All About Biting Midges and How to Control Them

They’re back…the season for biting midges is upon us again. These small, black, biting flies, also referred to as no-see-ums or ceratopogonidae, are coming out in annoying droves. If you want to nix the no-see-ums this year you’ll need to know the enemy and arm yourself with information.

The Anatomy of Biting Midges

There are over 4,000 biting midge species, more than 1,000 of which are found all over the world, including Alabama. The first sign of them are large groups of eggs. Mom midges lay up to 110 white eggs that turn brown or even black before hatching, which only takes 2-10 days. They like to mate off in the wild, but keep an eye out for the eggs.

The larvae are worm-like and white before growing into pupal that range from yellowish to dark brown in color. All said and done, when the biting midges become adults they are only 1/8 inch long. They have a pair of patterned wings that can be used to identify the species. Underneath is a tiny body that’s segmented into nine parts and tapered at the end. Antennas stick out of the head and the mouth is formed from elongated mandibles full of sharp teeth. These little suckers got their name for a reason. They have a nasty bite for being so small. However, only the females are predisposed to suck blood.

Where You’ll Find Them: Biting midges prefer to hang out in moist soil and manure. They’re also typically found near breeding sites. Most of the time mating is done in the large swarms you can see, but it’s also been known to happen while the female is feeding on a host.

When You’ll Find Them Out and About: Biting midges tend to be most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They’re also out and about on cloudy days with little wind. Coastal areas tend to see the highest numbers of no-see-ums.

How Long They’ll Be Around: The life cycle from egg to death is only 2-6 weeks.

Tips for Keeping No-See-Ums Out of Your House

It’s bad enough to have to deal with biting midges outside, but having to endure them in your home is out of the question. While they don’t naturally gravitate towards living in homes, that doesn’t mean they don’t get in every now and then. To keep them out use the tips below:

• Shake out clothing that’s left out to dry on lines.
• Make sure there are no tears or holes in the screens of doors or windows.
• Use screens with a small mesh size below 16-mesh.
• Keep fans on the high setting – remember, they don’t like windy spots.
• Products that contain DEET have been shown to repel biting midges, so candles near entrances may help.
• Use regular pest control maintenance around your yard and house.

Because they tend to breed and lay eggs out in the wild it can be difficult to contain the biting midge population. Your best bet is to keep your house properly sealed up and try to avoid moist areas during the morning and afternoon when they are out in abundance. If you need help controlling any kind of insect around your house, give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control a call to see what the pros can do to help.

 

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fly_April_2008-8.jpg

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/pest-profiles/biting-midges/