How To Get Rid Of No See Ums

If you’ve ever felt a sharp, itchy bite but seen no mosquito in sight, you’ve likely met the no see um. These tiny biting midges are a huge nuisance. Learning how to get rid of no see ums is essential for reclaiming your outdoor comfort and peace indoors.

Their small size lets them slip through standard window screens, making home control a challenge. But with a focused, multi-step plan, you can significantly reduce their numbers and stop the biting.

Effective control starts with understanding your enemy. No see ums are weak fliers that breed in moist, organic-rich soil or soggy debris. They don’t travel far from their breeding site. This means your first job is to find and eliminate those sites around your home.

Eliminate Breeding Grounds in Your Yard

This is the most critical long-term step. Without breeding areas, their population collapses. You need to inspect your property thoroughly.

Remove wet organic matter: Clear piles of damp leaves, grass clippings, and decaying wood.
Improve soil drainage: Fill in low spots in your lawn where water collects and stands for more than a week.
Manage compost wisely: Keep your compost bin covered and turned regularly. Ensure it’s not overly soggy.
Clean gutters and drains: Clogged gutters are prime breeding habitat. Clean them seasonally to prevent stagnant water.
Empty water holders: Regularly check and empty saucers under potted plants, kiddie pools, and bird baths.

Create a Protective Barrier Around Your Home

Once breeding sites are reduced, focus on keeping adults away from your living spaces. This involves making your home’s perimeter less inviting.

Install fine-mesh screening: Replace standard window and door screens with 20-mesh or finer screening. No see ums can’t get through these smaller holes.
Use air curtains or fans: Installing an air curtain at doorways or using strong outdoor fans on patios disrupts their flight and keeps them away.
Apply residual insecticide barriers: Treat the exterior perimeter of your home, focusing on foundation walls, door frames, and under eaves, with a labeled insecticide like bifenthrin. Always follow the product label exactly.
Reduce outdoor lighting at night: No see ums are attracted to lights. Switch to yellow bug lights or sodium vapor lamps, which are less attractive.

Employ Direct Control and Traps

For immediate reduction of adult biters, traps and targeted treatments can offer relief.

Use CO2 traps: These mimic human breath and are very effective at drawing in and trapping biting midges. Place them away from seating areas to pull bugs away from you.
Try portable vacuum traps: Smaller, battery-operated traps can protect a small deck or patio.
Apply safe space sprays: For outdoor gatherings, a natural pyrethrin-based fog or spray can quickly knock down adults. Remember, this is a temporary solution and needs to be reapplied.

Protect Yourself Personally

When working in the yard or enjoying the outdoors at dawn and dusk, personal protection is key.

Wear protective clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, and hats are physical barriers. Tucking pants into socks might look funny, but it works.
Use effective repellents: Choose repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD). Apply to exposed skin and clothing edges.

Indoor Control Strategies

If no see ums have gotten inside, act quickly to prevent them from biting at night.

Seal entry points. Check for gaps around windows, doors, and utility lines. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal them.
Use a fine-mesh screen on windows you open. This is a simple and very effective barrier.
Run air conditioning. No see ums are less active in cool, dry, moving air. Ceiling fans also help.
Employ an indoor insecticide. A light mist of a pyrethroid-based flying insect spray in rooms where they are present can help. Always ventilate the area afterwards.

Natural and DIY Remedies to Consider

Some gardeners prefer to start with gentler methods. While not always as potent, they can be part of your overall plan.

Essential oil sprays: Mixtures of citronella, peppermint, or eucalyptus oil with water can act as a mild repellent on patios. Reapply frequently.
Fan traps: A simple box fan with a fine mesh netting secured over the intake side can trap many flying insects. Clean the netting regularly.
Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle food-grade DE in moist, shady areas where midges might rest. It damages their exoskeletons.

When to Call a Professional

If your infestation is severe or you live near a large, permanent breeding site like a salt marsh, professional help may be needed. Pest control companies have access to stronger products and can perform broader barrier treatments. They can also conduct a thorough inspection to find hidden breeding spots you might of missed.

FAQ: Your No See Um Questions Answered

What are no see ums attracted to?
They are primarily attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, body heat, and certain scents like lactic acid. Dark clothing and bright lights can also draw them in.

What is the best repellent for no see ums?
Repellents with a high concentration of DEET (20-30%) or Picaridin (20%) are considered most effective against these persistent biters. Always follow application instructions.

How long do no see um bites last?
Bites can be itchy and irritating for several days, often longer than mosquito bites. Avoid scratching to prevent infection. A cold compress or anti-itch cream can help.

Can no see ums live in your house?
They can live indoors for a short while, but they typically cannot breed inside unless there is a consistently damp, organic medium like overwatered houseplant soil.

Do mosquito yard sprays work on no see ums?
Some broad-spectrum insecticide sprays will kill them on contact, but the effect is temporary. The key is combining sprays with breeding site elimination for lasting control.

Consistency is your greatest ally in this battle. By disrupting their breeding, creating barriers, and protecting yourself, you can enjoy your home and garden with far fewer itchy interruptions. Start with a weekend of yard clean-up, seal up those entry points, and you’ll be on your way to a bite-free season.