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So-called black flies leave red welts as large as nickels on human beings
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
DONNELLSON - Clouds of black flies, also called buffalo gnats and turkey gnats, have been putting the bite on people in the Tri-State Area for the past couple of weeks.
The resulting red welts, some small and some as large as a nickel, are very uncomfortable.
“It has been 12 years since we have had the number of gnats like this year,” said Bob Dodds, director of Lee County Extension. “Like mosquitoes, the buffalo gnat survives on blood.”
But that's where the similarity ends.
Buffalo gnats feed during the day in sunny locations, whereas mosquitoes generally come out at dusk.
Repellents also differ. The insecticides used to control mosquitoes, designed around the active ingredient DEET, seem to have little affect on the gnat.
“Use vanilla,” Dodds said. “I have to tell you the truth, vanilla really, really works. The real vanilla extract. And dryer sheets. When your relatives come over for the Fourth of July, just hand them small bottles of vanilla and everyone will have a good time.”
He said dryer sheets help, but don't work as well as the vanilla.
Dodds said the recent flooding in the area has not contributed to the swarms of gnats plaguing Lee County. The bump up in gnat population started almost a year ago.
“In fact, the bright spot in all of this is that gnats are actually an indication that the water quality of our small creeks and rivers is improving,” Dodds said.
The gnats only will flourish in high quality, flowing water, where adult gnats lay their eggs. Some lay their eggs in masses on plants that trail into the water, others drop the eggs singly into streams and others lay their eggs in long strings, Dodds said. Each female will lay from 150 to 450 eggs.
“I expect to see the gnats for about two more weeks,” Dodds said. “Then they should be gone until next year.”
Dodds said that gnats actually can kill chickens. Gnats feed around chickens' combs and face area where the skin is exposed. The chickens attempt to get away from the gnats by piling up on each other and suffocate the chickens on the bottom of the pile.
The gnats are not just a local problem, Dodds added. The entire Midwest is experiencing the gnat problem.
The resulting red welts, some small and some as large as a nickel, are very uncomfortable.
“It has been 12 years since we have had the number of gnats like this year,” said Bob Dodds, director of Lee County Extension. “Like mosquitoes, the buffalo gnat survives on blood.”
But that's where the similarity ends.
Buffalo gnats feed during the day in sunny locations, whereas mosquitoes generally come out at dusk.
Repellents also differ. The insecticides used to control mosquitoes, designed around the active ingredient DEET, seem to have little affect on the gnat.
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He said dryer sheets help, but don't work as well as the vanilla.
Dodds said the recent flooding in the area has not contributed to the swarms of gnats plaguing Lee County. The bump up in gnat population started almost a year ago.
“In fact, the bright spot in all of this is that gnats are actually an indication that the water quality of our small creeks and rivers is improving,” Dodds said.
The gnats only will flourish in high quality, flowing water, where adult gnats lay their eggs. Some lay their eggs in masses on plants that trail into the water, others drop the eggs singly into streams and others lay their eggs in long strings, Dodds said. Each female will lay from 150 to 450 eggs.
“I expect to see the gnats for about two more weeks,” Dodds said. “Then they should be gone until next year.”
Dodds said that gnats actually can kill chickens. Gnats feed around chickens' combs and face area where the skin is exposed. The chickens attempt to get away from the gnats by piling up on each other and suffocate the chickens on the bottom of the pile.
The gnats are not just a local problem, Dodds added. The entire Midwest is experiencing the gnat problem.
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