Does any one have a remedy to keep gnats off of you, especially the face?
They are also referred as no-see-ums! This is needed information for someone in south Georgia. The gnats are very irritating and she needs something to keep them off her. Thanks for your help.
By Billie from Sharpsburg, GA
If it is a problem while sitting around the lawn, try using citronella candles. You can get several metal buckets with citronella candle that lasts a long time at Family Dollar Store. Just place them around where the seating is and light up a few minutes before sitting down. Could hang a few from low tree branches if any are near the sitting location or set them on ledges, table or something that is head high, but not too close to the face. This will help control the majority in advance.
You could spray the area with bug repellent before sitting down, but will probably have to repeat often. Remove any sweet smelling fragrances on your person prior to going outdoors.
What kind of Avon Skin So Soft Oil? The Original (the blue one) or the pink one?
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My daughter just moved to South Carolina. How do they stop the "No See Um" bugs from biting?
By Gail from SC
Reader's Digest's book "5-Minute Fixes" says to trap them: using a quart-sized jar, deposit some banana peel or apple or other fruit into the bottom of the jar. Make a paper funnel where the small end has about a 1/2-inch opening, and the large end so it will fit the top of the jar. Insert funnel, small end inside the jar, wide end completely closing off the mouth of the jar.
No-see-ums should fly in, lay eggs, and won't be able to get back out. Every few days, fill jar with hot tap water to kill flies and larvae. Dispose of the water & bugs. Then start over with new fruit and a new funnel.
I'm trying it today because I have them in the house (I have an indoor herb garden, and they're hanging out in there). I think I'm going to have to get rid of the herb garden, as no-see-ums attach to fruit and plants. Also, if you store fruit on the counter or table, consider storing it in the fridge, and be sure your trash has a tight-fitting lid.
My mum and dad have this problem in Victoria Australia. I have been doing a fair bit of reading on the no see um. They are attracted to water, so if you have a body of water (even as small as a bucket) or live by a creek or lake or coastal they can breed. They also love gutters as mulch or soil that is dense can also be a healthy breeding spot for them.
Anyone here succeded so far in getting rid of those pesky noseeums from your house? I've tried many remedies and traps, but none has made a breakthough so far in the assault of a massive number of annoying bugs. Has anyone been successful in wiping them out from their homes? Because I can't seem to no matter what I do.
By Tiffany T
Are you talking about fruit flies? No-see-ums are a catchall name for many different kinds of small flies, many of which bite. Fruit flies are the most common tiny fly in homes, and you get them in rotten fruit, in pop cans and juice boxes, in potted plants, in compost pails, in garbage cans, etc. I have never found traps to be effective. The best way to keep them under control is to get rid of all the places that they reproduce.
When I bought some new potting soil and repotted about 6 plants, I thought I was going to die from all the gnats! What worked for me (but it took 5 weeks because there was so many) was those sticky fly cylinders laying across the pots. Those caught many newly hatched gnats.
Then shallow little glass bowls of regular cooking oil. The adults would go in and not be able to fly off.
These two methods caught hundreds a day! Now, I bought some play sand (bleached) at the hardware and put 1/2 inch on top of plants. That is supposed to work. I will see when I ever transplant again.
My husband and I have tried everything, just about to rid our house of these mites. You can't see them, but you can feel them. They bite and you feel millions on you at once. They get worse at night. We have to wash our feet every time we come out of the kitchen or bathroom. We can't even sit on the living room furniture. Everything has to be thrown out. I tried pest controls and they could not help. One pest control company sent out someone and they told me they call them "can't see them mites" and they are more common in Texas.
He did a fogging that didn't work for more than a day. I use household cleaners and sprays, still no help. I did 6 foggers last week; it only made them angry. We take at 15 to 20 baths a day and I wash covers 3 or more times a day. Please does somebody know how to kill these things? I really don't want to move because these things do follow on your shoes, clothes, hair, belongings, furniture, everything.By Jenny
Google "diatomaceous earth". It is a non toxic powder that can be used for all kinds of crawling insects. It works well for fleas, ants, etc. You can order it from Home Depot or other hardware stores. Be sure to ask for the "food grade" type., then you can use it around animals, children, etc. without any ill effects. You just sprinkle it around baseboards, on and under cushions on the couch, and even on the mattress on the bed. Leave it for a couple of days before you vacuum it up to give it a chance to work. We had a flea problem with our cat and this worked better than spraying her with chemicals. I hope it works for you.
"No See Um's" are tiny flying bugs in Alaska and the Yukon. These are more likely mites. This link will help you figure out what they are.
www.google.com/
Hi, if you have any oak trees nearby they are most certainly the source of the tiny mites, close your windows nearest to the tree or trees, so that they can't gain entry so easily. You can put down sticky paper under the tree to catch them, old newspapers spread with grease, or even lining paper, the best grease is the stuff you put around fruit trees to stop the bugs that climb the trunk to get into the fruit, pin the paper down with stones.
For in house get a steamer and go for it in every room, start at the top of the house and work your way down, steam every nook and cranny, every surface, all of your mattresses and furniture, also steam all of your clothes and when you have done your washing iron everything, lastly get skin so soft oil from avon and spray your pets if you have any, this will stop them being attractive to various biting insects, do the same for yourselves and enjoy a peaceful nights sleep, Honey.x.
I am getting eaten alive by what I believe to be no-see-ums. My house, has been fogged, but it is not helping me. My husband, 2 kids and dog are all bite free and have been for over a week. I've had bug spray, steroids from the doctor, seen a dermatologist, my primary physician and ER Doc.
Nothing is helping and I can't figure out why I'm the lucky one. I have bites all over me and I'm itchy. We have no carpets and no open water.People have different body chemistry. You can try using non-scented items Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil repels many bugs.
We have these in Tahiti from time to time. What I do is to use fresh mint oil. The bugs don't like the smell of mint and they don't bite your skin. You can make your own mint oil at home.
In a blender, add a bottle of cheap cooking oil. It doesn't have to be expensive. Buy some fresh mint at your store. Break up the mint and add it to the blender. Mix well until the oil turns green.
Now pour the mint oil in a pan and heat it on your stove. Do not allow it to boil just heat. Afterwards, take a clean, white cloth and put it over a bottle. Pour the oil in the bottle.
Apply the oil to your skin several times a day. When my grandchildren visit my grandson gets bit all the time. This is the only way I can keep him from being bitten by bugs here on the islands. It really works.
I live in Philadelphia and these little monsters (midges or no-see-ums) are driving me crazy. I went to the psych ward for 10 days. I know the property management sent in an exterminator. So everything was good when I came back home. Now they seem to be starting to come back again. Please tell me what to do to kill them once and for all. I'm desperate!
Help!
This question is for the person who suggests turning the thermostat down to 62 degrees to kill the no see ums. I have been suffering so much from bites in my house for the past 2 months. Like you, I have tried everything - except bombing. I have a forest filled with oak trees behind my house, which I understand makes it worse.
I will try this method today. I'll give you feedback as to whether it works for me. Unfortunately I live in Florida where there isn't a freeze during the winter. Thank you so much. If anyone else has suggestions or feedback, please add to this discussion.
In answer to your specific questions about cold and no seeums:
**The insects only lay eggs outside in moist soil, a garden or surrounding vegetation, so a cold house will not affect the eggs.
**No seeums are very small so can crawl through most window and door screening used in homes. You can replace regular screening with very fine screens which will prevent ingress through windows, doors, etc. However, they can fly with you or on you through doors into your house.
**They are most active in the evening so avoid all outside areas in the evenings. Even just quickly opening/closing doors will bring them inside.
**You can bring them inside your house on your clothes so effective and frequent outside bug bombs will help.
**A cold house may slow them down but they revive quickly.
Where can I buy the spray in Seneca, South Carolina?
By B.K. from Seneca, SC
I'm not sure about spray for people, but baby oil can work to keep them from biting but it needs to be kind of a generous amount-oily ...yucky. There is that place in Greer (I think that is where the store is located) but they sell online also. Professional strength products, allegedly. I need to look them up again, but you may know what I'm talking about; they had commercials on last year (I've not watched local in months, not sure if they are still on). Hope you find relief. Good luck from Woodruff, SC.
