no-see-um
Tiny biting gnat
No-see-ums are tiny biting flies, so small they can pass through ordinary window screens.
The name captures their near-invisibility—you feel the bite before you see the insect.
Also called biting midges or sand flies, they swarm in humid areas and leave itchy welts disproportionate to their size: The no-see-ums were brutal at dusk.
Diminutive two-winged fly
- gnatMinute biting fly
- CulicoidesGenus of biting midges
- punkieTiny biting midge
- sandflyDisease-carrying biting gnat
diptera · larvae · pupa · swarm · hatch · wingspan · antennae · proboscis
Provoking scratching urges
- weltRaised skin injury
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- rednessCrimson-hued state
- stingSharp wound from insect
puncture · scratch · inflammation · allergic · antihistamine · irritation · bump · reaction
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- pesteringPersistent unwanted attention
- maddeningCausing extreme frustration
- relentlessContinuing without pause
swarming · buzzing · persistent · irritating · aggravating · troublesome · plaguing · vexing
Extremely small in size
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- invisibleCannot be seen
- pinpointLocate with exactness
- speckMinute visible particle
barely visible · imperceptible · unseen · elusive · undetectable · fine mesh · magnifying glass · squint
midge
Diminutive two-winged fly
- gnatMinute biting fly
- CulicoidesGenus of biting midges
- punkieTiny biting midge
sandfly · diptera · larvae · pupa · swarm · hatch · wingspan · antennae · proboscis · arthropod
itchy
Provoking scratching urges
sting · puncture · scratch · inflammation · allergic · antihistamine · irritation · bump · reaction · calamine
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- pesteringPersistent unwanted attention
- maddeningCausing extreme frustration
relentless · swarming · buzzing · persistent · irritating · aggravating · troublesome · plaguing · vexing · torment
minuscule
Extremely small in size
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- invisibleCannot be seen
- pinpointLocate with exactness
barely visible · speck · imperceptible · unseen · elusive · undetectable · fine mesh · magnifying glass · squint
no-see-umdragonfly
Large-eyed flying predator
elephant beetle · horsefly · cicada · bumblebee · giant water bug