Winged pest is a term used to describe any type of insect that has wings and is considered a nuisance. Two examples of winged pests are gnats and midges. Gnats are small, flying insects that are usually found in large numbers near water sources. MIDGE is another name for a small fly, typically found in swarms near water sources. Both gnats and midges can be a nuisance to humans, as they often swarm around people and bite them.