Today in Seychelles: Die Rückkehr der Mücken des Grauens. Sie werden wiederkommen...
Black gnats
Invasion intensifies
After over a week of respite, the black gnats are back with a vengeance - returning in great numbers to our homes and offices since Sunday.
by B. Damou
The black gnats reappeared on Sunday evening and on Monday, covering many surfaces and floors. Some people returned to work yesterday with red eyes, because black gnats seem to be attracted to moisture. Many even feared turning the lights on, as they are attracted to light as well.
Chief Executive Officer of the Biohazard Department Marc Naiken explains that for the time being, no concrete measures have been implemented to deal with the invasion of the black gnats but confirms that the issue will be brought up today in a meeting with the press and members of the ministry for Agriculture.
“We would have to observe and assess the quantity of the black gnats to know how severe the case is, and since it is mainly affecting households and places where people work, we cannot just spray pesticide everywhere,” Mr. Naiken explains.
When asked what other measures are at our disposal other than pesticides, he stated that the Biohazard Department will also be hosting a meeting this Friday with all relevant stakeholders, and especially hoteliers who are being affected, in order to decide what must be done.
In this situation, an entomologist would be most useful to indicate the severity of the issue and what solutions are available to us.
Mr. Naiken confirms that there are currently no entomologists employed in Seychelles and that they are in the process of recruiting one locally.
“We will be placing ads this week in the newspaper, and if no one fits the criteria we will be opening the post to other Indian Ocean islands, the African region, and even worldwide if necessary,” he explains.
Sandra Isnard, who represents the Indian Ocean Commission in Seychelles, also confirms that for now the Indian Ocean Commission has not received any request to bring in any entomologist from other islands.
In February 2015 when the hairy caterpillars were a public issue, help was sought out from scientists in Reunion Island, and samples were sent over for examination by CIRAD, a French research centre working with developing countries to tackle international agricultural and development issues.
TODAY also tried contacting the Division of Risk and Disaster Management, but they were unavailable for comment.
In January 2016, similar issues with black gnats were experienced.
According to the National Pest Management Technical Committee, the fly comes from the dark-winged fungus gnat species or as they are known by their scientific name, sciaridae species. At the time, agronomist Daniel Cetoupe, from the Risk Assessment Unit, of the Department of Risk and Disaster Management, (DRDM) said that the fly is not new to Seychelles; “they have always been around but
people were not paying much attention to them until around three months ago when their population suddenly rose and they started being a nuisance”.
Mr. Cetoupe said that the flies die as soon as they come into contact with light bulbs and that contrary to belief, they are not pests, “since they are not detrimental to human health and agriculture or livestock production”.
Black gnats tend to thrive well in warmer climates, and an increase in their population can be linked to climate change.