Midge
1036104
222363280
2008-06-28T23:21:07Z
71.227.118.80
deleted reference to Highland Midge- one species in one small part of the world is not relevant to this article
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Midges
| image = BitingMidge.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = A [[Ceratopogonidae|biting midge]] feeding on blood through an artificial membrane for insect rearing.
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]]
| subordo = [[Nematocera]]
}}
'''Midges''' comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies. The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group, but includes animals in several [[family (biology)|families]] of [[Nematocera|Nematoceran]] [[Diptera]]. The habits of midges vary greatly among the component families, which include:<ref>Merritt, R.W., and Cummins, K.W. (eds.), 1996. ''An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America''. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.</ref>
* [[Blephariceridae]], net-winged midges
* [[Cecidomyiidae]], gall midges
* [[Ceratopogonidae]], biting midges (also known as no-see-ums or punkies in [[North America]])
* [[Chaoboridae]], phantom midges
* [[Chironomidae]], non-biting midges
* [[Deuterophlebiidae]], mountain midges
* [[Dixidae]], meniscus midges
* [[Scatopsidae]], dung midges
* [[Thaumaleidae]], solitary midges
[[Image:MidgesInvadingToyotaCorolla.jpg|thumb|300px|Midges on a car]]
While the [[Ceratopogonidae]] (biting midges) are serious biting pests, and can spread the livestock disease [[Blue Tongue]], the other midge families are not. Most midges, apart from the gall midges ([[Cecidomyiidae]]), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some [[Cecidomyiidae]] (e.g., the sorghum midge) are important plant pests. The larvae of some [[Chironomidae]] contain haemoglobin and are sometimes referred to as [[bloodworms]].<ref>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.</ref>
For further information concerning specific groups, consult their entries.
==References==
<references/>
==See also==
*[[Mosquito]]
*[[Gnat]]
{{fly-stub}}
[[Category:Flies]]
[[Category:Pollinators]]
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[[nl:Knut (insect)]]