The types that you're most likely to find in your home (fungus gnats, fruit flies, and phorid flies) are all non-biting. They don't possess the proper mouthparts to bite and penetrate the skin. Some types that do bite are biting midges, sand flies, and black flies.
There are very few insects that bite at night. This means that it will be easier to identify which insects are biting you at night. The main insects that may be biting you as you sleep are bed bugs, mosquitos, fleas, gnats and midges.
A Quick Review
Gnat bites cause small, itchy red bumps to form on the skin. They're caused by female gnats of the Ceratopogonidae family. These small flies live in areas that are damp or near water, such as swamps, forests, farms, rivers, and coastal regions.
Gnats are often attracted to moist environments, such as overwatered plants, garbage, or food residue. Finding and eliminating these sources is the first step in getting rid of them.
The only way to get rid of gnats without killing them is to repel them with scents they don't like: vinegar, vanilla, pine oil, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender. Even dryer sheets could help. Of course, the first line of duty would be to get rid of the infestation's root cause.
There are three likely sources for bug bites at night — spiders, mosquitos or bed bugs. Spiders and mosquitos usually find their way into your home — and into your bedroom — during the warmer months.
Gnats build two things out of decaying organic matter: buffet lines and maternity wards. Like other flying insects, their eggs are barely visible, and the larvae and pupae can also be tough to spot. Gnats breed in moist areas, such as compost piles, flowerpots, exposed garbage and other damp areas both indoors and out.
Gnat bites look like small red, itchy bumps. Since gnats are so small, you may never know that they are feeding on you.
Fungus gnats are attracted to light and you may first notice them at night, flying around lamps or even illuminated electronic devices. However, it's not the light they need to survive. Fungus gnats live and reproduce in moist potting soil, and that's where the problem lies.
Cover Up - Wearing Long Sleeves, Head Nets and Long Pants to reduce bodily exposure to biting gnats is helpful. Repellents - Using insect repellents approved for biting gnat prevention is only marginally effective and usually is nowhere near as successful as when used to repel mosquitoes.
In general, gnats go through the four life stages of egg, larva, pupa and adult, similar to other flies. The fungus gnats lay their eggs in moist organic debris or soil, which hatch into larvae. The larvae feed on organic matter such as leaf mold, mulch, compost, grass clippings, root hairs and fungi.
Most insect bites are itchy for several days. Any pinkness or redness usually lasts 3 days. The swelling may last 7 days.
Since bed bugs also remain well-hidden, victims often are bitten repeatedly yet never see an insect. Confirmation requires finding the bugs, shed skins or dark fecal spots of digested blood, which can be difficult especially in the early stages of infestation.
The symptoms of bites include pain, plus reddened, itchy and swollen areas around the bite that begins to show up within about 30 minutes after being bitten. These reactions are the result of the anticoagulation components of the injected saliva that keeps the blood from clotting.
Homemade gnat repellent spray: A mixture of dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar can be filled into a spray bottle. The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar, and baking soda per cup of water. A few sprays of this mixture is an effective gnat repellent.
Gnats are primarily attracted to sweet and fruity scents, but many species of gnats are also drawn to water and body heat. Perspiration and even the moisture of your eyes and nose can draw in gnats. Fruits, vegetables and flowers growing in your garden or food residue in your sink can attract these pests.
Picaridin is also a gnat repellent than may be gentler on the skin than DEET. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a plant-based gnat repellent that is safe for people over the age of 3 to use. It is about as effective as DEET, but it doesn't last as long. Don't use this product around your eyes, because it can irritate them.
Gnats are seasonal pests that thrive during the spring. With proper methods of control, they may eventually go away as the year progresses. Gnats have a short life cycle and will often disappear when the cold months start.
Fruit traps - Some homeowners use a jar of rotting fruit covered with perforated plastic wrap to lure and then trap gnats. Red Wine Traps Vinegar - Similar to a fruit trap, this option uses the gnats' attraction to these pungent liquids to trap them inside a jar.
While gnats may momentarily land on or fly around your hair, they do not typically take up residence or establish nests in human hair like some other pests. However, gnats can be a nuisance when they fly near your face or hair, especially in outdoor settings.
"Although bites acquired during the night can point to a bedbug problem, it can also mean that you're dealing with some other pests," Karen Thompson of InsectCop.net, told Insider. "Anything from mosquitoes to fleas can leave bites while you're sleeping.