The male has appendages, or forceps, next to the actual penis, which it uses to grasp the female gnat with while mating. We used the shape of these forceps to identify it," explains Lars ...

Gnats find their perfect spot in moist soil and once these small, winged insects find their way inside, they can quickly increase in numbers. A female gnat can lay anywhere between 100 to 150 eggs ...

Ultimately the gnat pupa gathers a “a little beach ball of air” and launches itself to the top of the water, McLean said. Like female mosquitoes, female gnats feed off blood to develop eggs.