Gnats...

Faustdog

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2007
4,052
2,412
113
That looks like the thickest case of gnats I've seen in a while in Columbia tonight.

Thinking about that, does it seem like we see fewer gnats here in MS than we did in the 80's/90's?
 
Aug 1, 2025
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I think so. I rarely see lighting bugs, either. Probably because I smeared all of them across my t-shirt when I was 5.
Lightnin’ bugs have something going on for sure. I can only speak for Northeast MS and Jackson area. Definitely far fewer in Northeast MS in the last 40 years. I’m doing good if my kids find any to catch. I haven’t seen any in very rural Jackson area in 2 years.
 
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HotMop

All-American
May 8, 2006
7,974
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Lightnin’ bugs have something going on for sure. I can only speak for Northeast MS and Jackson area. Definitely far fewer in Northeast MS in the last 40 years. I’m doing good if my kids find any to catch. I haven’t seen any in very rural Jackson area in 2 years.
Some firefly species are almost extinct.

 

L4Dawg

All-American
Oct 27, 2016
10,709
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I think so. I rarely see lighting bugs, either. Probably because I smeared all of them across my t-shirt when I was 5.
Lighting bugs all but disappeared where I live for years. The last 4-5 years they have been making something of a comeback. Still not near as many as when I was a kid though.
 
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patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,927
27,798
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Lightnin’ bugs have something going on for sure. I can only speak for Northeast MS and Jackson area. Definitely far fewer in Northeast MS in the last 40 years. I’m doing good if my kids find any to catch. I haven’t seen any in very rural Jackson area in 2 years.
I have some in my yard in Madison near reservoir. Not like you used to see 40 years ago though.
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,794
11,123
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We've been to the Bahamas several times and every restaurant we've been to would sprinkle black pepper in the candles that always burned on the tables. Flies and mosquitos hate the burning pepper smell supposedly
 

Hugh's Burner Phone

All-American
Aug 3, 2017
5,113
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I've got a decent amount in my yard here in Starkville. I'll sit out and watch them until the mosquitos drive me in.
 

ZombieKissinger

All-American
May 29, 2013
5,117
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We've been to the Bahamas several times and every restaurant we've been to would sprinkle black pepper in the candles that always burned on the tables. Flies and mosquitos hate the burning pepper smell supposedly
They were actually prepping you for demonic possession
 

L4Dawg

All-American
Oct 27, 2016
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Lightning bugs hang out where there are plentiful oak trees
It was pecan trees where I grew up, we had thousands of lightning bugs back then. I think it’s more hardwoods in general. Didn’t help where I am now for years though.
 
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Herbert Nenninger

All-Conference
Feb 9, 2019
766
1,067
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When our daughter was about 4, we were driving up around Red Banks and saw a shooting star. We said “ooh, make a wish!”, and she said “ok, I made one!”, all excited.
A minute or two later, a lightning bug hit our windshield, so splat, it was dead. But it was lit up as it hit, so the light stayed on. In the sweetest voice, she promptly goes “aww, my wish came true”.
 

GloryDawg

Heisman
Mar 3, 2005
19,819
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I think SC beat the hell out of Texas on the Friday night game when they played. Or at least they were up big at one point. Still won.
 

HRMSU

All-Conference
Apr 26, 2022
1,484
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I remember as a kid coming home one summer day and pulling my jeans off and I had thousands of little gray ticks on my legs. My mom stood me on a stool in the bathtub and shaved them off my legs with a straight razor and then rubbed my legs down with alcohol. How I survived growing up I’ll never know.
As a young kid got one burrowed in across my pee hole......mom surgically removed with tweezers....I was freaking out
 
Nov 16, 2005
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As a young kid got one burrowed in across my pee hole......mom surgically removed with tweezers....I was freaking out
Omg Wtf GIF
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
9,118
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I have a friend who grew up calling gnats zickets. Anyone else ever heard that one?
 
Nov 16, 2005
28,078
21,656
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That looks like the thickest case of gnats I've seen in a while in Columbia tonight.

Thinking about that, does it seem like we see fewer gnats here in MS than we did in the 80's/90's?
The gnats were absolutely awful up here last spring. Worst I’ve ever seen them.

They haven’t been noticeable at all so far but it’s been extremely dry too.

ETA: if you haven’t seen Dr Goddards videos MSU Extension puts out, you’re missing out.

 

John Deaux VII

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2024
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I know everything that was put on this earth is supposed to have a purpose but for the life of me I can’t fathom what a chiggers purpose is?
With the exception of a really bad case of strep when I was in college and a really bad case of the flu about 10 years ago, the most miserable I have ever been in my life was from getting into chiggers / red bugs at camp one summer.
 

OopsICroomedmypants

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2022
2,060
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I've got a decent amount in my yard here in Starkville. I'll sit out and watch them until the mosquitos drive me in.
If you have mosquitoes you are more likely to have fireflies. Fogging mosquitoes kills fireflies and yard insecticide treatments kill the insects the larvae eat. Yep, firefly larvae are some bad little carnivorous rascals. I quit spraying my backyard and notice more fireflies in the woods behind me.
 

CochiseCowbell

Heisman
Oct 29, 2012
14,839
12,565
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Or fleas. I immediately thought of fleas. They are just perfect little devil pests in every way and I see absolutely nothing redeeming about them.

They culled the herd and brought about actual wages and then higher wages for peasants of serfdom. They ushered in the start of meritocracy and capitalism in their own terrible, blood-sucking way. Other than that, I got nothing for fleas. In an apartment many moons ago, mine became infected due to my neighbors dog.

Evolve Jurassic Park GIF
 
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