Gnats Annoy Us in Charleston SC, What To Do!

Hey, this is Katie at Advanced Termite and Pest Control. Today I’m going to talk to you about gnats. If you live in a low country you know what the warm weather brings nets, nets, no seams. midges, call them what you want, but they are a huge nuisance in the spring and fall, it can make being outside unbearable. gnats are seasonal and attracted to moisture. So as spring approaches and the winter thaws, the gnats will emerge along the marshlands. They have about a two to six week life cycle and feed mostly on nectar. The females will feed on the blood of vertebrates, including humans to get enough protein for egg laying the odor of carbon dioxide and lactic acid from human skin and breath atrax are to us. Once the summer heat is consistent, they will dissipate but they thrive in temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees and they are most active at dawn and dusk. So what can you do? Well, the first step is eliminating any standing water from your yard and home. Females lay their eggs in this water such as Lake streams or sometimes moist soil. Check your yard for areas that may collect rainwater, empty pet bowls, kids toys, etc. This is half the battle because without removing the water source treatment is nearly impossible. Getting your yard treated with a misting method will help you get some relief, although it won’t be 100% effective without numerous applications. This will kill the eggs that are in the ground in any areas of moisture. There are also several types of essential oils that can help keep no-see-ums out of your yard such as lemon eucalyptus and mint. If you’d like advanced to check out your yard and see if we can help you get some relief this spring. Give us a call at 843-795-6767