Gnat problem reported in South Lyon County
Lyon County and the City of Yerington have been inundated with complaints about the Gnats. A quick check with Mason Valley Mosquito Abatement and we learned the following:
The Black-flies, (Gnats), are bad and going to get worse. Our sprays do not have an effect on them as they are day biters, and go dormant just after sundown, they are coming from the floodwater, and have been establishing themselves here for the past 10 yrs.
As a mosquito control district, our hands are tied. It would take a change to Vector Control, along with additional monies for us to do anything legal. We are limited by statue to treat stagnant waters, only, The control method for Black fly is to treat the rivers, in March-June, (depending on surveillance), for larva before they pupate! They can and will fly 50-100-miles for blood! They are firmly established in the East Walker, and somewhat in the West, around the canyon. Not into Smith, yet.
They are ATTRACTED to DEET containing repellents! Some relief, (30 min.-2 hrs.), can be had from Geranoil, lemongrass, or citronella products. Patio torches containing citronella help. But bottom line is their here till it gets hot and suppresses them or we get a lot of Dragonflies hatching soon, (their larva are ramping up quickly and they are Black-fly killers!).
Black fly production can go as high as a BILLION bugs, per mile of river, per day!