Talk:Gnat

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Lifespan

I looked up Gnat to find out how long a gnat lives. Perhaps someone can add some basic info about the life

Well, houseflies live two weeks, fruitflies live like a few days.. somewhere in between should describe the average gnat.

As "gnats" are a very broad term, it is possible that such generalization would be sloppy. Probably there are more specific information in each specific article, or at least, it would be more adequately added there. However, could be that I´m wrong and it´s possible to generalize, and anyway, something about the extremes of lifespan of gnats in general could be added here. But I can´t do it, as I don´t know... --Extremophile 02:52, 17 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think more information should be given regarding what is commonly referred to as a gnat. I looked at the more specific species, and have no idea what they are. I have pests in my house from time to time. they are tiny black flying dots. They are just gnats. I didnt know there were different types. The gnat page should list basic information about gnats in general. lifespan for example: "2 days-2 weeks depending on species" The bugs in my house tend to be attracted by CO2. True? if so, why? What do they eat? what could a gnat eat? crumbs or something? im completely baffled. They wouldnt need to eat much, of course, but what is it that they eat? How could I get rid of them... etc.

The specific gnat articles are very well written, well sourced, and complete. I think outlining the basics on this site would be helpful to alot of folks. Folks that find the Gnat page just looking for Gnats, and not looking for "Chironomida" or "Cecidomyiidae" 72.174.2.252 08:21, 27 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Gnat eggs

Heard that gnats lay eggs in fruit. Add that to article or I will poo on you. --69.151.57.3 (talk) 22:51, 7 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Apparent contradiction

A gnat /ˈnæt/ is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the Dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae.

In British English, the term applies particularly to Nematocerans of the family Culicidae (mosquitoes). The common gnat is the species Culex pipiens.[1]

Male gnats often assemble in large mating swarms or ghosts, particularly at dusk.[2]

Gnat larvae are mostly free-living and some are aquatic. Many feed on plants, though some are carnivorous. Larval plant feeders (such as the Hessian fly larva) cause root, stem, or leaf galls to be formed by the host plant. Some species of fungus gnats (families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) are pests of mushrooms and roots of potted plants in homes and greenhouses.

Some South American Pleurothallid orchids are pollinated by tiny gnats and have correspondingly small flowers

Individual guidance system

I Can't understand how the colony can stay in the same place, while the individual gnat is flying madly around. I wonder what kind of motion guidance system they have individually.WFPM (talk) 20:39, 23 August 2009 (UTC). Does somebody have a computer program that could simulate that?WFPM (talk) 20:55, 23 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pictures and specific features

I've spent most of the morning on the web trying to determine if there really is "hair on a gnat's ass" and if so just how big it is. I can't find a suitable picture anywhere. would be really nice to find such info here. (electron microscopy anyone?) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.105.118.42 (talk) 15:08, 26 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]