Biting gnats/no see ums....trapping?

[dungrulla]

BTi (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) will kill gnats, particularly fungus gnats but also other species. It also kills blackflies, and we’re using it on the property this year. The most commonly available application is mosquito bits, but there are also liquid applications like the below:

https://www.arbico-organics.com/cate…is-israelensis

This is a very effective treatment, harmless to mammals and most other insects, and is naturally occurring in the environment. It also isn’t terribly expensive.

I’ll give more information once it gets warmer on what specifically it controls for us in particular, but it should kill most diptherans including biting gnats, and will not harm fly predators.

[Simkie]

@dungrulla I looked into that last year and everything I found was that BTi had no effect on biting gnats. If you have success with it, I’d love to know!

[trubandloki]

@dungrulla

BTi (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) will kill gnats, particularly fungus gnats but also other species. It also kills blackflies, and we’re using it on the property this year. The most commonly available application is mosquito bits, but there are also liquid applications like the below:

https://www.arbico-organics.com/cate…is-israelensis

This is a very effective treatment, harmless to mammals and most other insects, and is naturally occurring in the environment. It also isn’t terribly expensive.

I’ll give more information once it gets warmer on what specifically it controls for us in particular, but it should kill most diptherans including biting gnats, and will not harm fly predators.

Are you applying this to the animals or putting it places? I am confused about what you are saying you are doing with this product to get the result.

[dungrulla]

@Simkie

@dungrulla I looked into that last year and everything I found was that BTi had no effect on biting gnats. If you have success with it, I’d love to know!

We have a huge mosquito problem and BTi is known to work on mosquito larvae. It also works on fungus gnats, which are in the same family, so there’s no reason to think it won’t work on the biting ones. I’ll certainly let you know in a month or two how we fare! We get those enormous Asian tiger mosquitoes and the back half of my pasture is flooded right now, so I’m excited to not get eaten when I head outside either way.

[dungrulla]

@trubandloki

Are you applying this to the animals or putting it places? I am confused about what you are saying you are doing with this product to get the result.

It’s for ground application, or application to standing water. It kills the target species in their larval form. There are several other variants of Bacillus thuringiensis that are labeled to control different species sold under different brand names. The one we are using is sold by summit responsible solutions as mosquito bits. We put them in a lawn spreader for lawn grass seed, and we dumped a few capfuls liberally over the manure pile. There is a liquid application as well that can be used in a sprayer but it is more expensive.

It’s the same as mosquito dunks, which are sold for use in stock tanks and ponds.

The active toxin is essentially the same thing as is in BT corn, which is in a LOT of animal feeds–it won’t hurt your animals if they eat some of it and has basically no effect on non-target species.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Interesting @dungrulla ! Never heard of that stuff. Though I’m not sure I could track down ever source of standing water on my 40 acres… but I could at least treat my water troughs and puddles after rain storms to reduce the population. I wonder if Home Depot or Lowes carry this stuff? I’m going later today and I’ll look for it.

[dungrulla]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Interesting @dungrulla ! Never heard of that stuff. Though I’m not sure I could track down ever source of standing water on my 40 acres… but I could at least treat my water troughs and puddles after rain storms to reduce the population. I wonder if Home Depot or Lowes carry this stuff? I’m going later today and I’ll look for it.

I’ve seen it at tractor supply before. It’s not technically approved for use in water troughs (this is Spaulding’s main argument toward their competitive product, which is very toxic to aquatic life), but it’s pretty inert as far as anyone can tell. Smartpak carries the dunks and you can get the bits on Amazon.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Well, if not in troughs, I do have a few ponds too. But will read package inserts carefully before purchasing and using.

[dungrulla]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Well, if not in troughs, I do have a few ponds too. But will read package inserts carefully before purchasing and using.

Smartpak labeled them as drinking water safe. There aren’t many things with specific FDA approval for human potable water use that aren’t also extremely toxic to non-target organisms.

[Unfforgettable]

The gnats get pretty bad here. Amazingly, what repels them is vanilla extract. Bonus: the horses and I smell like cookies.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I bought a package of the Mosquito Dunks about three weeks ago. They are safe for water troughs. Haven’t seen a single larvae in any of my troughs since I started using them (I have no idea what larvae my troughs had - but whatever it was, there was a LOT of them and I certainly was getting tired of dumping, cleaning and filling them back up). They actually carry the Dunks at Lowe’s and they’re cheaper there than Tractor Supply. I’m using 1/2 dunk in the 100+ gallon troughs and a 1/4 dunk in the 50/75 gallon trough. Horses and pony have ignored them (was concerned they might think it was floating food and try to eat it). Everything I found in Q&A and reviews, etc. says they are safe in the water troughs for horses.

Bonus is that the swarm of gnats we had in our paddock in the mud are all gone too. So maybe it was gnat larvae in that trough? No idea. Just glad my troughs are critter free now.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/mosquito-dunks-6-count-natural-mosquito-killer/3047384?cm_mmc=shp--c--prd--lwn--google--lia--241--outdoorpesticide--3047384-_-0&kpid&store_code=629&k_clickID=go_1792976560_68785407789_346819597432_aud-299487635170:pla-698747504548_c_9013186&gclid=Cj0KCQjwocPnBRDFARIsAJJcf97GuPecab6xT2GrmlmAs2TTE8zoYCnBqPFZTInYwS64TlnimDFE3kAaAtBiEALw_wcB

[Xanthoria]

I’ve tried it all. Recently read a scientific study showing lemon eucalyptus oil is as effective as DEET against culicoides midges. Bought some Repel brand lemon eucalyptus spray. Put on horse. MAGIC. It works. $5.

Cutter makes an equivalent product too.

Please note that a different ingredient (which has a citrusy smell too) called citronella actually ATTRACTS the midges in studies so don’t use that! You want “lemon eucalyptus” - not citronella, lemongrass, plain eucalyptus etc

[Claddagh]

@Xanthoria

I’ve tried it all. Recently read a scientific study showing lemon eucalyptus oil is as effective as DEET against culicoides midges. Bought some Repel brand lemon eucalyptus spray. Put on horse. MAGIC. It works. $5.

Cutter makes an equivalent product too.

Please note that a different ingredient (which has a citrusy smell too) called citronella actually ATTRACTS the midges in studies so don’t use that! You want “lemon eucalyptus” - not citronella, lemongrass, plain eucalyptus etc

Interesting. I’m all for natural, non-toxic ammunition against those nasty predator bugs! Does the lemon eucalyptus work against biting flies too?

Also, does it irritate sensitive skin? I have one horse who reacts to everything, including Skin so Soft (blistering skin). The ONLY repellent that doesn’t cause a reaction is Deo Lotion.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Eucalyptus oil (of any variety) is quite toxic to cats, so I would not use it if I had barn cats or any kitties that interact with the horses or with you after applying it.

[Claddagh]

Well, cross that one off, we have barn cats and I certainly wouldn’t use anything that could harm them. Thanks for the info. 😸, saved me the time of researching!

[Xanthoria]

If you were planning to spray the Repel on the cat, or keep the cat in an enclosed area with the horse who was sprayed, I’d skip it. But in an open area it’s not an issue.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/are-essential-oils-poisonous-to-cats/

“Most of the problems are seen when owners apply 100-percent essential oil [products]. There’s some essential oils used for flea control are typically less than 5 percent. So that’s a big difference.”

Tea tree and all sorts of other oils used on horses are bad for cats at high enough concentration. You just have to consider the application.

[4horses]

Almost all essential oils are toxic at high doses. So i think you are safe spraying your horse, just don’t spray the cat.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I see applying a flea treatment to back of the neck where a cat can’t consume (lick) the product a little differently from a cat rubbing itself on the legs of a horse sprayed with an essential oil or laying on a towel used to wipe on an essential oil, where they can lick and groom themselves and actually ingest it. Plus poisoning of cats and dogs can occur over time with repeated exposure, whereas a natural flea treatment using essential oils is applied once every 30 or so days. I’m all for natural solutions to pest problems, but I just stay clear of essential oils, as I have cats and dogs (along with horses), but that’s just me… and its impossible (for me) to keep straight which may be toxic for one pet and ok for another.

The ASPCA says its (eucalyptus essential oil) toxic to cats, dogs and horses. But of course, they could be wrong.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/eucalyptus.

[dungrulla]

Update: Flies have started to appear at my trainer’s property, as well as mosquitoes and gnats. We are still nearly 100% pest free.

[Xanthoria]

@Claddagh

Interesting. I’m all for natural, non-toxic ammunition against those nasty predator bugs! Does the lemon eucalyptus work against biting flies too?

We have culicoides and mosquitoes that bite: it works on them.

@Claddagh

Also, does it irritate sensitive skin? I have one horse who reacts to everything, including Skin so Soft (blistering skin). The ONLY repellent that doesn’t cause a reaction is Deo Lotion.

My horse getting it sprayed on his sheath and midline daily and it doesn’t affect him at all.