Midge: Difference between revisions

Midges
	A biting midge feeding on blood through an artificial membrane for insect rearing
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Suborder:	Nematocera
Families
	See text

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A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae (sand fly) and Simuliidae (black fly), are vectors of various diseases. Many others play useful roles as prey for insectivores, such as various frogs and swallows. Others are important as detritivores, and form part of various nutrient cycles. The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles.

Examples of families that include species of midges include:^[1]

Blephariceridae, net-winged midges
Cecidomyiidae, gall midges
Ceratopogonidae, biting midges (also known as no-see-ums or punkies in North America^[2] and sandflies^[3] in Australia)
Chaoboridae, phantom midges
Chironomidae, non-biting midges^[4] (also known as muckleheads,^[5] muffleheads^[6] or lake flies^[7] in the Great Lakes region of North America)
Deuterophlebiidae, mountain midges
Dixidae, meniscus midges
Scatopsidae, dung midges
Thaumaleidae, solitary midges

Examples

The Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) include serious blood-sucking pests, feeding both on humans and other mammals. Some of them spread the livestock diseases known as blue tongue and African horse sickness – other species though, are at least partly nectar feeders, and some even suck insect bodily fluids.^[8]

Many midges are known for having symbiotic relationships with many other organisms. These can be commensal, parasitic or mutualistic relationships. Many of the commensal relationships are found within the family Chironomidae.^[9]

Other ceratopogonid midges are major pollinators of Theobroma cacao (cocoa tree). Having natural pollinators has beneficial effects in both agricultural and biological products because it increases crop yield and also density of predators of the midges (still beneficial to all parties).^[10]

The term "midge" is a vague term that refers to a large and diverse group of organisms. Although many are known as "bloodsuckers," there are many different roles that they play in their respective ecosystems.^[9] There is, for example, no objective basis for excluding the Psychodidae from the list, and some of them (or midge-like taxa commonly included in the family, such as Phlebotomus) are blood-sucking pests and disease vectors.

Most midges, apart from the gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some Cecidomyiidae (e.g., the Hessian fly) are considered significant pests of some plant species. The larvae of some Chironomidae contain hemoglobin and are sometimes referred to as bloodworms.^[11]

Non-biting midge flies are commonly considered a minor nuisance around bodies of water.^[12]

References

^ Merritt, R. W.; Cummins, K. W., eds. (1996). An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
^ BugGuide
^ "BITING MIDGES OR "SANDFLIES" IN THE NT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
^ "The Complete Guide to Midges". 5 July 2021. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
^ "Bug invasion! Muckleheads caught on radar swarming back to NE Ohio". fox8.com. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
^ "What exactly are all these pesky midges? Entertaining video on the insects that swarm Lake Erie". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
^ "Why you should never smash lake flies and other facts about the annual Lake Winnebago insect hatch". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
^ Weaving, Alan; Picker, Mike; Griffiths, Charles Llewellyn (2003). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. New Holland Publishers, Ltd. ISBN 1-86872-713-0.
^ ^a ^b TOKESHI, MUTSUNORI (June 1993). "On the evolution of commensalism in the Chironomidae". Freshwater Biology. 29 (3): 481–489. Bibcode:1993FrBio..29..481T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1993.tb00782.x. ISSN 0046-5070.
^ Forbes, Samantha J.; Northfield, Tobin D. (2016-12-26). "Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation". Ecological Applications. 27 (3). Ecological Society of America: 887–899. doi:10.1002/eap.1491. ISSN 1051-0761. PMID 28019052.
^ Walker, Ian R. (2001). "Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera". In Smol, J. P.; Birks, H. J. B.; Last, W. M. (eds.). Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments. Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research. Vol. 4: Zoological Indicators. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 43–66. doi:10.1007/0-306-47671-1_3. ISBN 978-0-306-47671-6.
^ Apperson, Charles; Waldvogel, Michael; Bambara, Stephen (2006). "Biology and Control of Non-biting Aquatic Midges". Department of Entomology, North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Common name for several species of flies}}
-{{for|the species formally known as Culicoides impunctatus|Highland midge}}<!-- If changing this hatnote, please make clear why the Highland midge isn't included in list below -->
+{{for|the species formally known as Culicoides impunctatus|Highland midge}}
-{{other uses}}
+{{About|the insect}}
+{{Distinguish|Midget}}
-{{wiktionary|midge}} {{Taxobox
+<!-- If changing this hatnote, please make clear why the Highland midge isn't included in list below -->
+{{Wiktionary|midge}}
+{{Paraphyletic group
+| auto = yes
 | 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
+| parent = Nematocera
+| includes_text = Families
-| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
-| classis = [[Insect]]a
+| includes = See text
-| ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]]
-| subordo = [[Nematocera]]
 }}
-A '''midge''' is any small [[flies|fly]], including species in several [[family (biology)|families]] of non-[[mosquito]] [[Nematocera]]n [[Diptera]]. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones.  Some midges, such as many [[Phlebotominae]] (sand fly) and [[Simuliidae]] (black fly), are vectors of various diseases. Many others play useful roles as prey items for [[insectivore]]s, such as various [[Wallum Sedge Frog|frogs]] and [[Hirundinidae|swallows]]. Others are important as [[detritivore]]s, and form part of various [[nutrient cycles]]. The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles.
+A '''midge''' is any small [[fly]], including species in several [[family (biology)|families]] of non-[[mosquito]] [[nematocera]]n [[Diptera]]. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones.  Some midges, such as many [[Phlebotominae]] (sand fly) and [[Simuliidae]] (black fly), are vectors of various diseases. Many others play useful roles as prey for [[insectivore]]s, such as various [[Wallum Sedge Frog|frogs]] and [[Hirundinidae|swallows]]. Others are important as [[detritivore]]s, and form part of various [[nutrient cycles]]. The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles.
 Examples of families that include species of midges include:<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Merritt |editor1-first=R. W. |editor2-last=Cummins |editor2-first=K. W. |year=1996 |title=An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America |publisher=Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company}}</ref>
@@ Line 19: / Line 21: @@
 * [[Blephariceridae]], net-winged midges
 * [[Cecidomyiidae]], gall midges
-* [[Ceratopogonidae]], biting midges (also known as no-see-ums or punkies{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} in [[North America]], and sandflies<ref>{{cite web |title=BITING MIDGES OR “SANDFLIES” IN THE NT |url=http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf |access-date=2015-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122062354/http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf |archive-date=2015-01-22}}</ref> in Australia)
+* [[Ceratopogonidae]], biting midges (also known as no-see-ums or punkies in [[North America]]<ref>[https://bugguide.net/node/view/19768 BugGuide]</ref> and sandflies<ref>{{cite web |title=BITING MIDGES OR "SANDFLIES" IN THE NT |url=http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf |access-date=2015-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122062354/http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf |archive-date=2015-01-22}}</ref> in Australia)
 * [[Chaoboridae]], phantom midges
-* [[Chironomidae]], non-biting midges (also known as muckleheads,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fox8.com/2018/06/04/bug-invasion-muckleheads-caught-on-radar-swarming-back-to-ne-ohio/|title=Bug invasion! Muckleheads caught on radar swarming back to NE Ohio|date=2018-06-04|work=fox8.com|access-date=2018-06-05|language=en-US}}</ref> muffleheads<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/what_are_midges_learn_all_abou.html|title=What exactly are all these pesky midges? Entertaining video on the insects that swarm Lake Erie|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-06-05|language=en-US}}</ref> or lake flies<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2020/05/15/lake-winnebago-flies-things-know-annual-hatch/3118331001/|title=Why you should never smash lake flies and other facts about the annual Lake Winnebago insect hatch|work=Appleton Post Crescent|access-date=2020-07-15|language=en-US}}</ref> in the [[Great Lakes]] region of [[North America]])
+* [[Chironomidae]], non-biting midges<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://killem.com.sg/blog/the-complete-guide-to-the-prevention-treatment-and-control-of-midges-in-singapore/|title=The Complete Guide to Midges|date=5 July 2021 |access-date=2023-06-21|language=en-UK}}</ref> (also known as muckleheads,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fox8.com/2018/06/04/bug-invasion-muckleheads-caught-on-radar-swarming-back-to-ne-ohio/|title=Bug invasion! Muckleheads caught on radar swarming back to NE Ohio|date=2018-06-04|work=fox8.com|access-date=2018-06-05|language=en-US}}</ref> muffleheads<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/what_are_midges_learn_all_abou.html|title=What exactly are all these pesky midges? Entertaining video on the insects that swarm Lake Erie|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-06-05|language=en-US}}</ref> or lake flies<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2020/05/15/lake-winnebago-flies-things-know-annual-hatch/3118331001/|title=Why you should never smash lake flies and other facts about the annual Lake Winnebago insect hatch|work=Appleton Post Crescent|access-date=2020-07-15|language=en-US}}</ref> in the [[Great Lakes]] region of [[North America]])
 * [[Deuterophlebiidae]], mountain midges
 * [[Dixidae]], meniscus midges
 * [[Scatopsidae]], dung midges
-*[[Thaumaleidae]], solitary midges
+* [[Thaumaleidae]], solitary midges
 == Examples ==
-The [[Ceratopogonidae]] (biting midges) include serious blood-sucking pests, feeding both on humans and other mammals. Some of them spread the livestock diseases [[Bluetongue disease|blue tongue]] and [[African horse sickness]] &ndash; other species though, are at least partly nectar feeders, and some even suck insect bodily fluids.<ref name="isbn1-86872-713-0">{{cite book |last1=Weaving |first1=Alan |last2=Picker |first2=Mike |last3=Griffiths |first3=Charles Llewellyn |year=2003 |title=Field Guide to Insects of South Africa |publisher=New Holland Publishers, Ltd |isbn=1-86872-713-0}}</ref>
+The [[Ceratopogonidae]] (biting midges) include serious blood-sucking pests, feeding both on humans and other mammals. Some of them spread the livestock diseases known as [[Bluetongue disease|blue tongue]] and [[African horse sickness]] &ndash; other species though, are at least partly nectar feeders, and some even suck insect bodily fluids.<ref name="isbn1-86872-713-0">{{cite book |last1=Weaving |first1=Alan |last2=Picker |first2=Mike |last3=Griffiths |first3=Charles Llewellyn |year=2003 |title=Field Guide to Insects of South Africa |publisher=New Holland Publishers, Ltd |isbn=1-86872-713-0}}</ref>
-[[File: Ceratopogonidae midge sucking Sphodromantis blood IMG 3045ss.JPG|thumb|A midge in the family Ceratopogonidae sitting on the dexter (right-hand-side) femorotibial joint of a feeding mantis and sucking its blood]]
-Most other midge families are bloodsuckers, but it is not possible to generalise rigidly because of the vagueness of the term "midge". There is, for example, no objective basis for excluding the [[Psychodidae]] from the list, and some of them (or midge-like taxa commonly included in the family, such as ''[[Phlebotomus]]'') are blood-sucking pests and disease vectors.
+Many midges are known for having symbiotic relationships with many other organisms. These can be commensal, parasitic or mutualistic relationships. Many of the commensal relationships are found within the family [[Chironomidae]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=TOKESHI |first=MUTSUNORI |date=June 1993 |title=On the evolution of commensalism in the Chironomidae |journal=Freshwater Biology |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=481–489 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2427.1993.tb00782.x |issn=0046-5070|doi-access=free |bibcode=1993FrBio..29..481T }}</ref>
-Most midges, apart from the gall midges ([[Cecidomyiidae]]), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some Cecidomyiidae (e.g., the sorghum midge) are significant plant pests. The larvae of some [[Chironomidae]] contain [[haemoglobin]] and are sometimes referred to as [[Chironomidae#Behavior and description|bloodworms]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Ian R. |editor1-last=Smol |editor1-first=J. P. |editor2-last=Birks |editor2-first=H. J. B. |editor3-last=Last |editor3-first=W. M. |year=2001 |chapter=Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera |pages=43–66 |title=Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments |volume=4: Zoological Indicators |series= Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |doi=10.1007/0-306-47671-1_3 |isbn=978-0-306-47671-6}}</ref>
+[[File: Ceratopogonidae midge sucking Sphodromantis blood IMG 3045ss.JPG|thumb|A midge of the family Ceratopogonidae (lower middle - a branch is its background) sitting on a [[mantis]] sucking its [[hemolymph]] whilst the mantis feeds on a bee]]
+Other ceratopogonid midges are major pollinators of ''[[Theobroma cacao]]'' (cocoa tree). Having natural pollinators has beneficial effects in both agricultural and biological products because it increases crop yield and also density of predators of the midges (still beneficial to all parties).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Forbes |first1=Samantha J. |last2=Northfield |first2=Tobin D. |date=2016-12-26 |title=Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation |journal=Ecological Applications |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=887–899 |issn=1051-0761 |publisher=Ecological Society of America |doi=10.1002/eap.1491 |pmid=28019052}}</ref>
-Non-biting midge flies are a common minor nuisance around artificially-created bodies of water.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Apperson |first1=Charles |author-link1=Charles S. Apperson |last2=Waldvogel |first2=Michael |last3=Bambara |first3=Stephen |year=2006 |title=Biology and Control of Non-biting Aquatic Midges |number=Insect Note ENT/rsc–15 |publisher=Department of Entomology, North Carolina Cooperative Extension |url=http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/midges.htm}}</ref>
+The term "midge" is a vague term that refers to a large and diverse group of organisms. Although many are known as "bloodsuckers," there are many different roles that they play in their respective ecosystems.<ref name=":0" /> There is, for example, no objective basis for excluding the [[Psychodidae]] from the list, and some of them (or midge-like taxa commonly included in the family, such as ''[[Phlebotomus]]'') are blood-sucking pests and disease vectors.
+Most midges, apart from the gall midges ([[Cecidomyiidae]]), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some Cecidomyiidae (e.g., the [[Hessian fly]]) are considered significant pests of some plant species. The larvae of some Chironomidae contain [[hemoglobin]] and are sometimes referred to as [[Chironomidae#Behavior and description|bloodworms]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Ian R. |editor1-last=Smol |editor1-first=J. P. |editor2-last=Birks |editor2-first=H. J. B. |editor3-last=Last |editor3-first=W. M. |year=2001 |chapter=Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera |pages=43–66 |title=Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments |volume=4: Zoological Indicators |series= Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |doi=10.1007/0-306-47671-1_3 |isbn=978-0-306-47671-6}}</ref>
-One type of midge (a type of fly in the family Dipteran) is a major pollinator of ''[[Theobroma cacao]]'' (cocoa tree) because of its unique morphological and behavioral characteristics. Having natural pollinators has beneficial effects in both agricultural and biological products because it increases ''Theobroma cacao'' crop yield and also density of predators of the midges (still beneficial to all parties).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Forbes |first1=Samantha J. |last2=Northfield |first2=Tobin D. |date=2016-12-26 |title=Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation |journal=Ecological Applications |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=887–899 |issn=1051-0761 |publisher=Ecological Society of America |doi=10.1002/eap.1491 |pmid=28019052}}</ref>
+Non-biting midge flies are commonly considered a minor nuisance around bodies of water.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Apperson |first1=Charles |author-link1=Charles S. Apperson |last2=Waldvogel |first2=Michael |last3=Bambara |first3=Stephen |year=2006 |title=Biology and Control of Non-biting Aquatic Midges |number=Insect Note ENT/rsc–15 |publisher=Department of Entomology, North Carolina Cooperative Extension |url=http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/midges.htm}}</ref>
-Some species survived the glacial cycles by shifting their range to Mediterranean refuges, while others endured in central European habitats.
-It was detect that genetic structure within and among five European mountain ranges in the net‐winged midge Liponeura cinerascens cinerascens.
-Endemic haplotypes, microsatellite population genetic structure and high levels of regionally private alleles provide evidence that mountain range populations have been evolving independently from each other for a significant number of generations.
-Liponeura cinerascens cinerascens is able to maintain gene flow between watercourses in highly structured mountain ranges. Lowland regions, however, pose significant dispersal barriers, possibly because high‐gradient stretches with boulders are rare in such landscapes
 ==See also==
@@ Line 55: / Line 51: @@
 ==Further reading==
-{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/fwb.13682|title=Genetic data support local persistence in multiple glacial refugia in the montane net‐winged midge Liponeura cinerascens cinerascens (Diptera, blephariceridae)|year=2021|last1=Schröder|first1=Oskar|last2=Cavanaugh|first2=Kirstin K.|last3=Schneider|first3=Julio V.|last4=Schell|first4=Tilman|last5=Bonada|first5=Núria|last6=Seifert|first6=Linda|last7=Pauls|first7=Steffen U.|journal=Freshwater Biology|volume=66|issue=5|pages=859–868|doi-access=free}}
+{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/fwb.13682|title=Genetic data support local persistence in multiple glacial refugia in the montane net-winged midge Liponeura cinerascens cinerascens (Diptera, blephariceridae)|year=2021|last1=Schröder|first1=Oskar|last2=Cavanaugh|first2=Kirstin K.|last3=Schneider|first3=Julio V.|last4=Schell|first4=Tilman|last5=Bonada|first5=Núria|last6=Seifert|first6=Linda|last7=Pauls|first7=Steffen U.|journal=Freshwater Biology|volume=66|issue=5|pages=859–868|doi-access=free|bibcode=2021FrBio..66..859S }}
-{{cite journal|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4908.2.11|title=A new species of predaceous midge in the genus ''Stilobezzia'' Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)|year=2021|last1=Huerta|first1=Heron|last2=Grogan|first2=William L. JR|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4908|issue=2|pages=297–300|pmid=33756629}}
+{{cite journal|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4908.2.11|title=A new species of predaceous midge in the genus ''Stilobezzia'' Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)|year=2021|last1=Huerta|first1=Heron|last2=Grogan|first2=William L. JR|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4908|issue=2|pages=297–300|pmid=33756629|s2cid=232340155 }}
-{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111778|title=Impact of 2,4-D and fipronil on the tropical midge Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)|year=2021|last1=Pinto|first1=Thandy Junio da Silva|last2=Moreira|first2=Raquel Aparecida|last3=Silva|first3=Laís Conceição Menezes da|last4=Yoshii|first4=Maria Paula Cardoso|last5=Goulart|first5=Bianca Veloso|last6=Fraga|first6=Priscille Dreux|last7=Montagner|first7=Cassiana Carolina|last8=Daam|first8=Michiel Adriaan|last9=Espindola|first9=Evaldo Luiz Gaeta|journal=Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety|volume=209|page=111778|pmid=33338803|doi-access=free}}
+{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111778|title=Impact of 2,4-D and fipronil on the tropical midge Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)|year=2021|last1=Pinto|first1=Thandy Junio da Silva|last2=Moreira|first2=Raquel Aparecida|last3=Silva|first3=Laís Conceição Menezes da|last4=Yoshii|first4=Maria Paula Cardoso|last5=Goulart|first5=Bianca Veloso|last6=Fraga|first6=Priscille Dreux|last7=Montagner|first7=Cassiana Carolina|last8=Daam|first8=Michiel Adriaan|last9=Espindola|first9=Evaldo Luiz Gaeta|journal=Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety|volume=209|page=111778|pmid=33338803|doi-access=free|bibcode=2021EcoES.20911778P |hdl=10362/126069|hdl-access=free}}
-{{animal common name}}
 [[Category:Nematocera]]