So I have posted this before some 2 years ago and back then my question was just general...in terms of flying insects.
I learned (thanks to this forum and its great members) how to pretty much control mosquito and some other flying insects and ants etc...

One thing I can't win are the small but very aggressive flies that were identified by my local cooperative /Rutgers University as Gnats.

I have done sprays, powders, granules - all together, following all reco.... I have tried different preparations; Talstar, Cyzmic, Zenprox, Tempo SC, Demand CS

They all seem to work great for all other insects - for many weeks...but for those gnats - I can get maybe 4-6 days of piece before they start swarming again....
The only way for me to spend some time in the backyard for more than 20 min is to spray myself with DEET.... that works great.

So few questions:
= If you are a pro....what product is the best for these insects?
Would doubling the recommended does be good or just waste of money ? I am thinking especially about the residual products.... if I have twice as much of it - I hope it may actually have the lethal dose for longer....
Any other ideas for gnats ?

Thank you !!

 

The word "gnats" is still a general term. Specifically, what are they? Knowing that we would then know their harborage and food tendencies that can then be targeted, maybe/maybe not. Flies, are sometimes"source specific". Treating anything/anywhere than the source is only treating the symptoms.

Treating flying insects outdoors, short of stinging insects that have a physical nest/hive, is shoveling against the tide. Probably going to kill a lot of beneficial/harmless insects.

The products you named are professional grade products with long residual life. As they aren't "working" for the small flies means that the source of the gnats isn't getting treated and maybe can't be treated. There may not be a single source as they may be breeding/living in wide, general areas. Spraying residual, doubling the dosage, won't do anything in that situation. Residual insecticides target crawling insects more so. More harm than good will occur by a general broadcast of residual insecticides.

Keep residual insecticides off of any blooming/pollinating plants as that will definitely do harm to pollinators.

 

I was given a DynaTrap, UV light with a fan that captures and holds any small creature that flies by. I didn't know if it was working but when I pulled the basket on the bottom I was shocked, both by the quantity and variety of insects. They are designed for outdoors but I have mine inside as my puppies need the door open a lot. I have actually seen mosquitos get pulled in and never get out.

It isn't a solution, but a localized reduction of a bug problem. Not a bug pro, but eradicating outdoor pests is difficult. PA has the best advice so try to identify the specific gnat and then identify the source.

Bud

 

Looking over the notes / email I received from the cooperative.... they didn't specify the type of Gnats - in addition they also indicated there are Biting midges (Culicoides spp. )
the handout said there is no way to really control those....

 

Learn to live with them and work around them. Applying DEET to headwear may be more pleasant than to the skin and still be just as effective. I'm convinced that you are applying residual insecticdes to the point of overdose and beyond in the hopes that it "works". Insecticide applications need to be targeted to specific areas, species, environments, etc to be safe and effective. Broadcast applications, especially outdoors, should be avoided as much as possible.