How is this gnatural?
July 25, 2023 12:44 PM

How do gnats do this?

Okay, so I went for a hike in the woods out behind my house today. It being summer and, well, woodsy, there were a lot of gnats about. Many would fly in front of my face as I walked. But how? How do they do that? I mean how do they maintain that position in front of my face as I move in what must be a great speed relative to them? I mean, if I tried to stay ahead of a striding giant many many many times my size, I couldn't do it. So how do gnats manage to hang in front of my face. My only thoughts are that A)gnats are really impressively fast flyers ... or B) It's not the same gnat. I'm just exchanging one gnat for another as I move through their territory. But, dang, there were times where it was just one or two gnats and it sure seemed to be the same ones hanging there as I strode 50 yards or more. Can anyone clear this up for me? It's really, ahem, bugging me. Yes, I said it.
posted by lpsguy to Pets & Animals (4 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
They're riding your bow wave. You're actually pushing them forward as you walk, generating your own personal air current.
posted by Ausamor at 1:00 PM on July 25, 2023


To a gnat, air feels like water.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 3:12 PM on July 25, 2023


I want to know HOW YOU MAKE IT STOP.
posted by 41swans at 5:20 PM on July 25, 2023


You can ameliorate and mitigate this gnat problem by wearing a wide brimmed hat festooned with dangling bangles and fringe. This breaks up the bow wave and pushes it away from
from your face.

Unfortunately a lot of what you see for sale in this space are more novelty/fashion items, but it really does work, even if you have to DIY.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:34 PM on July 25, 2023


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