The unit mascot of U.S. Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Florida is the Sand Gnat, see the unit patch. Sand Gnat annoyance is affected by temperatures and wind. At wind speeds of 3.5 mph or more Sand Gnats stop flying. There have been instances of escaped convicts that had successfully evaded the police, but had to give themselves up because they could not bear the Sand Gnat bites. Some Sand Gnat relatives are predators on other flying insects, some even eat their partners while mating.
All species are aquatic or semiaquatic as immatures or larvae.
About 60 species of Sand Gnats occur in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. There are more than 1,000 species of Sand Gnats world-wide. Dr. Daniel V. Hagan, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460. 430 William Hilton Parkway Suite 511, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.