No-see-ums

[kigerkrazy]

The past few days when I go out to feed the horses I'm getting swarmed by a cloud of the "biting gnats" or "no-see-ums". It's so thick now as our weather is creating ideal conditions for the little buggers. I have been trying fly sprays, wipes and roll-ons to give the horses some relief. But I don't think it's doing anything to these guys. I heard Noxema (just a little on the fingers) will stop them from biting inside the ears of the horses. Unfortunately, they seem to sense body heat and come out strong when she is by her feed trough. I also battle them to get inside the car is it's been running a while and warm.
Does anyone know how to kill these things? They are making life really hard on the horses and I am covered in bites. We have a big pasture, but they seem to be their worst, like I said, around the trough were the mud is. As soon as it dries up a bit more, we are putting in pea gravel. But not sure if this will help the gnat problem.

Someone suggested skin so soft? I know it works for other things, and at this point I"m ready to try anything!!!

[barbhorses]

campho-phenique might work. An equine vet down in SoCal has had some success using that.

[gotkiger]

Garlic in the horses feed and yours will make you a little less desirable. I started using Bug Check about two and a half weeks ago for my mare who gets really itchy with all the bug bites. So far i have not had any little bugs on her and very few flies, but not biting her. I would try the garlic and maybe some sticky tape or bags. As far as the ground goes I am not sure the gravel will do much. besides help with drainage. I would go to walmart and get their bug spray that is for flying bugs or whatever you need and spray the ground around the trough and then put the gravel over it (just make sure it isnt something they would want to eat. Depending on how wet it stays through the summer you might think about getting some frogs or lizards and staging them around the trough. Also some gold fish in the trough will keep the mosquitoes from breeding there and possibly some of the flies, just make sure there is a shaded cool spot for them to retreat to. I hope this helps.

[lindad]

No-see-ums thrive even in dry climate. We were tormented in Arches Natl Park in Utah and there was no water around. Our friend had a bad sunburn and had covered it with zinc oxide and the knats were stuck to him like fly paper. It was awful!

[kigerkrazy]

Fortunately for us, yesterday was an unbelievably windy day here. The little gnats seem to have been blown away for the moment and we didn't have any problems with them this weekend. I haven't noticed that my mare is itchy, or even has scabs etc. I know she must be suffering at least a little bit because of how I feel after being out there to feed. I tried something new and will report back my results after this week. I'm really hoping it works!
Lindad: That is just miserable! Those little guys get into everything. I was really hoping that a dry summer would kill them off =( Maybe it's just time to rotate pastures or something.

[Michelle Clarke]

If campho-phenique has the oil camphor in it, be careful. It can be poisonous to horses if digested. It should only be put places they cannot lick - it can get built up in the internal organs and then can cause problems later on.