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. 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.


 WHAT CAN BE DONE AROUND THE HOME TO KEEP THEM AWAY?
  
   Adult gnats are a major problem around homes. Their
sheer persistence can ruin a family picnic, outside
get together or any attempt to just go outside and
relax on your deck or in the yard. Gnats can make
cutting the grass or working in the garden a nightmare.
Their bites won't heal quickly and when they fly
into your mouth, ears, nose or eyes, they can bite
and sting making for some very uncomfortable conditions.
Fortunately there are many repelling and control
options available for use in these areas. What will
work the best is generally most dependent on the level
of activity or local populations. For mild levels of
activity or where gnats are not too dominant, there
are several repelling treatments that can prove to
be helpful. GNAT REPELLENT is the simplest material
to apply and will repel several types of nuisance
biting insects for 2-3 weeks. Be sure to apply it 
approximately 12 hours prior to any event if you are
attempting to keep the area gnat free during a
specific time. Also, don't water over it in order
to get the full benefit of the application. Another
repellent that works well on flying biting insects
is the MOSQUITO BLOCKER. This device is simply set
out around the area you want to protect and will
slowly release a natural material which essentially
"blocks" gnats, mosquitoes and other pests from 
scenting you as a target. By preventing their natural
ability to scent targets, Mosquito Blockers will prevent
the gnats from knowing you are present and will
go elsewhere looking for food. Keep them filled
with fresh CONCEAL so they work at optimal level.
   Though repellents will work well when local populations
are not extreme or excessive, there are times when
chemical applications are needed. This will usually
be the case when there are just too many areas around
in which the gnats can breed and multiply. The constant
renewal of adults means there will be aggressive
competition for food which means repellents won't work
well. When such conditions exist around your home, it
is best to do some kind of liquid, mist or fog application
throughout their season to keep numbers in check. There
are many options available for treatment; try to match
the area needing treatment with the right sized equipment
and chemical form so that you aren't spending too much
time retreating. For small areas, like enclosed patios
or decks, PT-5656XLO or PTMICROCARE will prove effective.
Both are aerosols that contain pyrethrin; the PT-565 will 
kill instantly but leaves no residual. The Microcare will 
last 2-4 weeks and is much better suited if you intend
on spraying surfaces as well as the air. The Microcare is
good to use on any surface gnats will land like screening
or around windows or lights. Since gnats will regularly
seek such places on which to rest, treating such areas 
can prove to have a big impact on their activity. Another
aerosol good for surfaces is FLYING INSECT KILLER. This
formulation uses a newer active ingredient. It has a
slightly stronger odor when applied but its stronger
then the other two options. Plus, it's water based. This
means there is less chance of any staining if you have
to treat local surfaces. The 565 and Microcare use the
more traditional solvent systems which can react with
some finishes and glass so if you plan on treating 
inside a lot, use the Flying Insect Killer. But the
one limiting thing about all three aerosols is that
they must be applied over and over. For light infestations,
this is OK but if you have small areas that will need
treatments through the entire season, consider getting
an AEROSOL MACHINE and METERED AEROSOL. The machine 
can be configured to release a blast of the Aerosol on 
a timed basis so you don't have to worry about doing the
treatment yourself. Just set the machine up and replace
the Aerosol as needed. This set up is excellent for
porches, patios, decks, basements and any small area
which has gnats, mosquitoes or other flying insects
throughout the warm summer months.
   If the aerosols aren't big enough or strong
enough to handle the area you want to protect, you
will have to go to either liquid or fogging applications.
Liquid treatments will be applied with a sprayer and
though effective, there will be waste and time
considerations. Liquid treatment is easy to do when
you have small areas like a garden or under a deck
that needs to be sprayed from time time. A good product
for this type of application is VIPER PERMETHRIN. This
odorless concentrate is labeled for use right on vegetables
and turf and it won't hurt pets or people. It comes with
its own hose end sprayer and is good for small to 
medium sized areas. If you want to get concentrates and
use your own sprayer for the job, a combination of
PYRETHRIN 6% and PERMETHRIN SUPER CONCENTRATE will
provide both quick knockdown and long lasting residual
so you don't have to spray continuously. Add some
NYLAR to the mix and you will have the best finished
spray possible; Nylar is a growth regulator and
is the only material that will control eggs. Apply the
mixture with one of our SPRAYERS which will do the
job for small areas like 10,000 sq/ft or less. Since
it doesn't take much to kill a gnat, fogging is 
much faster to do and will "stretch" your liquid
mixtures so you cover a lot more area and effectively
use a lot less product. Use the same Pyrethrin 6%
and Permethrin Concentrate but instead of applying
the mixture with a sprayer, invest in one of our
foggers. These devices will pump out a mist which
does a great job of covering plants, turf and hard
to reach areas where mosquitoes and gnats like to
hide. There are many to choose from; be sure to get
one that will handle your property efficiently.
For small areas measuring 5000 sq/ft or less, the
MINI-FOGGER will suffice. For areas up to one acre,
either the FM6309 or the FM6208 will do a good job.
If you need the fogger to direct the mist in a 
very specific direction, the FM7807 will do the job.
The ultimate foggers are the BACK PACK FOGGER and
the THERMAL FOGGER. The Back Pack is handy because
its self powered and runs off gas. It holds a lot
of liquid and can treat large areas over an acre
in size pretty efficiently. For multi acred lots,
get the Thermal Fogger. It relies on a "hot" fog
and will release a mist that stays in the air much
longer then the other misting foggers so you are
able to treat larger areas effectively. For the
Thermal Fogger you will have to mix up the Pyrethrin
and Permethrin in some DEODORIZED FOGGING OIL since
water can't be used. You can also get some premixed
material that comes in oil and is ready to fog. 
OIL BASED PYRETHRIN will prove to be more expensive
to use but it works great. Some people like the fact
that there is no mixing involved; just load it into
the sprayer and start applying it. Regardless of the
form you choose to apply, the Back Pack and Thermal
foggers will prove to be the most effective tools
for getting large areas sprayed. 

   Gnats are a major problem for many areas of the 
world. Though prevalent during the warm season, if
left untreated in the home they can prosper year
round. Be sure to identify local breeding grounds if
you want to treat effectively. Once such areas are
located, spray or fog with Pyrethrin 6%, Permethrin
and Nylar. Use some repellent on your skin and 
clothes if you are going somewhere off your property
and expect to encounter them. Bug Bands and Bite 
Shields will help as well and if you do get bit,
keep some Bite Ointment available for treatment.
Though the Repellent options will help, they will
prove to be short lived and won't solve the breeding
problem so use them only where problems are light.
For maximum control, spray or fog on a regular basis
and you will be able to get outside more often
and enjoy the experience a lot more as well.
   
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