# What are these 'flies'/flying things I'm seeing? (Sorry, no pics yet) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901 "2019-08-19T19:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/1 "2019-08-19T19:11:07Z")
Central South Carolina. I think they’re seasonal, and they are tiny. I mean tiiiii-nee. How tiny? They are whitish, and actually look like ash particulates floating around, but they are some kind of flying critter. Unfortunately I haven’t had my phone with me when I’ve seen them, so no pics, and I don’t know how well they’d turn out anyway. If no responses, I’ll go back where I saw them and try. They look way too small to be termites or ants. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/2 "2019-08-19T19:12:35Z")
Gnats or no-see-ums (biting midges) Gnats are notorious for swarming… and humidity with still air really cranks them up. [![](https://www.accuratetermitecontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-do-gnats-swarm.jpg) ](https://www.accuratetermitecontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-do-gnats-swarm.jpg) . ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/3 "2019-08-19T19:21:45Z")
Fungus gnats are gray and are present in North Carolina (missed edit window). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/4 "2019-08-19T20:08:33Z")
[White Flies?](https://burke.ces.ncsu.edu/2017/06/whiteflies-in-the-vegetable-garden/) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/5 "2019-08-19T20:14:36Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Gnats or no-see-ums (biting midges) > > Gnats are notorious for swarming… and humidity with still air really cranks them up. > > [https://www.accuratetermitecontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-do-gnats-swarm.jpg](https://www.accuratetermitecontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/Why-do-gnats-swarm.jpg) > > . “Biting” midges? You’re telling me these tiny gnats can BITE you? How bad are they, compared to mosquito bites? At least you can slap a mosquito before it does any damage, but those things are TINY! ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/6 "2019-08-20T12:56:15Z")
Related - what are the bugs that swarm in a sort of ball and seem to stay above a fixed point on the ground? They are also light colored but I don’t thing they bite. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-flies-flying-things-im-seeing-sorry-no-pics-yet/838901/7 "2019-08-20T13:29:52Z")
Gnats swarm in one spot. Don’t bite (or are slow to, but they are more of a nuisance as they get in every opening, eyes, etc. Hover a lot in cloud about face high (seemingly always face high). Gnats are a thing. No-see-ums (biting midges) are another thing, and they bite. Super tiny… hence the fun name. Smaller bumps than skeeters, but you could be blanketed in bites. Both vary in color, etc. Still, humid air brings them out. .