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Black Gnats

Black gnats are small insects with dark coloration, although they are rarely truly black. Black gnats have short legs and antennae. There are over 1,000 species of black gnats in the world today.

Black gnats species have no common method of rearing their young. Eggs can be found in almost every form of running water. After hatching, black gnat larvae live under water for approximately ten days, clinging to rocks before emerging to the ground.

Black gnats are biting flies that move in swarms. They prefer to feed on flower nectars and will also sometimes bite humans. Although black gnats are most active in the morning, they are more apt to bite as nightfall approaches. Beyond the discomfort caused by their bite, these biting flies also spread pathogens and have caused river blindness in Africa and parts of North America.

House Gnat

House Plant Gnat