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]] [[de:Gnitzen]] [[nl:Knut (insect)]]