Gnats in House ~ 1st Timer

Hello Everybody,

Happy holidays and hope you are doing well. We're having a first-time
gnat infestation (6 year-old home) and would appreciate some advice. I
first noticed the problem at a window sill the last week of Nov while
I was setting up the xmas tree. We didn't seem to have noticed
anything then but now it is annoying enough. Where are some other
places they might nest?... Tommorrow I'm going to check out everything
and wouldn't mind some directions (Mr. Brady?), TIA.

agp
010205

In article ,
Willie Buck Merle wrote:

- Gnats in House ~ 1st Timer
-
- Hello Everybody,
-
- Happy holidays and hope you are doing well. We're having a first-time
- gnat infestation (6 year-old home) and would appreciate some advice. I
- first noticed the problem at a window sill the last week of Nov while
- I was setting up the xmas tree. We didn't seem to have noticed
- anything then but now it is annoying enough. Where are some other
- places they might nest?... Tommorrow I'm going to check out everything
- and wouldn't mind some directions (Mr. Brady?), TIA.
-
- agp
- 010205


Post this to news:alt.consumers.pest-control
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~~~~~~
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On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 12:30:52 -0600, Willie Buck Merle
wrote:

Happy holidays and hope you are doing well. We're having a first-time
gnat infestation (6 year-old home) and would appreciate some advice. I
first noticed the problem at a window sill the last week of Nov while
I was setting up the xmas tree. We didn't seem to have noticed
anything then but now it is annoying enough. Where are some other
places they might nest?... Tommorrow I'm going to check out everything
and wouldn't mind some directions (Mr. Brady?), TIA.

Are they edible?

Seriously, this question could be on topic is they are fruit flies,
which is a good possibility. Did you receive a gift of citrus fruit
from the Valley? Fruit flies are as tiny as gnats.

If fruit flies are the problem, just make sure all of your fruit,
especially bananas, are in sealed containers or the fridge. The fruit
flies will all die in a few days.


Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

In article ,
Willie Buck Merle wrote:

Gnats in House ~ 1st Timer

Hello Everybody,

Happy holidays and hope you are doing well. We're having a first-time
gnat infestation (6 year-old home) and would appreciate some advice. I
first noticed the problem at a window sill the last week of Nov while
I was setting up the xmas tree. We didn't seem to have noticed
anything then but now it is annoying enough. Where are some other
places they might nest?... Tommorrow I'm going to check out everything
and wouldn't mind some directions (Mr. Brady?), TIA.

agp
010205

They are most likely fruit flies...

The best control is to eliminate whatever is attracting them.

Clean out your compost bucket daily and make sure it has a tight fitting
lid, and keep all your fresh fruit in the refrigerator.

I make fruit fly traps with a wine bottle. Mix about 1 inch of wine and
1 inch of any type of fruit juice in the bottom of the bottle, stick it
in a corner somewhere out of the way and forget about it until it needs
re-filling. The flies go into the bottle after the juice and drown.

I have a pet cockatoo I feed citrus fruit to so this creates a mild
problem. The traps work well to keep them under control.

Hope this helps?!?!? :-)

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katraatcenturyteldotnet,,

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra

"Willie Buck Merle" wrote in message
...
Gnats in House ~ 1st Timer

Hello Everybody,

Happy holidays and hope you are doing well. We're having a first-time
gnat infestation (6 year-old home) and would appreciate some advice. I
first noticed the problem at a window sill the last week of Nov while
I was setting up the xmas tree. We didn't seem to have noticed
anything then but now it is annoying enough. Where are some other
places they might nest?... Tommorrow I'm going to check out everything
and wouldn't mind some directions (Mr. Brady?), TIA.

Sometimes if you bring your outdoor potted plants indoors or over-water, you
find you have this type of problem. Happened to me once. Yes, they head for
the biggest light source - your window. Fruit flies seem to like to stay on
or close to the source of the food. Fungus gnats are probably what you have.

--
Catbird

"Oh-oh, her schizo is about to phrenia" - Bob Hope

On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 12:30:52 -0600, Willie Buck Merle
wrote:

Gnats in House ~ 1st Timer

Where are some other places they might nest?...

Here is a guess. Small gnats can come from soils in house plants that
you possibly brought in for the winter. These would be fungus gnats
as their larvae live in the soil and eat things like fungus growing in
the soil.

They would just be a nuisance, though, and drenching the pots in a
weak insecticide solution before you bring them in for winter kills
the larvae so they will not hatch into gnats. Personally, I would
just tolerate the gnats until they finish hatching. They should not
last long.

Rusty Mase

I've tried several suggestions over the years, with mixed results. None was
"the answer" which worked consistently. In using pesticides, the gnats will
eventually become resistant when using just one pesticide.

Spoke this past weekend with a friend of mine who is one of the Austin
area's foremost authorities on such things. His recommendation was to use a
biological control agent, rather than a pesticide. Purchase some mosquito
dunks, which when placed in water activates a bacillus which loves to munch
on those critters, in addition to mosquitos.

He said to break off a chunk and place it in a watering can or whatever with
warm water - overnight. Then in the morning, apply that water to your
indoor plants. In 4 or 5 days, the flying circus should be eradicated.

Sounds like it would be worth a try.

Follow the directions specifically and you will have results. Fungus
gnats is also a good sign you are overwatering your houseplants.

Victoria

HAH! That's a problem I don't have. My plants usually expire from drought.
Luckily, I have mostly cacti and succulents.

Cindy

Thanks, Victoria. I'll give that a try next time the gnat air force
invades! :-)

And here I am after visiting that website and spending $93.00. Some
excellent products. Thanks again.

JulioF...

My friend who recommended the mosquito cakes was featured on KLRU TV
yesterday - Central Texas Gardener was the show. I'll be sure to let him
know how the fungus gnat-specific bacillus works for me.

The plant which brought forth the gnats came pre-loaded with gnats,
unfortunately. That'll teach me to take a closer look at what I'm
purchasing before heading home with them!

Now let's be sure to enjoy today's sunny 80 degree weather... :-)

I get almost all of my gnats from Wal-Mart bananas

:(

And any time I buy bananas there in warm weather.

Randalls bananas - no gnats.

John


"JulioF" wrote in message
...
My friend who recommended the mosquito cakes was featured on KLRU TV
yesterday - Central Texas Gardener was the show. I'll be sure to let him
know how the fungus gnat-specific bacillus works for me.

The plant which brought forth the gnats came pre-loaded with gnats,
unfortunately. That'll teach me to take a closer look at what I'm
purchasing before heading home with them!

Now let's be sure to enjoy today's sunny 80 degree weather... :-)