Gnat Swarms, King of Pesky Pests
Gnat Swarms, King of Pesky Pests
Swarming gnats will not bite you, but they are one of the most intolerable things when you want to enjoy the outside in warmer weather. During spring and summer, gnats normally fly in large groups called swarms to mate. These pests love humidity so a humid garden is the perfect environment.
If your garden has a pond or is watered many times during the week, chances are, your home and garden will be invaded by gnat swarms. Gnat females need water to deposit their fertilized eggs. After mating in a swarm, the females will search for a moist place to deposit their eggs. Each female will lay up to 300 eggs daily. Tiny worms hatch from the eggs and feed on plants and organic material. Normally they do not damage the plant or the roots unless there is a large number of them.
The larval stage lasts about one month, after which they form a pupa and emerge as gnats two to three days later. The adults live about a week, during which they swarm and mate and start a new generation of gnats.
Dusk is a popular time for gnats to swarm. As people normally use their gardens in spring and summer after a long day of work, they will likely be met with a cloud of hundreds of tiny flies. These will fly tirelessly in your garden for hours. Once a gnat swarm invades your garden, they will not fly away.
How to get rid of a gnat swarm?
Gnat swarms occur throughout the country, but they are very focused on coastal areas like Los Angeles and San Diego. They thrive on the moisture brought from the sea breeze. That, combined with ponds or lush gardens are an open invitation for gnats.
If you find gnats in your garden, the first thing to do is get rid of excess water. You can start by watering your lawn fewer times a week so that there is no extra moisture in your landscape. If you have patchy areas with less grass where water pools, you may consider planting more grass or putting down slate or another type of flooring.
If your efforts don’t show results, you can always call a pest control service. At Accurate Termite and Pest Control, we are focused on the well being of your family, pets, and home, eradicating all kind of pests, including annoying gnat swarms.
Swarming gnats will not bite you, but they are one of the most intolerable things when you want to enjoy the outside in warmer weather. During spring and summer, gnats normally fly in large groups called swarms to mate. These pests love humidity so a humid garden is the perfect environment for them.
If your garden has a pond or is watered many times during the week, chances are, your home and garden will be invaded by gnat swarms. Gnat females need water to deposit their fertilized eggs. After mating in a swarm, the females will search for a moist place to deposit their eggs. Each female will lay up to 300 eggs daily. Tiny worms hatch from the eggs and feed on plants and organic material. Normally they do not damage the plant or the roots unless there is a large number of them.
The larval stage lasts about one month, after which they form a pupa and emerge as gnats two to three days later. The adults live about a week, in which they swarm and mate and start a new generation of gnats.
Dusk is a popular time for gnats to swarm. As people normally use their gardens in spring and summer after a long day of work, they will likely be met with a cloud of hundreds of tiny flies. These will fly tirelessly in your garden for hours. Once a gnat swarm invades your garden, they will not fly away.
How to get rid of a gnat swarm?
Gnat swarms occur throughout the country, but they are very focused on coastal areas like Los Angeles and San Diego. They thrive on the moisture brought from the sea breeze. That, combined with ponds or lush gardens are an open invitation for gnats.
If you find gnats in your garden, the first thing to do is get rid of excess water. You can start by watering your lawn fewer times a week so that there is no extra moisture in your landscape. If you have patchy areas with less grass where water pools, you may consider planting more grass or putting slate or another type of flooring.
If your efforts don’t show results, you can always call a pest control service. At Accurate Termite and Pest Control, we are focused on the well being of your family, pets, and home, eradicating all kind of pests, including annoying gnat swarms.
