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A gnat () (also knat) is any of many species of tiny Fly Insect in the Diptera suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae. Most often they fly in large numbers, called clouds. "Gnat" is a loose descriptive category rather than a Phylogenetics or other technical term, so there is no scientific consensus on what constitutes a gnat. Some entomologists consider only non-biting flies to be gnats. Certain universities and institutes also distinguish Chloropidae: the Smithsonian Institution describes them as "non-biting flies, no bigger than a few grains of salt, ... attracted to fluids secreted by your eyes".
Black fly (Simuliidae) and Ceratopogonidae (Ceratopogonidae), also belonging to the gnat category, are small, sometimes barely visible, blood-sucking flies commonly known in many areas as biting gnats, sand flies, punkies or "Ceratopogonidae", among other names.
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. They eventually become pupae and then adults emerge from the pupae. At a temperature of 75 °F (23.9 °C), the cycle takes approximately 17 days: 3 days as eggs, 10 days as larvae and 4 days as pupae. Warmer temperatures allow more rapid development. Some species of fungus gnats (e.g. those in genus Bradysia) are pests of Mushroom and roots of plants in Greenhouse.
Other gnats begin their lives as eggs laid in masses in water, or laid on aquatic plants. The aquatic larvae dwell in ponds, pools, water-filled containers, clogged rain gutters or wet soil, which generally feed on plant matter (living or dead). The larvae develop into pupae and then into adults. Adults live only long enough to reproduce and they may form large mating Swarm behaviour, often around dusk. The life cycle generally takes 4-5 weeks.
The larvae of most gall gnats (Cecidomyiidae), such as the Hessian fly larva, form Gall in flowers, leaves, stems, roots or other plant parts.
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