They thrive when the soil has been plowed or otherwise disturbed, creating ideal, moist conditions for the eggs. The no-see-ums lay eggs in standing water, where the larvae feed on decomposing organic matter, quickly becoming pupa and then, within just a few days, they turn into adults who leave the nest in search of food and to mate.

Adult females use their dagger-like mouths to gash holes in your skin -- the better to suck your blood. Like their cousins, the mosquito, the no-see-ums have an anti-coagulant in their saliva. This can cause a major reaction in sensitive people.

Painful Bites – with Infection Potential

The no-see-ums pack a painful wallop out of proportion to their tiny size. Unfortunately, there is no numbing agent in the no-see-um saliva, which means you’ll be aware of being bitten instantly and feel the pain. The bites typically will produce a small red welt, which sometimes manifests into a water-filled blister. That usually develops into an itchy nuisance that can break and bleed. Because no-see-um bites come in batches and tend to be in the same area of the body, you can develop a hot zone of bites quickly.

That’s when the danger of infection looms, and particularly sensitive individuals may develop long-lasting, painful lesions. You may have an allergic reaction that can last up to two weeks if you’re sensitive to bug bites.

Some no-see-ums can carry pathogens that will transmit certain diseases to animals and humans. A species of no-see-um called the Culicoides sonorensis is known to harbor the bluetongue virus, which typically is passed to cattle and sheep.