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 There are two main types of gnats: biting, and non-biting. The biting gnats include Black flies, Sand flies, Punkies, and Snipe flies. Biting gnats occur mainly in the foothills and mountain areas. Only the females bite, and Punkies and Snipe flies are capable of delivering a good deal of irritation from the bites. Punkies are often referred to as "no-see-ums" due to their very small size, only about 1/32nd of an inch.
Non-biting varieties include Fungus gnats, Black gnats, and March flies. While the non-biting gnats do not carry diseases or suck blood, they can occur in large numbers and be quite annoying, especially the Fungus gnats that breed in the soil of household potted plants. The Black gnat is also commonly found indoors, and the larvae feeds in damp decaying organic material such as the soil and humus of potted plants. March flies are about 1/4th inch long, and are mainly found in lawn areas. They are poor fliers, and feed on decaying plant materials in the turf. Water Midges are the same size and appearance as mosquitoes, yet they lack the biting capabilities. They are found in the same areas as mosquitoes: anywhere that stagnant water can accumulate. They also become a problem near wastewater treatment plants, and their larvae can pass into water systems.
Life Cycle:
Females lay about 60-500 eggs in damp soil or stagnant water, which begin hatching and emerging after the spring rain falls. Larvae spend about two years in the damp soil or water and feed on organic matter. They can last up to three years under dry conditions. They go through a brief pupa stage in a cocoon, and emerge as adults. Adults will only live 4-6 weeks; males do not last as long as the females. Up to four generations can be produced in a year.
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