Blackflies, biting midges, and gnats abroad and while traveling: are they dangerous, where do you encounter them, where can you see them?

What is a blackfly, biting midge, or gnat?

Gnats is used to describe many species of tiny flying insects that often fly in large cloud-like groups.
Blackflies are small insects whose females feed on blood, and if available, this can be human blood.
Biting midges, also named no-see-ums or biting gnats, also bite humans.
One of the biting midge species in New Zealand that bites many people and persistently attacks hikers and campers in very irritating groups is misleadingly called a 'sandfly' there.

All these insects prefer damp environments and occur worldwide.
New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, and parts of the United States are known for seasonal peaks in the numbers of gnats and biting midges.
The blackflies that cause the disease river blindness prefer fast-flowing water in tropical parts of Africa and, to a lesser extent, in Latin America.

Of the more than 2,000 species of blackfly, only a small fraction are interested in human blood.
Biting midge and blackfly bites cause an annoying itch. Because they are often active in groups, you can easily get many bites at once, which in extreme cases can lead to hospitalization.
In certain tropical parts of Africa and Latin America, a number of blackfly species carry a parasitic roundworm. This roundworm can be transmitted via the bite and cause the disease River Blindness.
Of the nearly 6,000 species of biting midges, there is not a single one that is not just annoying but also truly dangerous to humans. However, some gnats do carry diseases that can infect animals.

Insect repellents containing IR3535, DEET, or Icaridine have a repellent effect against both biting midges and blackflies. However when they attack in large groups, they are often not deterred by chemical insect repellents; protective clothing, including gloves, and a head net, for example, can offer protection.
Unlike many mosquito species, these biters are not often found in homes.

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