If you've been outside at your Harrison home around sunset and felt sharp, itchy bites with no bug in sight, you've probably met biting midges. Most people call them no-see-ums, and the name fits. They're tiny, they come out at the times of day when you most want to sit outside and they can slip right through the screens on most windows. The good news is that they have real weaknesses, and once you know them, they're much easier to manage. Below, we'll explain what they are, when they bite and the tricks that actually work. If you're also dealing with mosquitoes, our mosquito control service can help cut down biting insects around your yard.
What Biting Midges Are
Biting midges are very small flies, often no bigger than a pinhead and grayish in color. They're also called no-see-ums, punkies or sand flies. Like mosquitoes, only the females bite. They need a blood meal to produce eggs, and they feed on people, pets, birds and other animals.
Their larvae live in wet, organic soil and mud. Depending on the species, that can mean marsh edges, stream and pond banks, wet low spots in a yard, tree holes and soggy leaf litter. The adults usually don't travel far from where they developed. There are many species of biting midges, and not all of them bite people. The ones that do are the reason for the whole group's reputation.
When And Where They Bite
Biting midges are most active at dawn and dusk, and on calm, cloudy or humid days. They tend to stay low and close to their breeding areas. On a windy afternoon you may not notice them at all, and then they show up in force as the air goes still in the evening.
The bite feels far bigger than the insect. Many people get small red welts that itch for days. Because you rarely see the midge, the bites are easy to blame on something else. If you have a strong reaction, or bites that look infected, see a doctor.
They can also bite indoors. On still, humid evenings with the windows open and the lights on, midges can come through the screens and bite while you're reading or sleeping nearby. Closing those windows at dusk or running a fan in the room usually takes care of it.
How To Tell Them From Mosquitoes And Gnats
| Biting Midge | Mosquito | Fungus Gnat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Tiny, often hard to see | Easy to see, long legs | Small, dark, easy to see |
| Bites | Yes, sharp and itchy | Yes | No |
| Through screens | Often fits through standard mesh | Blocked by intact screens | Usually comes from houseplants indoors |
| Breeds in | Wet soil, mud, marsh edges | Standing water | Damp potting soil |
If you're seeing small flies indoors that don't bite, see our guide to fruit flies vs. drain flies vs. fungus gnats.
The Trick: Use Their Weaknesses
Biting midges are small and weak. You can't wall off the whole outdoors, but you can work with what they can't handle.
- Make a breeze. Midges are poor fliers. A box fan or ceiling fan on a porch or patio keeps them from landing on you, and it's one of the simplest fixes there is.
- Time your outdoor plans. Midges peak around dawn and dusk. Shift outdoor chores and meals earlier or later when you can.
- Upgrade your screens. Standard window screen often isn't fine enough. Finer-mesh screen on porches and the windows you open most can keep them out.
- Cover up and use repellent. Light-colored long sleeves help. If you use a repellent, choose an EPA-registered product and follow the label.
- Dry out your yard. Fix soggy spots, clear clogged gutters and downspouts, rake out wet leaf piles and keep birdbaths and containers fresh. Less wet organic soil near the house means fewer midges. Pay extra attention to shady, low spots that stay damp for days after rain, since those are the places midges like best.
- Watch outdoor lighting. Lights near doors can draw biting insects in the evening. Turn them off when you don't need them.
When To Call A Professional
Biting midges are harder to treat than mosquitoes, because they breed in wet soil and mud instead of standing water, and some breeding sites are off your property. A professional can still help. EcoFusion's NJ DEP-licensed technicians can inspect your yard for damp breeding spots, point out moisture problems and use Integrated Pest Management to reduce biting insects around the areas you use most. Treating the shady plants where biting insects rest near the house can help, but results depend on where the midges are breeding, so we'll be straightforward about what to expect. If you're not sure whether you're being bitten by midges, mosquitoes or something indoors, a free inspection can help sort it out.
Biting midges are a nuisance, but they're not unbeatable. Keep air moving, time your evenings, tighten your screens and dry out the wet spots in your yard. If the bites keep coming at your Harrison home, EcoFusion Pest Control can take a look and help you get your evenings back.