Where Do Gnats Come From?

Whether you are out of doors or in the house, during the spring, summer and fall months it is possible that you will be pestered by gnats... Gnats and other hard to see insects can be a problem that may drive you mad. Getting rid of them can be a daunting task. 

Gnats breed in standing water. As such, locations including bird baths, small puddles under the water spigot for the hose and even decorative ponds are ideal locations for the eggs of these pests. Anywhere there is standing water is a prime location for these annoying insects to breed and hatch.

You may wonder if there are any other answers to the question, where do gnats come from. Fruit or tomatoes left to ripen on the counter of your home or in the windowsill make for ideal breeding grounds for the gnats. They love to breed on bits of food left laying around or on decomposing compost. These things provide a plentiful source of food for the young when they hatch.

These insects tend to lay their eggs in mud, sand or places that have decomposing plant material. When camping, stagnant standing water are places where the insects will happily lay their eggs.

Types of Gnats

There are many varieties of gnats but the basic two groupings include those that bite and those that don’t bite. Midges, for example, are a form of gnat that are small, hard to see flying insects that bite the flesh and leave itchy bumps on the human skin.

Getting Rid of Gnats Outside

Gnats are particularly difficult to rid yourself of, but if you take some proactive steps, you can drastically reduce the number of them that you have to deal with.

• When camping or hiking select your site with care. Knowing what kind of conditions that gnats and mosquitoes like, will make it easier to pick a site that holds the least potential for having an insect problem. Stay away from the waters edge unless the water is a moving stream. If the water is stagnant or not moving quickly, there may be places of still water where the insects will happily lay their eggs. Dump out any water you are carrying and regularly refill with clean water. You can also use an insecticide, but make sure to select an insecticide that is safe for plants and animals to keep from harming the pets and wildlife.
• When sitting out of doors on your deck or patio at home, you can keep gnats away by using a small citronella candle or tiki torch to drive the pests away.  The scent of citronella is a natural insect repellent, and is given off as the citronella oil or wax is burned.

Getting Rid of Gnats in the Home

Gnats may be more difficult to rid from your home. Gnats are attracted to bits of food, fruit and other foodstuffs that may be around your house or kitchen:

• Potatoes that have just started to go bad are wonderful havens for the annoying little insects.
• Crumbs and bits of food that have slipped under the counters, refrigerator or items on the counter top all have the chance to attract gnats.
• If you have pets, spilled food from their bowls that may be damp also can attract them. These sources of food are wonderful breeding grounds for gnats and they will lay their eggs on these sources and generate a new generation of the annoying little things.

The best bet for eradicating the gnats from your house is to not get them in the first place. Keep your house free of dirty dishes, keep the floors swept or vacuumed to minimize crumbs and mop the kitchen floors on a daily basis. Spills of sticky or sweet juices are feasts for these pests. Keeping the house clean is simple to say but at times, it can be difficult to follow through on, so make it a priority in your home.

If you have houseplants in your home, let the soil in your plants dry out completely before watering. Biting midges cannot live in dry soil and by letting it dry out thoroughly, you can kill the young that may be hatching from eggs laid in the soil. Be careful in performing this method as it can harm or kill your houseplants due to lack of water. Get in the habit of using this method of watering to keep the midges away. You can use a higher mix of vermiculite in the soil to help keep it dry.