What Are Gnats Attracted To?

Need to get rid of gnats? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Attracts Gnats?

If you’ve ever had gnats in your home you know the singular frustration of minding your own business in your living room when suddenly you are bombarded by a tiny, buzzing insect right in your face. Gnats are a common household pest and the term “gnat,” while not a scientific categorization, is  a descriptive term for many different tiny, flying insects such as black flies, biting midges, no-see-ums, fungus gnats, eye gnats and sand flies. If you are besieged by flying gnats in your home, you may be wondering what brought them into your home in the first place.  

Gnats are attracted to many things in your home. Non-biting gnats like fungus gnats, phorid flies and moth flies are attracted to any light emanating from your home. Fungus gnats, in particular, are strongly attracted to lights and can often be seen flying around windows during the day and interior lights, TVs and any other light source at night. Fungus gnats are also attracted to any moist soil in your potted plants. Fungus gnats and fruit flies are both attracted to any decaying organic matter in your home such as food in your garbage or food particulates in your sink drain. 

Why Are Gnats Attracted To Faces?

It’s typical to find gnats swarming around the face. There are many reasons for this including that gnats love sweet smells. If you have any sweet smelling lotions, lip products, hair products or hair spray on, you might find gnats are particularly attracted to your face and hair. Additionally, they are equipped with receptors that can detect carbon dioxide in the same way that mosquitos do. So every time we breathe out, gnats are attracted to our faces. Gnats are also attracted to heat and moisture which is why they are not only attracted to human bodies, but also to those of our dogs and cats. 

What Else Attracts Gnats?

Gnats are highly attracted to both vinegar and honey. This can actually work in your favor as you can make some DIY traps in your home that trap these tiny fliers by using vinegar to attract gnats to fly inside the trap and once inside find there is no way out. These traps take time to work, however, which is enough time for gnats to propagate and cause an even larger gnat problem. If you have gnats in your home and are looking to eliminate your gnat issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to a knowledgeable pest control specialist for help.

Find A Pest Specialist For Gnat Control

If you are concerned about gnat control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.