Mom was right

So I'm covered in bug bites itchy welts keeping me awake at night. I swear they must be mosquitoes I must be right? There are a thousand tiny black flying things around my plants on the balcony. They don't look like the "standard" mosquito found in California but hey nothing looks like California out here. anyway....
Mom says NO not a mosquito you were bit by some freaky Wyoming biting gnat. Hmmmmmm
all I know is it's been about three weeks since the initial attack and I'm still hurting. Some of the welts measured 6 inches across with big bruises around them, others developed a scab ( I looked like some skanky meth addict) Soooo I did some investigating to see if a biting gnat could do this much damage. So I googled "images, biting gnat" This is what it came up with.
Yes, Mom now I believe you were right. I was bitten by a biting gnat.