No-See-Ums a.k.a. Midge Flies, Sand Flies, Gnats

A No see um, also known as a midge fly, sand fly, or gnat is a tiny relative of the mosquito. There are thousands of midge species, however it is Ceratopogonidae family that are considered to be the "Biting Midges". These biting midges are equipped with very specialized mouths that enable them to pierce skin.

No see ums find their meals primarily by smell. They can detect their victims body odor, and it is suggested that they can also trace peoples breath.

No see ums are equipped with two long, finely-toothed mandibles and a maxillae. To feed, they land on their chosen victim's skin, locate a suitably soft area, then move their "instruments" backwards and forwards in a scissor like motion, working their way deeper into the surface of the skin.

Once the cut is deep enough, a pool of blood is released from the skin's underlying capillary vessels. At this point the midge inserts its mouth parts into the cut and begins to withdraw the blood. The midge will continue to feed like this for 3 to 4 minutes unless it is detected by the victim! The body's repair mechanism will eventually heal the wound, and it is this healing process that produces most of the itching and swelling.

No see ums often stay in shrubs or the thick layer of dead leaves that naturally covers the ground. Scrubbing your feet around in the leaves is a good way to get them stirred up. Don’t do it! Most no-see-ums never fly more than 350 feet from their breeding area, so if they’re bothering you, you might be able to get away from them by moving a few yards

The best way to avoid getting bitten by no-see-ums is with netting. No-see-um netting often dense, but will physically stop these pesky flies. Mosquito Curtains Inc. now offers a unique no-see-um mesh, made of a gorgeous polyester, that will elegantly protect you and your family.

The No-see-um Curtain is very effective for protecting covered porch areas from these tiny cousin to the mosquito. The netting material is made of a sturdy 100% polyester suitable for regular outdoor use and our hole count of 800 per square inch offers better protection compared to the 640 recommended hole count.

While the netting acts as a physical barrier, the advantage of the curtain is that it is seasonally removable. Many in the north find permanent screen porches difficult to maintain during the winter months. Because the curtain is removable and washable, it can easily be removed and stored during the months when these insects are not prevalent.