Dear Joan,
We’ve been having small gnats gathering under the overhang on our rear porch. They show up when the weather gets warm and have persisted for the last few years. We have no leaks or standing water and I’ve even tried pouring vinegar and water down the drains—no success. Any suggestions?
— A. Seaman, Moraga
Dear A.,
Sounds like you’re hosting a party for lower house flies, better known as little house flies—or better known to me as “those annoying flies that never stay in one place long enough to swat.” These individuals love shaded, quiet spots and tend to show up in cooler areas since they don’t handle much heat or sun very well.
The cloud of buzzing you see is a group of male flies waiting for a female fly by. While they won’t bite or sting, they are perfectly positioned—at roughly human head level—to be as annoying as possible.
Insect sprays and traps won’t do much for them, but some adjustments to your patio can help:
- Don’t give plants too much water, especially at night. Damp flowerpots are perfect for egg-laying. Water in the morning instead so the sun has a chance to dry everything out during the day.
- Switch on a fan on your porch, blowing up into the swarm. It dissects the stagnant air they prefer and will usually scatter them—like turning all the lights at a party on.
It won’t eliminate them entirely, but it will make your patio a whole lot nicer during their peak seasons—spring and fall.
Why does my dog kick the ground after going to the bathroom?
Dear Joan,
I just brought home a sweet dog named Baxter. After he has done his business on our morning walks, he digs at the ground with his hind legs as if he is trying to cover it up. I used to think that cats did that only—and Baxter had lived with cats before I brought him home. Did they teach him that?
— E.J., San Jose
Dear E.J.,
The idea of cats teaching dogs their ways is funny and a little scary—but no, Baxter’s not trying to follow any feline role models.
What he’s doing is purely dog. Even though it may look like he’s trying to hide his mess, he’s actually marking his territory. Dogs have scent glands in their paws, and when they scratch the ground, they’re depositing pheromones all around the poop to make their mark even stronger. It’s a scented card for other dogs that pass by: “Baxter was here.”
