After a long day of work, you lay down to unwind only for a tiny bug to keep buzzing around your eyes, nose, and ears. It could be flies or mosquitoes but this one is even smaller, just what on Earth is it? If you are being pestered by a flying bug even smaller, it may likely be a gnat.
Thankfully, you can get rid of the gnats by taking all the right measures but you may also be wondering what gnats are attracted to and why you have a gnat infestation in the first place. If you know the things that attract gnats then it's certainly easier to keep them all away.
Various factors can be considered when thinking of what are gnats attracted to as the things that create a suitable gnat habitat are almost the same thing for most insects excluding fungus gnats. Therefore, the answer to our question may very well also reflect what attracts flies and can be found below:
Moisture is one of the prime reasons why gnats what to hang out in our homes and it's not for a trivial reason either. Unlike other insects that may require moisture merely for sustenance, gnats require them as their eggs need moisture to survive.
Some examples that may provide moisture for the gnats are recycling bins, ponds, clay-heavy soil, etc as they can act as a perfect environment for gnats to lay eggs. The fungus gnats on the other hand explicitly require moist soil filled with plants as it supports fungal growth in soil which acts as a food source for them and their larva.
Aside from moist humid areas, it is also important to realize that gnats also prefer places with a lot of decomposing organic wastes such as from compost bins and decaying plant matter since most species of gnats' larvae feed on decomposing organic matter even if the adults themselves feed on plant nectar.
Anything that will allow organic waste to accumulate in the soil can be a culprit for gnat infestations especially moth and phorid fly species of gnats. Plus, the presence of organic waste also signifies the presence of living organisms nearby so its a two-for-one approach.
Yes, we all produce garbage from our homes so it's impossible to live a garbage-free life but that's not what we're talking about here, it's how you deal and dispose of the garbage that counts.
Garbage cans or dumpsters that aren't closed and sealed properly can attract many pests including gnats, even if you close the lid, pests such as squirrels and raccoons are likely to open them if they can thanks to their ambidextrous hands, thus proper garbage securing measures need to be done for not only gnats but other infiltrators.
Aside from just nectar, both the male and female sandflies and biting midges are also capable of eating and digesting fruits from our fruits and vegetables, so it's possible that they could be hanging around in the fruits and vegetables that you have purchased in the grocery.
To avoid importing gnats into your fruits and vegetables, make sure to inspect them thoroughly during purchase, wash them in salt water and pat dry thoroughly before storing them. If you live in gnat-prone areas, make sure to buy ethylene gas-neutralizing satchels to be able to keep fruits enclosed in storage containers.
Aside from the wet soil having the potential to cause a moist area to attract gnats, the plants themselves can also act as a source of gnats. This is especially true in colder regions as the gnats will attempt to hide under the plant leaves to shelter from the cold.
This behavior when paired with the fact that its common practice to leave houseplants outside during summer and bring them inside the house during winter unfortunately enables the gnats to become active once again when inside the warmth of a house.
This category can seem a bit weird to tackle, but it's true. As explained previously just like mosquitoes and flies, gnats are all about smells, and what smells are gnats attracted to? Unlike mosquitoes, gnats are also attracted to sweet and fruity scents as they can help them locate a source of food.
Unfortunately for us, most of the scents involved in making our perfumes, lotions, body wash, etc are derived from plants so humans inadvertently become free walking advertisements for the gnats.
Just like regular garbage, the organic and decomposing kitchen waste can also attract gnats and unlike regular garbage which is immediately disposed of, kitchen waste can stay in a bin inside the kitchen for a while because it can take time for it to accumulate or maybe you're planning to use them to make compost.
Unfortunately, this delayed emptying of kitchen trash cans actually leads to a higher likelihood of gnats than regular trash cans as there's usually lots of moisture and decomposing organic matter involved while also being deeper into the house.
Even if you haven't deliberately caused an area with high moisture, sometimes the failure of appliances can be the reason to blame for bringing the gnats into your home. Since bathrooms and kitchens are usually places where water appliances get used a lot, it can be difficult to notice the buildup of moisture there.
Once the appliances start leaking, the gnats will be able to lay their eggs and multiply, this doesn't just apply to leaky taps or sink drains but also to mere plumbing inside your walls which can be especially difficult to notice until your walls starts developing mold.
Aside from compost, garbage, and kitchen waste acting as a prime source of high-moisture and decomposing organic matter for gnat larvae to feed on, a slow but steady build-up of food occurs in your sink drains inevitably which goes unnoticed unless it clogs which it doesn't.
Thus without a clog most wouldn't have a reason to clear it out but the key to not having gnats in your drains is to clean it out regularly as a part of house maintenance. Also, if your sink has a garbage disposal unit, make sure to use it to pulverize any waste and prevent build-up.
If you overwater your plants' soil you are liable to cause a moist area that is suitable for gnats to breed and lay eggs on, however, fungus gnats go a step further and feed on mold, fungus, and decaying plant leaves. If you overwater your plants, you are liable to stress them out and cause the yellowing of leaves.
The overstressed plants are vulnerable to disease, mold, and fungus hence why the gnats are attracted to the color yellow as it's the same color as an overstressed plant even if there are no molds or decaying matter, hence care for your plants properly by only watering as needed and allowing the topsoil to dry completely before the next watering.
Another key cause of gnats being attracted to your home might not to due to anything in particular but simply due to a fact that a female gnat slipped through your defenses or was 'smuggled' into your home while hooked on your outside houseplants or fruits and vegetables.
Once a female gnat finds a suitable spot inside your home, it can use various pheromones to attract male gnats and thus proceeds to lay upwards of 400 eggs in your home. So maybe these interlopers aren't just interlopers but first-generation immigrants to your home.
Even if you completely take all the possible measures to prevent gnats, sometimes it might simply not be enough due to your location. Some gnat species such as eye gnats prefer environments with sandy soil making coastal states like California and Florida have particularly a high population of them.
Plus gnats can survive in many environments and have been noted even in the Artic and Antarctica. However, some locations that notably have low pest populations are North and South Dakota, Connecticut, Idaho, New Hampshire, Delaware, Colorado, and Illinois as most biting insects are not specifically adapted to a short temperate period.
Gnats, drain flies, and fruit flies are extremely attracted to fermented drinks such as alcohol, thus they are a bane to the existence of every bartender as they must constantly take measures to prevent contamination from the gnats.
Bars aren't the only places with alcohol though, if you have a home bar or a wine cellar then those could also be a major gnat attractant and there's no bartender to do anything about it. Make sure to close and secure every bottle after use and use disposable cups to cover any drains near the bar.
Humans aren't the only source of blood with which to produce their eggs in the blood meal for gnats, most other animals such as livestock and domesticated pets can equally act as a viable source of blood for the flying extra-miniature vampires.
So if you are taking your pets on a walk or letting them play outside, make sure to avoid heavily composted areas and give them a wash afterward to ensure that no gnats are taking a rest in the pet's fur after a quick blood meal and are being brought as contraband into your house.
Despite the lack of organic manures and organic composting present in your garden, you can still get a gnat infestation if you don't landscape your garden and rid it of any overgrown, grass, bushes, and unraked piles of leaves.
A dense cluttered garden can be filled with everything that the gnats could require for sustenance such as water, shelter, nectar, and decomposing leaves as food. Plus the clutter tends to hide the infestation until it decides to expand outwards which inevitably ends up being your home due to its close proximity.
If you want to repel gnats actively through the use of a smell then it is essential to know what scent do gnats hate so you can make use of scents that are proven to have insect-repelling properly and have been noticed to be particularly effective against gnats.
Lavender is one of the go-to essential oils when it comes to many things and with good reason too. The linalool present in lavender buds and leaves may smell pleasant to humans but gnats absolutely detest it as it overwhelms their sense of smell once they catch a whiff.
You can use lavender in various forms, such as planting in your garden, applying it to your skin, or even making scents out of them. Lavenders have been noted to be effective up to 8 hours though it might be wiser to refresh before that time.
The repelling compounds produced by eucalyptus are even more potent than lavender as it contains geraniol on top of also having linalool. Although refreshing and calming, it might cause adverse reactions for some people when applied on the skin directly.
The best way to make use of eucalyptus' powerful repelling scent is to use them as an incense, candle, or simply as a homemade spray.
Unfortunately essential oils are expensive and both the eucalyptus and lavender are particularly rare in most households, unlike mint which proves to be the exception as it is common to grow mints in a vegetable patch to be used as seasoning.
The aroma of the mints can not only repel gnats but also aphids and mosquitoes all of which are common indoor pests thanks to it containing menthol. If you don't have mint, planting them is an easy task as they are low-maintenance, grow, and spread extremely fast.
Although most of us might not be actively growing garlic in our homes, it is still just as likely as mint in American households due to its use as a spice and seasoning in many culinary dishes all the way from Chinese to Italian.
Garlic has allicin as its active ingredient which can mask our natural scent from the gnats, atop of this can interfere with our natural scent and mask from gnats. Allicin is an organosulfur compound and its release requires garlic to be crushed or blended in order to make use of garlic as a repellent.
Last but not least, Melaleuca also known as Tea Tree is a plant native to Australia and can be used to derive an oil that is capable of repelling mosquitoes. The oil contains compounds such as Terpinene and Eucalyptol that give it a potent, medicinal scent and make it an effective gnat-repellant.
Make sure to always dilute tea tree oil with carrier oil before applying it to any part of your body as they are especially harsh and can make your skin sensitized and allergic. The diluted versions are still just as effective so there's no fear of loss of potency when diluted.
Gnats are used to refer to a wide range of flies so it might seem like all gnats might want to fly into your face but in reality, there's only one gnat that does so. The eye gnats also known as frit flies measure just half the length (1/16 of an inch) of other gnats.
They are attracted to a specific protein found in fluid secretions of the eyes, ears, and noses which results in them trying to feed on the fluids on your face. While these gnats do not bite, they have been known to transmit certain diseases such as conjunctivitis to humans and livestock through touch when feeding on these bodily fluids.
Gnats constitute several different species such as fruit flies, phorid flies, moth flies, biting midges, sandflies, fungus gnats, etc. However, not all of them are attracted to light sources and the only exception to this are the fungus gnats.
This is due to a behavior known as transverse orientation where some insects navigate via the stars by flying at a constant angle relative to a distant light source such as the moon. However artificial lights change that light orientation angle and cause them to fly in ever-tightening circles until eventually arriving at the light source.
Aside from one reason already cited above such as the fruity floral scents of your soaps, lotions, and perfumes, gnats may also be attracted to the moisture and salt which are being expelled in your sweat and tears as well as which are found in sweat and tears.
They are also attracted to concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air as it often indicates a living creature and if the gnat is biting and blood-requiring variety then they could be following you looking for their next blood meal to gestate their eggs. If you have gnat bites, here's how you can get them treated at home.
You can make your DIY homemade gnat traps where you could attract the gnats inside and block their way back out to eliminate them inside your home. A homemade apple cider vinegar trap merely entails pouring vinegar into a bowl mixed with a drop of dish soap and a teaspoon of sugar.
Place the bowl in a gnat-prone location such as the kitchen or bathroom after stirring. While they are attracted by apple cider vinegar, due to the lack of surface tension via adding dish soap, they should fall in and drown instead of landing on the fluid.
Getting rid of actively flying gnats isn't sufficient as you also need to target their eggs and larvae. If you don't have any obvious sources such as garbage, wet soil, or compost then they may be hatching in your drains.
A home remedy that you can try is mixing a cup of bleach with equal parts water and some spoonful of salt, baking soda, and vinegar then pouring it down the drain. Repeat this twice a week to ensure that they won't make a recovery, alternatively pouring plain boiling water twice a week also works.
Some gnats such as fruit flies and fungus gnats are particularly attracted to bright yellow colored surfaces as it is similar to the color of sick plants and overfermented fruits. If you have these gnat infestations occurring in or near your plants then you can consider using yellow sticky traps to get rid of gnats in plants.
These glue-coated, adhesive paper traps come in various forms from cards, and stands to hanging ribbons, and allure the gnats with their color and trap them with the adhesive. Some adhesive traps also make use of light to improve the effectiveness of the trap.
If you seem to have a severe gnat problem that you couldn't get rid of even after trying all the methods that have been mentioned above then it might be time to call a professional from pest control services.
A trusted expert armed with the knowledge and years of working experience can easily identify easily missed potential causes that may have been missed by an amateur and bring in the specialized tools to get rid of them.
