Eye gnats can be extremely annoying on golf courses, particularly in the Sandhills area. After mating among shrubs and brush, females deposit an average of 26 eggs over an 18-day period. Eggs laid on or below the surface of soil which is moist and which had fresh vegetation turned in hatch in about 3 days. The small larvae burrow into the soil where they feed on decomposing organic matter. The larval stage lasts about 11 to 17 days under normal conditions but may require several months during cool weather.
Mature larvae pupate near the surface of the soil.
Adult eye gnats emerge 6 to 10 days later. Females begin depositing eggs within 5 to 8 days. Adult eye gnats are persistent fliers and have been carried by the wind more than a mile from their breeding site. Application of ULV insecticide sprays on a community-wide basis may provide temporary control of adults, but more adults invade the treated area after the insecticide has dissipated.