GNATS! Driving me insane; don't wnat poisons but I'm at that point. Help.

[blondeatlast]

I've been using Rescue traps and the smell is horrible.

They've utterly overrun our back yard, virtually all of it.

I want to be a good, green citizen but we can't take it anymore; the gnats have to go at ANY cost. So what's effective (and preferably has a low impact)?

The weather is finally pleasant out here and we can't enjoy our beautiful view or the barbecue and I've used up my good green citizenship about this, I'm sorry to say. I'm growing citronella, thyme, and some other herbs that will repel them in the future, but in the meantime, I can't even walk outside in the evening.

Please help.

[NMDemDist2]

1. does the new place have a bunch of lantana? they are notorious for gnats

if you got, kill em or move em away from the patio

they come in all colors, but here's a pic of them

[blondeatlast]

2. Yes, but the gnats are not hanging around by it.

Mostly near the roof and on the patio.

There's lemon verbena near where they mostly hang out, not lantana. I thought I read where lemon verbena repelled them, but apparently that's not the case for us.

I would hate to get rid of the lantana, it's beautiful.

[NMDemDist2]

3. well, they may not 'hang out' by the lantana, but I know they breed in there

try some flying bug spray on the lantana and see if it helps, but I had to pull out all the lantana to get rid of the bugs

also get a couple families of lizards to live on the fences or some toads, they are the best non toxic answer to bugs and fun to watch too!

[blondeatlast]

4. We already have attracted quite a few lizards, which I love.

I'll try spraying the lantana; getting rid of it would break my heart. :hi:

[AZBlue]

5. Maybe it's an Arizona thing?

They have been driving me CRAZY lately. I live in a apartment and they keep getting in when open and close my front door. There's no vegetation near my door (I'm on the second floor and we have a lot of desert landscaping) so that can't be it.

When I have to, I use Spectracide - it's safe for humans and pets once it's dry. One day I opened the door to see no less than 8 gnats flying around right there - so I took the spray with me as I left for work and sprayed the front door and area around it. That way it was dry by the time I came home and I didn't have to worry about tracking it back inside. So far that seems to have kept them out.