How to Kill Gnats - 13 Facts
The Gnats That Keep on Giving
After a full seven months of writing the Jobacle blog, who would have thought that a simple post on how to kill gnats would be the biggest traffic generator. There's clearly a demand for eliminating these pesky buggers, especially at the office, so here are 13 things you need to know about gnats.
1) Simple recipe to kill 'em
2) Remove fruit and plants from "infected" vicinity
3) Most gnats live up to four months
4) Females may lay up to 300 eggs
5) Pheromones are a non-toxic agent that lures gnats to their death. Normally used on the sticky sticks that can be hung. It works for months, is poison free, and sells for about a buck a stick.
6) Gnats are attracted to light - so shut that desk lamp!
7) Spraying hair spray at them will freeze their wings and cause them to suffocate. Not very kind, but neither is flying up your nose.
8) While many "filth" gnats do not bite, be sure to look for any excess itching or redness or changes in your skin condition. Every one has a different take but some gnats do bite!
9) DEET sprays such as OFF! or Cutter will repel gnats. Poison-free alternatives such as Avon's Skin So Soft can be effective. Some folks disagree, but I've had luck with it. And NO, I don't sell Avon on the side.
10) Some gnats fly around your head because they're attracted to carbon dioxide. They read the CO2 as a possible snack.
11) Like any gang, gnats swarm together and might be using your head as a landmark. Stand near the tallest person possible and you might be left alone.
12) Summer is the worst - gnats multiply by the thousands. Use those vacation days.
13) No, a sledgehammer won't kill them
If you have a gnatty tale, please share it below. I'd love to hear what has or hasn't worked for you. Also, if I see a dive in Web traffic, I'll know that you've successfully eradicated the bastards!
Please subscribe to the blog. Please subscribe to the podcast.
Andrew G. Rosen
Reader Comments (2)