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Gnats are tiny flies including mosquitoes, midges, drain flies, black flies, fruit flies and sand flies. They buzz around your face and eyes so persistently even when you try to swat them away.

Gnats have head, thorax and abdomen. They have two pairs or a pair of wings and six legs which in most species are long compared to their body size. Their mouth parts are categorized as either lapping, piercing or sucking. Some gnats feed on blood. Others feed on plant material or other insects.

Drain flies

These insects are small and have a furry appearance. They have broad leaf shaped wings and a hairy body. They are found in drains, bathrooms, sinks and septic tanks. They are also found in sewage contaminated soil. Their eggs are laid inside the sink drains. The bacteria inside the drain  acts as a food source for the larvae once the eggs hatch.

Sand flies

Sand flies are brown, gray, or golden. They are tiny flying insects. Despite their small size these insect has such  a painful bite. You would think you have been stung. Their bite can result in inflammation and redness at the bite site. Females feed on mammals blood. The six species found in North America  don’t carry any disease. The ones found in other regions of the world can transmit a virus called sandy fly fever which is not fatal.

Midges

These insects look very similar to mosquitoes. Midges however have a snout that’s much shorter. The females have feathered wings while the males have bushy ones. They will be found in swarms near lakes, slow moving streams and ponds . Lights attract them and they will be found flying around street and porch lights.

Fungus gnats

Fungus Gnats are small flies that look like tiny mosquitoes. Their heads are smaller than their segmented antennae. The have light light gray wings and narrow legs.

Fungus gnats lay their eggs in the soil of your potted plant and remain near the plant which has organic matter and fungus that act as their source of food. When the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the plant root hairs and the organic matter in the soil. At this stage they are not easily noticeable.  They can damage your plant nutrition uptake causing stunted growth.

Phorid flies

These insects are attracted by contaminated soil, rotting vegetable and fruits and accumulated garbage.

What attracts Gnats to your home?

Gnats love damp areas and places with organic matter. That’s why they are found in the bathroom.

They come to your home to seek out a place to breed and to find food.

Eliminating Gnats

Use fly paper. This method works every time. The paper has sticky surfaces that traps flying gnats. Just hung it up using a ribbon where there are lots of gnats.

Buy insecticide spray for these gnats and follow the instructions on the  can on what to do.

Preventing gnat infestation

• Dry moist areas in your house.
• Repair any pipe leaks
• Throw out fruits that are overripe
• Don’t overwater potted plants.

Conclusion

Gnats are a nuisance. If their infestation overwhelms you, call a pest control professional to deal with effectively help you get rid of the problem.