Midges - What are they?

They're the bugs that anyone near Lake Erie loves to hate. So what exactly are these little insects, and do they provide any benefits to nature or the area? Take a look at our video that will explain everything you didn't think you needed to know about midges.

[TicoHyuuga]

Fun fact about midges: the Antarctic midge is the only insect of Antarctica and, at 2–6 mm (0.079–0.24 in) long, it is the largest purely terrestrial animal native to the continent.

They lost their ability to fly because of the strong wings, but their lack of need for food as adults is probably what allows them to still live over there. Their larval stage is spent burrowed in the ice, where there's algae and microscopical food for them to eat.
They all emerge together and do a big orgy, same as their European counterparts, albeit without wings.

[zachthornton]

They bite in Scotland. A cloud of the wee bastards will leave you itching and running through the woods like a crazy person.

[Jeffbellancamusic]

Annoying little buggers, but quite interesting indeed!.. definitely show you how the circle of life works as you stated in your video! Really neat video you have!

[jamesd]

What the hell? Some midges do bite. Hence the name 'non-biting midges', to indicate that they're the ones that don't bite.

[biblequestionswithchristop]

Informative and helpful while also comedic. Good video!

[sequoyahrussell]

That dude that worked at the metroparks is my hero

[landofevolution]

Biting midges are in a different true fly family,  Ceratopogonidae.
Midge is the common name for a small, fragile,  flying insects belonging to the order Diptera ("true flies"). They are generally grouped as non-biting midges (family Chironomidae),  biting midges (family Ceratopogonidae), and gall midges (family Cecidomyiidae).

[katherinedemerson]

I live near Lake Ontario and midges appear two to three times a season, usually April or May, mid-August, then again (if we're unlucky) in September. I think they contain some type of toxin because a few times I have swallowed a couple and my glands swelled up the size of golf balls. I went to the Emergency Department but, by the time I saw a doctor, most of the swelling had gone down. I usually carry a face mask now and don it when the midges are swarming a lot. They can turn a pleasant walk or hike into an annoying experience.

[brodamoxx]

In the Bahamas, we call them boom boom flies and they are really annoying. 😅

[madeasimmons]

They are all over Klamath Falls, OR in the summer

[SleepingSoldier]

Appreciate this info. Was wondering what the hell these annoying things were sticking to the walls of the motor pool.

[herviecrisostomo]

The egg called BLOODWORM and glodfish love it

[Dudleymiddleton]

The "midges " we get in the UK fens just before harvest are tiny black bugs barely 2mm in length, they only itch and tickle a bit they're too small to bite us, you just get used to 'em! Little gits get everywhere though, even inside phones and pc screens!

[mattphorwich]

These alleged experts on midge flies didn't mention that they polinate cocoa plants! 😂 other then that great video! God bless the multiverse!

[erjo]

I'm confused. I thought midges were gnat-sized.

[DannyTillotson]

Say they don't bite in the UK and they'll laugh out loud.

[olivianoel]

The tube making ones have invaded my aquariums -will they hurt my fish and how do I get rid of them with out killing good bacteria?

[theinsectmanofwv]

Yes, that are designed. Each midge is quite complicated.

[larrymazzuca]

THE midge in the Midwest carry s EHD, Blue Tongue disease That has killed thousands of deer in Missouri in 2019 . Find a cure or a way to eliminate the biting midge please !!!!

[LandoHitman]

These damn things are the worst, here, in Texas