No-See-Ums in New Mexico: Yes, They're Here

Yes. No-see-ums (biting midges, Culicoides spp.) are present across New Mexico, especially:

• Near water: Rio Grande bosque, reservoirs, irrigation canals
• Moist mountain meadows
• Monsoon season (July–Sept) – peak activity

Characteristics

• Tiny (1–3 mm) – pass through standard screens
• Bite at dawn/dusk, cloudy days
• Attracted to CO₂, sweat, dark colors
• Bites = intensely itchy welts (allergic reaction to saliva)

Mitigation

• Fine-mesh screens (no-see-um netting)
• EPA repellents: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
• Permethrin-treated clothing
• Eliminate standing water
• Fans outdoors (weak fliers)

They don't transmit human diseases in NM but can vector bluetongue/epizootic hemorrhagic disease in livestock/wildlife.