No See Ums Control: How To Get Rid of No See Ums

This page is a general noseeums control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of noseeums. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control over noseeums.

We are all aware of blood-sucking and biting insects that wreak havoc on us. The usual suspects are bugs like mosquitoes, gnats, bees, and wasps, but it can be most frustrating to be bitten by an insect you can’t see. This is especially true with a bug fittingly known as no-see-ums or the biting midge.

No-see-ums (also written as no see ums or noseeums) are named so because they are usually so small that they can’t be seen unless you look very closely. Still, they can make their presence felt via their itchy, irritating bites.

If no-see-ums are making life difficult for you around your yard, Solutions Pest and Lawn can help through our no-see-ums treatment guide below, which presents effective treatment options and DIY pest control products that can help minimize or eliminate the presence of these unpleasant bugs. 

Identification

Identification is the first step in control. Before you can treat, you must ensure you're dealing with no-see-ums and not mosquitoes. However, their differentiation is not that important, as the treatment methods to control both are extremely similar. Below, we'll describe some common characteristics that set no-see-ums apart.

• As their name states, no-see ums are hard to see. They are typically grey in color and less than 1/8 of an inch in size or even smaller.
• Their wings have hairs and different color patterns. They have 15-segmented antennae, and like mosquitoes, they draw blood and feed on humans, pets, and animals.
• Like mosquitoes, no-see-ums can transfer a number of diseases, including Carrions Disease and Leishmania.
• No-see-ums have saw-like mouthparts that are adapted for blood-sucking. Their constant biting, which they can do multiple times, is highly annoying, especially for people who frequent the outdoors or try to enjoy their yard.
• No-see-ums need standing water to procreate. If your home or property offers plenty of standing water sources that are not frequently drained, the no-see-ums will not hesitate to set up camp. They also eat nectar, so they are commonly found around gardens.

Use the image and description above to help you correctly identify a no-see-ums. If you are not sure, you can contact us, and one of our pros will assist you with correct identification.

Inspection

Inspection is the second step in control. Before treating, you need to know the areas no-see-ums are attracted to. During the inspection, you will focus on finding these "hotspots" where no-see-ums breed and congregate around.

Where To Inspect

Like mosquitoes, no-see-ums are found near standing water and are commonly found near muddy or swampy regions. The females lay their eggs in standing water, lakes, streams, or moist soil.

Most infestations occur outdoors, so begin your inspection outdoors. Search every area of your home for any standing water. Search in bird baths, rain gutters, ornamental fountains, potted plants, rain barrels without screen covers, water bowls for pets, buckets, tree stumps, puddles, garbage cans, and areas of your yard where water does not drain. 

Indoor infestations are rare but look in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and wherever there are leaks or standing water.

What To Look For

You're looking for standing water sources. Since no-see-ums are hard to see and very small, you must first identify the areas that attract them and where they may be breeding. Search the places mentioned above, as well as moist soil, yard debris, and wet mulch.

Once you have discovered their breeding grounds (standing water or damp soil), you will apply treatment to them.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed no-see-ums activity, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels, follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

We recommend using Supreme IT Insecticide to kill no-see-ums. While not specifically labeled, this product will also treat biting flies, another name for this pest. 

Step 1: Removing Standing Water

Before applying the treatment, you must eliminate the no-see-um breeding grounds.

During this step, you will eliminate standing water and fix moisture issues around the home.

Eliminate water and moisture by any means necessary. Begin by eliminating standing water by turning over buckets, emptying foundations, unclogging rain gutters, and draining water from the yard.

Step 2: Outdoor Treatment with Supreme IT and Martin's IGR Insecticide

Now, you're ready to apply treatment outdoors. You will use two products, Supreme IT and Martin's IGR Insecticide.

Supreme IT is a powerful insecticide that targets over 75 insect pests and repels and kills no-see-ums.

We recommend using Supreme IT Insecticide to kill no-see-ums. While not explicitly labeled, this product will also treat biting flies, another name for this pest. 

from your yard. You will also use Martin's IGR Insecticide alongside Supreme IT. Martin's IGR Insecticide is an insect growth regulator that will affect the undeveloped stages of No See Ums (larvae, eggs) that might be found on your property.

You will use both these products together. Mix 1 ounce of Supreme IT with 0.67 fl. oz. of Martin's IGR Insecticide with a gallon of water. This application rate will treat 1,000 square feet. Use a hand pump sprayer to broadcast the product all over your yard.

Start at the back of the yard and go to the front. Spray mulch beds, flower beds, ground cover, ornamentals, and the whole lawn, especially in moist soil and standing water. Do not let people or pets enter sprayed areas until they are dry.

Apply the Supreme IT and Martin's IGR Insecticide around your home perimeter where you see Midges at rest. Typical areas you should treat include siding, foundations, garages, tree trunks, outdoor lighting fixtures, and around windows.

Continue to apply this application every 10 to 14 days until the population is under control. For commercial areas and more severe infestations, we recommend using a misting or fogging machine. 

Step 3: Indoor Treatment with Pyrid Aerosol

If you think you might have an infestation of no-see-ums indoors, you will use one product: Pyrid Aerosol. Pyrid aerosol is perfect as a space spray, and as a contact spray to kill and quickly knock down any no-see-ums, you can see.

This product comes in an aerosol spray can. To use it as a space spray, first ensure no people or pets are inside the home. Then, put away all food serving items (glasses, bowls, plates, pots) and eating utensils. Turn off the air conditioner, close windows, and close all doors.

Apply at the rate of 1 to 3 seconds per 1,000 cubic feet.

Do not let people or pets enter areas sprayed until 15 minutes have passed and every room has been ventilated. After application, wipe and clean any eating surfaces and wipe countertops.

Prevention

Prevention is the final step in control. Without modifying your environment, you will be able to obtain complete control. Here are some preventative measures you can take so no-see-ums don't reestablish:

• Remember to reduce, fix, and repair any moisture issues around your home. Do not let buckets collect rainwater, and make sure your rain gutters are working correctly.
• If you have moisture issues indoors, fix leaky faucets and/or faulty plumbing. Install screen doors in your windows and doors to prevent no-see-ums from coming indoors.
• If working outside, prevent no-see-ums bites by wearing long clothing.
• Spray Supreme IT and Pivot 10 IGR before the season when no-see-ums are most active in your area. Remember that application might be necessary every 10-14 days after initial applications.

Key Takeaways

What are No See Ums?

• Also spelled noseeums or no see ums, no-see-ums are tiny bloodthirsty gnats similar to mosquitoes. They are notorious along the country's coastal areas and places that carry a lot of moisture, like marshlands and other damp areas.

How To Get Rid of No See Ums

• Eliminate no-see-ums infestations by eliminating standing water areas and applying Supreme IT and Martin's IGR Insecticide around highly active outdoor areas in your yard.
• For indoor no-see-ums infestations, quickly knock down the pests with direct sprayings of Pyrid Aerosol.

Preventing No See Um Reinfestation

• To prevent no-see-ums from coming back, remember that eliminating standing water is half the battle, without addressing standing water, control will not be obtained.
• Reapply Tekko Pro and Supreme IT quarterly to ward off No See Ums so they don't reestablish.