Yes, though it’s a folk term that usually refers to one of two things: black flies or biting midges (no-see-ums).
Anyone who has been swarmed at face level on a May afternoon in Northeast Indiana knows the answer already, but the term "gnat" covers several unrelated insects. Knowing which one you're fighting determines what helps.
Black flies are often the source of your troubles. They’re small, dark, and humpbacked. They’re only a few millimeters long. Sometimes they’re called buffalo gnats because of their shape. They breed exclusively in clean, moving water like streams, creeks, and rivers. Their larvae anchor to rocks in the current and adults emerge in concentrated waves from late spring into early summer. Their bites are technically cuts rather than punctures. That’s why they bleed slightly and welt more than a mosquito bite.
No-see-ums are another common “biting gnat.” They’re so small that you can barely see them, being only about one to three millimeters. That’s small enough to pass through window screens. They breed in places like marshes and damp soil. They tend to bite hardest at dusk and the sting is disproportionate to their size.
Once you figure out what kind of “biting gnat” you’re dealing with, you can do something about it. Black flies come from moving water that's often well off your property, so no yard treatment reduces their numbers. Your best bet is repellent. No-see-ums breed closer to home so improving drainage and clearing wet vegetation helps a lot.
For both, yard maintenance helps. Trim vegetation so humid resting cover shrinks. If they’re bothering you while you’re sitting outside, put fans on the porch since neither flies well in moving air. You can also treat the shaded foliage where biting insects rest between meals.
If biting gnats are cutting your time outside short, Mosquito Squad of Northeast Indiana can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded areas of your yard where biting insects rest. Recurring service through the season will help you protect your time outdoors.
