Eye gnats are small, shiny black flies approximately 1/16 inch in size. They breed in organically rich soil and are normally found at very low numbers in many parts of San Diego County. To produce their eggs, eye gnats feed on the protein found in body secretions such as mucus from the eyes and nose. In large numbers, they can be an annoyance to both people and animals.
| Eye gnats are often misidentified as: | |
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| Fruit Flies | Fungus Gnats |
| (photo courtesy of David Reyes) | (photo courtesy of Kim Fleming) |
Eye Gnat Update:
The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health Vector Control Program is seeking validation of a candidate eye gnat abatement measure, Irrigation Practices, pursuant to 64.405(c) of Title 6, County Code of Regulatory Ordinances which allows for two or more Professors of Entomology or similarly qualified person, not employed by the county, to review the effectiveness of candidate measures identified by the Farm and Home Advisor that have not been validated based on prior peer reviews. A meeting open to the public is scheduled for April 30, 2013, at 11:00 am at 5570 Overland Avenue, Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92123.
On April 10, 2013, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego adopted ordinance amendments to Title 6 of the San Diego County Code relating to the County-wide (incorporated cities and unincorporated area) Eye Gnat Program, which went into effect January 4, 2013, as a result of a lawsuit filed alleging the ordinances were insufficiently supported for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act and inconsistent with state law. The ordinance amendments modified preconditions for the issuance of orders to abate eye gnats to commercial organic farms and allow government agencies that have an interest in land that would be affected by the abatement order to attempt to appeal such orders to California Department of Public Health. The amendments become effective May 10, 2013.
If you would like to sign up to receive e-mail announcements on the eye gnat program please click on the link: E-Gov Delivery Notice Subscription If this link does not work, please visit http://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=CASAND and subscribe to Eye Gnats, Public Meeting Update under Environmental Health.
Supporting Documents:
March 20, 2013 Proposed Amendments to Title 6 County Code of Regulatory Ordinance
Chapter 2 and 4, Title 6 County Code of Regulatory Ordinance
Article XV-AA County Administrative Code
Negative Declaration
Initial Study
Best Management Practices
Ordinance Compliance Checklist
Environmental Findings
Multiple Species Conservation Program Findings
Response to Comments
Public Comments
Oppose 1 of 3
Oppose 2 of 3
Oppose 3 of 3
Support 1 of 1
Statement of Location and Custodian
Candidate Measures
