Gnat Update

[JudyJB]

Found two dead gnats in the bowl of vinegar yesterday, but still a couple floating around. Hoping to see more carcasses over next few days.

[VickieP]

Hoping to see more carcasses over next few days.

Hopefully gnat carcasses!

[JudyJB]

I caught three gnats in that first dish of vinegar and dish soap, but I had to dump it out because I had to drive.

I got some fruit earlier today and the little critters were back, flying around like crazy, so I washed everything and put it in the refrigerator and set out a paper cup with more vinegar and soap. And now I just checked it, maybe 4 hours later and there must be a couple of dozen bodies!

Yea, this really does work. Where are these guys coming from? I did end up with a spot across from the dumpster, so that and the fruit may have caused more of them to come in. I am keeping my windows shut because I think they also come in through the screens.

[Bethers]

The fruit may also be hatching fruit flies, especially if you're leaving it out.

[JudyJB]

It was just out for three hours until I got to my campsite. Then I washed it and put it in the refrigerator. I think this was all due to the bananas from a week ago. No more fruit out even for a few minutes from now on!

I've put out the vinegar and soap stuff again last night and then today, and caught a couple dozen each time. The internet says one female can lay hundreds of eggs. I even have been tying my trash and putting all food waste in ziplock bags the last couple of days. Washed out the trash basket also and poured bleach and then boiling water down both kitchen drains.

Hopefully, when this batch dies, I won't have this problem again.

[mitch5252]

It was just out for three hours until I got to my campsite. Then I washed it and put it in the refrigerator. I think this was all due to the bananas from a week ago. No more fruit out even for a few minutes from now on!

I've put out the vinegar and soap stuff again last night and then today, and caught a couple dozen each time. The internet says one female can lay hundreds of eggs. I even have been tying my trash and putting all food waste in ziplock bags the last couple of days. Washed out the trash basket also and poured bleach and then boiling water down both kitchen drains.

Hopefully, when this batch dies, I won't have this problem again.

..
LOLOL - you sound as anal as I am! You should have seen me when I discovered Pantry Moths!!! Then thank goodness, Sharon alerted me to a product that you just set in your pantry, it attracts the little buggers and they're dead. I buy several packages at a time. I also put ALL newly purchased flour based/type products in the freezer for several days.

Thanks for the chuckle as I pictured your Methods of War Against The Gnats...
..

[IrishIroamed]

Judy,
Glad you're winning the war. Those things drive me batty also. I heard a new one last night. To keep flies away, put some pennies in a baggie with water and hang where you don't want flies. With their funny eyes, it supposed to make them see other nests or somethings so they don't go that way. I'll have to try it back door where I let the 4-leggers out.

[Acadianmom]

For the past 3 years we have been using something called Fly Predators at the barn to control the flies. The chemicals for the spray system was getting so expensive and it didn't work all that well. Every month we get a bag of cocoon looking things with the predators. When they start hatching we spread them around at the barn. They eat the fly larva. I don't know if they are helping with the fleas too but we haven't been having the problems we use to have with fleas.

Martha

[VickieP]

For the past 3 years we have been using something called Fly Predators at the barn to control the flies. The chemicals for the spray system was getting so expensive and it didn't work all that well. Every month we get a bag of cocoon looking things with the predators. When they start hatching we spread them around at the barn. They eat the fly larva. I don't know if they are helping with the fleas too but we haven't been having the problems we use to have with fleas.

Martha

Martha, after they hatch, what are they? Will you then have an overabundance of those things?

[Acadianmom]

The little flies that hatch out of the cocoons are about the size of the little black sugar ants but they fly. The company doesn't tell you the complete life cycle but what ever makes the cocoons must not develop here. We have to get a new batch every month that it's warm which here is from March to October. It's about $19 dollars a shipment and the chemical was $250 for a gallon to make 55 gallons for our spray system and we would have to get it 2 or 3 times a year. How ever the predators work we have been happy with them. A few times I have had one lite on me but they don't bite.

Martha

[Aokay]

It must be the season for gnats or fruitflies all over the country. They seem to be everywhere I go here in Oregon. I'm hoping it is just the season with all the harvesting.

I noticed they were in attendance whenever I visited a winetasting facility or drank wine in a restaurant so I did the simplest and obvious thing to get rid of them in my RV. I poured them a glass of red wine (just a small amount...didn't want to waste it). Twenty minutes later I had six critters in the wine happy but dead!

[JudyJB]

The wine sounds like a good idea, but maybe a waste of wine. I hope these are just seasonal.

I thought I had them gone a few days ago, but yesterday I found maybe 30 bodies overnight, and maybe 40 overnight last night. I left a dish out while I drove today and got another 10. There are still a few that like to buzz my face.

I have not left any fruit out for more than 1o days, but I had some cut up cantaloupe and a couple of peaches in the refrigerator. I have never seen them in the refrigerator, but I have now tossed all of my fresh fruit and will clean my refrigerator tomorrow. After I dumped my tank this morning, I dumped bleach and boiling water down my sink drain in case they are living in my grey water tank. I am also taking trash out twice a day and putting everything in plastic bags when I throw it out.

I am guessing the first batch laid some eggs somewhere and this is a new batch. I need to stop at a garden center to see if I can get something else. The vinegar and dish soap does work, but it takes a long time. I guess I will just have to be persistent.