Ticks, Mosquitoes & Gnats

Ticks, Mosquitoes and Gnats. Small but Pesky. , Gnats , Actually Black Flies!, Are you bothered by those little bugs flying around your face? Late spring into early summer brings those pesky little bugs commonly known as "gnats." These "gnats" are actually black flies, part of the Simulium jenningsi species., Since the 1970s, black flies have been classified as a pest of humans and livestock in Pennsylvania. As efforts to clean up pollutants in the waterways in the state came into effect, this created the perfect breeding ground for black flies to thrive. The larvae of these insects spend much of their time in fast-flowing waters, while feeding on miniature particles., Black flies are commonly associated with their annoying habit of swarming around the face and persistent biting. Black flies are attracted to the following: carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and animals, perspiration, fragrances, dark clothing, and moving objects., In particular, female black flies will often enter the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of humans and animals in an attempt to find a host. A suitable host would be one that could provide the blood needed for egg production to continue the black fly's life cycle., In the 1980s, Pennsylvania initiated the PA Black Fly Suppression Program. This program uses helicopters to spray Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a naturally occurring soil bacterium, over affected areas. This bacterium selectively targets four of the black fly species that are most bothersome for humans and livestock.