Seeing More Gnats Than Usual? Here's The Reasoning Behind Their Appearance

Unfortunately, springtime isn't always all sunshine and roses. If you find yourself swatting away more insects than usual, especially inside of your home, you may be dealing with a gnat problem. As irritating as it may be, this is a pretty common occurrence for the springtime months, especially if you live in warmer climates, like states such as Florida, California, South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona. Though they may be tiny, gnats are considered flies and can refer to many types of little winged critters, most commonly fungus gnats, eye gnats, and drain flies. (Note that these are different from fruit flies, which are usually larger.) Primarily attracted to moisture and warmth, gnats thrive in warmer weather and are commonly found around your plants, in your kitchen, and, most annoyingly, on and around your body, thanks to sweat and body heat. So while you may be enjoying open windows, the warm weather, and lighter layers of clothing this spring, you may also be falling victim to pesky gnats in and around your home.

There are a few unexpected things in and around your home that can attract gnats. Gnats can be accidentally brought inside from infested plants, drains, and trash. The classic houseplant mistake that's most likely attracting gnats into your home is overwatering your indoor potted plants, risking decayed roots. Two other common causes are leaving fruit and vegetables out on your counters or food-crusted dishes in your sink, as gnats love decomposing organic matter. Plus, females lay their eggs specifically in moist environments. Once you've determined the possible source of the gnat population, you can address the issue, whether it be soil, produce, or trash. 

If you feel like you're at your wits' end with the gnats in your home, don't worry. There are many tricks to banish these pests from your space, most of them utilizing ingredients and items you probably already have at home. You can create your own DIY traps with a half a cup of water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap, combining these liquids in a bowl. You can add small pieces of fruit to the trap to entice the bugs. You can also purchase quick and easy sticky traps at your local home improvement store. If you are dealing with gnats coming in and out of your drains, a helpful solution is to pour watered-down bleach or boiling water down the drain. 

When it comes to preventing gnats from infesting your home during the warmer months, ensure you keep your sinks, drains, and trash free of food, debris, and standing water. If you have potting soil stored indoors, take the time to consistently check the containers for gnat populations. To attract and trap gnat larvae in your soil and keep them from eating your houseplants, you can add a raw potato to the container for them to eat instead. A simple soil trick to get rid of gnats in your plants is to keep the soil dry. When watering your houseplants, take care not to overwater them and always provide the pots with drainage holes for excess water. As the months go by and the weather grows colder, gnats should start to disappear from your home.