Newport daily independent., 1903-03-24
BUFFALO GNATS
 HAVE ARRIVED.
Floot Pest Puts Tn Early Appearance In This Section. Great Menace To Stock And Even Wild
 Animals.

To Stock And Even Wild
 Animals.
 The buffalo gnat, which always comes in the wake of high stage of water, has already appeared, The pest will be worse this year than for several years, and unless the owners exercise care and judgment the losses of horses, COWS and mules will be ex- tensive. Although preventive re- medies are plentiful and efficient, they must be used in time.
 The gnats are appearing very early, and those who realize their destructive ability are taking prompt action against them. It has been two years since the pest appeared to any extent worthy of notice, but the people are not without experience in contending with it.
 Scientists are not all agreed as to the origin of the gnats, but there is no disagreement as to their coming after every flood stage of the river. They are worst in the bottom sections, but are not confined there. Farmers in l the highlands also have to contend with them and will have that to do this time because of the very wet season. A prominent planter said yesterday that no man could tell just where they came from, but they seemed to generate on the branches and about the leaves of trees. They increase rapidly and in few days the air may be almost filled with them. MODE OF ATTACK.
 The little insect is about the size of a mosquito and has very large head compared to it's body. It does it's dam age by biting the animal attacked and literally loading the body of it's victim with a poison, causing considerable swelling. The animals are attacked by the gnats first about the nostrils, ears and Hanks and then all over the body The onslaught is so sudden and with such force that the victims lie down on the ground and attempt to get relief in that way. If they see any smoke a break is made in that direction, as smoke will drive away the gnats. Animals seem to know by intuition that smoke will bring relief, and they will go for miles if smoke is seen. Deer are not immune from the biting of the gnats, and frequently go to a settlers house if they see smoke.
 The gnats get in under the hair of the animals and bite them to death Sometimes an animal will succumb in twelve hours and again it may live for several days, but unless remedies to prevent attacks are used death generally ensues. Occasionally later remedies bring relief, but this is the exception.
 Numerous remedies are used by owners of stock, consisting principally of oils, grease, tar and various other things to stick the hair close to the skin and keep the gnats from reach ing the skin Smoking fires are built at frequent intervals by teamsters, and this enables them to do any work at all. The pest attacks man also, but not with the seriousness of result with which they attack animals.
 The quickness with which the gnata have appeared and the prospect of their remaining at least two weeks if giving much concern, and the sale of remedies will increase rapidly in the next day or two. The great losses of the flood seasons of 1897- -98 will hardly be duplicated, as the handling ot the pest is better understood than formerly Memphis News.