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Biting Flies and Gnats in South Florida
No-see-ums that bite through the screen, or midges that only swarm: how to tell them apart near the water.
$50 OFF your first service + FREE inspectionNew customers · No code needed · No expirationLiving near the water in South Florida means dealing with tiny flies. No-see-ums bite hard at dawn and dusk and are small enough to get through standard window screen. Non-biting midges swarm by the thousands around lights, pool cages and walls but never bite. Both breed in wet areas, often off your property, so it helps to be realistic about what treatment can do. Call or text anytime: 833-845-9284.
Life on the canal, the marsh and the lanai
No-see-ums breed in salt marsh, mangroves, tidal mud and wet sand, places you can't change from your yard. If you live near any of that, a fresh supply arrives every evening, and they bite hardest at dusk on still, warm nights. The screen on most lanais won't stop them, because they're smaller than the openings and walk or blow right through. What helps is moving air from a fan, finer no-see-um mesh where you sit, fewer lights at dusk and treating the spots around the home where the adults rest. Aim for fewer bites, not zero; see no-see-ums on the lanai. Non-biting midges are a different story. They come from lakes, retention ponds and canals, and big emergences cover screens, pool cages and building walls, especially near lights. They don't bite, but large swarms can stain surfaces and some people are allergic to them. If you just bought on the water, our canal home pest list covers what to expect. Biting at dusk could also be mosquitoes, so compare the Asian tiger mosquito and the southern house mosquito.
Their life cycle explains the swarms. Their larvae, some of them red and called bloodworms, live in the mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes and canals. The adults emerge together, swarm to mate, lay eggs on the water and live only a short time. Dead midges pile up on patios and driveways and can leave spots on painted surfaces, cars and screens, and some people are allergic to them.
Which one is it?
| Fly | Size | Color | Where it's found | Key sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-see-ums | Often under 1/16 inch | Gray to dark | Salt marshes, mangroves, beaches, tidal canals, retention ponds | Painful bites you can't see coming |
| Non-biting midges | Very small to about 1/2 inch | Tan, brown or black | Lakes, ponds, canals; swarming at lights and pool cages | Big swarms that don't bite |
| Asian tiger mosquito | About 1/4 inch or less | Black with a white stripe down the thorax | Shady yards, containers, plant saucers | Daytime biting in shade |
What we do and when to call
No-see-ums are among the pests we treat. We treat the spots around the home where the adults rest, never over or toward the water, and plan customers are covered by our Bug Free Guarantee: If pests come back between visits, so do we, at no extra cost. For non-biting midges, we can reduce the adults resting on your walls, eaves and lanai, never over or toward the water; results depend on the nearby water. See mosquito control for biting at dusk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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