No-see-um is a term used to describe small, biting insects. The term can be broken down into three parts: GNAT (4 letters), PUNKIE (6 letters), and MIDGE (5 letters). A GNAT is a small, two-winged fly that often bites humans and animals. Punkies are a type of GNAT that are found in the Caribbean and South America. MIDGE is another name for a GNAT, typically referring to the smaller species. All three terms refer to the same type of insect, which is why they can all be used to describe the term no-see-um.