Painful ‘no-see-ums’ are back in NC. Here’s what to know about the tiny insect

You can’t see them very well, and you can’t stop them very well either.

Biting midges, sometimes called “no-see-ums” because of their diminutive size, are back again. The tiny flies are sometimes called “pinyon gnats”, “moose flies”, “punkies” and “5-Os” for their tendency to bite around 5 p.m, according to Purdue University Extension.

The flies are blood-suckers, like mosquitos, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. While they are irritating, they do not pose the same risk of vector-borne disease. They can spread a virus called Oropouche, but it is primarily found in South and Central America and the Caribbean, according to the CDC.

No-see-ums usually come out in spring, NC State assistant professor and extension specialist Christopher Hayes said. Hayes studies pest management. In coastal areas with milder weather, the flies can be spotted year round.

Reproduction and prevention

Biting midges lay larvae in water and mud, and they can breed in both fresh and saltwater, Hayes said. The larvae, also too small to see, stay in the mud for up to a year before they reappear as midges.

“They don’t live very long, and we’ll see periodic emergences over the season, but these are last year’s babies that are now emerging as adults, ready to complete that cycle all over again,” Hayes said.

Because the larvae live in mud, water-based prevention techniques aren’t very effective, Hayes said. North Carolina’s many waterways provide ample breeding opportunities.

“It’s hard to penetrate that mud, that thick soil, to actually get insecticide to them,” Hayes said. “Short of draining the lake or draining the swamps ... drying out the mud and trying to address it that way, which is incredibly expensive, it’s very difficult to control them.”

Aerosol insecticides also show only limited success, as more midges emerge after spraying.

Hayes recommends using repellents outdoors to prevent no-see-um bites. One of the most effective prevention methods is using screens with smaller than average mesh in windows in tents, according to Purdue University Extension.

Taking care of a bite

Many types of no-see-ums eat nectar from plants. Six hundred of 4,000 species are found in North America, but they don’t all bite mammals.

No-see-um bites may be painful and irritating. They show up as clustered red dots. People who are particularly sensitive may feel a burning sensation or develop larger welts, according to the insect repellent clothing company Insect Shield.

Insect Shield recommends treating no-see-um bites by:

• Wash the area with mild soap and water and dry with a towel.
• Apply a washcloth soaked in cold water several times for 5-10 minutes to relieve itching.
• Ice the area to reduce swelling.
• Consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine.
• Use antiseptic creams if you have scratched itchy bites to the point of bleeding.
• See a doctor if you suspect an allergic reaction or see no improvement.

Eva Flowe

The Charlotte Observer

Eva Flowe is a North Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She joined the Charlotte Observer as part of the NC service journalism team in April 2026.