08/27/2026
Getting bitten on the porch at sunset but can't see a single bug? π¦ In Central Florida, that's almost always no-see-ums.
No-see-ums β also called biting midges or sand gnats β are tiny flies, most of them under a millimeter long. That size is the whole problem: they're so small they slip right through standard window and porch screens that stop mosquitoes cold. According to UF/IFAS, keeping them out takes true "no-see-um mesh" (finer than standard 16-mesh screen), which is why so many Florida homeowners feel the bites indoors and never understand how the bugs got in.
They're most active at dawn and dusk, they breed in damp soil, mud, and muck near water, and β good news for you β they're weak fliers. Here's how to take your evenings back:
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Run a fan on the porch or patio β even a light breeze grounds them
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Time outdoor plans away from dawn and dusk, when biting peaks
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Drain standing water and damp muck near the home to cut off breeding
DEET-based repellent helps when you're out during peak hours, but if no-see-ums are a recurring problem around your property, the lasting fix is reducing the moist breeding sites near your home and treating the areas where they rest. New to ABC? We've been protecting Texas homes for 75 years and bring that same calm, competent standard to Central Florida.