Are No-See-Ums Mosquitoes?

Author: Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist

As an entomologist, I frequently get this question. Mosquitoes are annoying, and their bites can leave behind irritated red bumps, so I completely understand the paranoia of not wanting them nearby. That said, not all small, flying, biting pests are mosquitoes. This includes no-see-ums.

Short Answer – Nope.

No-see-ums are small flies in the family Ceratopogonidae, the same family as biting midges. Sometimes called sandflies, sand gnats, or biting gnats, no-see-ums are well known for their irritatingly small size and tiny but painful bites. These pests only grow to be a couple of millimeters in length, much smaller than mosquitoes, which grow up to a quarter of an inch. Though their bites leave behind similar marks and their presence is just as annoying, no-see-ums are not mosquitoes.

But It’s an Easy Mistake!

Even though mosquitoes and no-see-ums are technically different insects, they share many similarities. The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "small fly," an appropriate name considering mosquitoes are members of the insect order for flies, Diptera. No-see-ums are also Dipterans, and both mosquitoes and no-see-ums only have one pair of wings.

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums also both need a blood meal. Like a female mosquito will bite people and pets to drink their blood, female no-see-ums require a blood meal to nourish and lay their eggs. Given their small size, no-see-ums don't need as much blood as mosquitoes, but that doesn't make them less aggressive when looking for nearby hosts.

Finally, no-see-ums and mosquitoes both reproduce in slow-moving or still bodies of water. Though no-see-ums prefer smaller pockets of moisture, like the water trapped in tree holes or at the edge of marshes, both pests require water to lay their eggs. Reducing the water around your yard will help control for mosquitoes and no-see-ums!

Call in the Pros!

No-see-ums? More like no-want-ums! Let the Pros at Mosquito Squad take care of your pest problems so you can take back your yard. Our Squad Fly Control pest package is the best solution for flies, mosquitoes, and no-see-ums. Call today for a free quote! Services vary by location.