Midges
A biting midge feeding on blood through an artificial membrane for insect rearing. Ceratopogonidae, or biting Midges (including what are called in the United States, no-see-ums, midgies, Sand flies
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Suborder: Nematocera

Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of Nematocera are generally primitive flies, typically recognized by filamentous multi-segmented antennae which may be plumose in some males The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group, but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran Diptera. In Biological classification, family ( Latin Nematocera are generally primitive flies, typically recognized by filamentous multi-segmented antennae which may be plumose in some males True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of The habits of midges vary greatly among the component families, which include:^[1]

• Blephariceridae, net-winged midges
• Cecidomyiidae, gall midges
• Ceratopogonidae, biting midges (also known as no-see-ums or punkies in North America)
  • including the Highland midge Culicoides impunctatus
• Chaoboridae, phantom midges
• Chironomidae, non-biting midges
• Deuterophlebiidae, mountain midges
• Dixidae, meniscus midges
• Scatopsidae, dung midges
• Thaumaleidae, solitary midges

While the Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) are serious biting pests, and can spread the livestock disease Blue Tongue, the other midge families are not. Blephariceridae, commonly known as Net-winged midges, are a nematoceran family in the order Diptera. Cecidomyiidae (sometimes misspelled Cecidomyidae) is a family of flies (Order Diptera) known as gall midges or gall gnats. Ceratopogonidae, or biting Midges (including what are called in the United States, no-see-ums, midgies, Sand flies The Highland midge ( Scientific name: Culicoides impunctatus) is a tiny Insect, found in wet places (esp Chaoboridae, commonly known as phantom midges, are a family of fairly common midges with a cosmopolitan distribution Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids or non-biting Midges) are a family of Nematoceran flies with a global distribution Deuterophlebiidae or mountain midges are a small Monotypic family of Nematoceran Diptera. The Dixidae (meniscus Midges are a family of aquatic Nematoceran Diptera. The minute black scavenger flies or "dung midges", Scatopsidae, is a family of Nematoceran flies. Thaumaleidae, the solitary midges or trickle midges, are a group of Nematoceran flies related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae Ceratopogonidae, or biting Midges (including what are called in the United States, no-see-ums, midgies, Sand flies Most midges, apart from the gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), are aquatic during the larval stage. Cecidomyiidae (sometimes misspelled Cecidomyidae) is a family of flies (Order Diptera) known as gall midges or gall gnats. Some Cecidomyiidae (e. Cecidomyiidae (sometimes misspelled Cecidomyidae) is a family of flies (Order Diptera) known as gall midges or gall gnats. g. , the sorghum midge) are important plant pests. The larvae of some Chironomidae contain haemoglobin and are sometimes referred to as bloodworms. Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids or non-biting Midges) are a family of Nematoceran flies with a global distribution ^[2]

For further information concerning specific groups, consult their entries.

References

1. ^ Merritt, R. W. , and Cummins, K. W. (eds. ), 1996. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
2. ^ Walker, I. R. 2001. Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera. pp. 43-66, In: J. P. Smol, H. J. B. Birks, and W. M. Last (eds). Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments. Volume 4. Zoological Indicators. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

See also

• Mosquito
• Gnat

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