Description No-See-Ums are also referred to as Biting Midges, Biting Gnats, Punkies or Sand Flies. With grayish or yellowish bodies, the adults resemble mosquitoes, although they are smaller than mosquitoes. In fact, they are so small they can get through screens on windows and doors. Besides causing painful bites, they can also be vectors of diseases, particularly in tropical regions. These pests are very well-known among anybody that spends considerable time outdoors. No-See-Ums have the same four-stage life cycle as mosquitoes. After she has a bloodmeal for the development of her eggs, the female No-See-Um will lay her eggs on water, mud or wet sandy area. Eggs are a whitish shade at first, but they will gradually darken. After an egg hatches, the white worm-like larva will begin to eat organic matter. It has a protuberance which allows it to breathe in its surroundings. After approximately 28 days, the larva will pupate at the surface, turning into an adult No-See-Um. After eating, the adult No-See-Um will mate and the cycle will continue. Both male and female No-See-Ums eat nectar for energy and nourishment, but only the female will bite humans to draw blood for egg development. These tiny biters are usually active at dawn and dusk, especially during the middle to the end of summer. Their bite can be very painful, with the welts lasting for several days. Although some people will have the discomfort of the bite, others can develop allergic reactions or other problems which will need medical attention. In some countries, particularly in tropical regions, these insects can be transmitters of parasites and diseases such as filarial worms in humans and bluetongue virus in livestock. Besides causing discomfort and skin lesions, the parasitic worm’s affliction requires medical attention. Economic ruin can occur for the agricultural sector of an area endemic with bluetongue. Even if a No-See-Ums is not a vector of disease, it can still be a pest, ending up in a person’s mouth, nose, ears and eyes. This can lead to economic problems as tourists may be driven from a particular area that has been infested by these annoying, vicious little insects.  Protect your family, pets and guests from annoying no-see-ums
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