San Diego County officials are calling on a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor once again to help solve a pesky problem with gnats, according to an article in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Last year, residents of the north San Diego County community of Jacumba were plagued by gnats and believed their source was a local organic farm. UCCE farm advisor Jim Bethke confirmed their suspicions and began working with the farmer to find an environmentally sound way to control the pests.
Now the problem has spread to Escondido, Fallbrook, Rainbow and Oceanside, the article said.
"This (gnat problem) has become a trend. There is something happening in Southern California," Bethke was quoted. "It may be associated with the drought or a type of agriculture, but there are more gnats this year in general in all areas. I also think that the problem in Jacumba has made people more aware of it -- that they can complain about it."
An article in the same newspaper last January said Jacumba residents couldn't enjoy their outdoor patios and that local schools provided fans to keep gnats off children eating their lunches outside, as reported in this ANR News blog post.
Reporter Angela Lau wrote in today's story that Bethke believes farms, creeks, rivers and lakes in Escondido and Fallbrook are the breeding grounds for the north county's troublesome gnats. He is working with scientists at UC Riverside to find solutions that would allow residents and organic farms to comfortably co-exist.
"A lot of people don't believe the problem can be solved unless the farm is gone," Bethke was quoted. "I don't believe that. The problem can be solved."
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