The larvae of non-biting midges feed on algae and bacteria, filtering micro-organisms out of the water, but some are predators.
Midges are an important food source for fish, shoreline birds and predatory aquatic insects (diving beetles, "waterboatmen", etc.) and bats. Larvae “clean” the aquatic environment by consuming and recycling organic debris.
Biting midges are like mosquitoes where only the female midge bites and requires a blood meal to fertilise their eggs. They are attracted to human habitation resting on screens, fences and vegetation while waiting to take a blood meal.
“This could be because midges descend from above so they simply encounter taller people first, or people with a large BMI are simply a larger target, but there's also a genetic factor at play because children who are susceptible tend to come from families with the same problem.”
Biting midges undergo a type of development known as “complete metamorphosis.” This means the last larval stage molts into a non-feeding pupal stage that eventually transforms into a winged adult.
Adult midges are eaten by all kinds of things - from spiders to swallows. The larvae are eaten by fish, dragonfly larvae, water beetles and other predators.
Eggs of aquatic midges usually hatch in 2 to 7 days. The newly hatched larvae feed on the gelatinous material for about 2 days. The adults which emerge mate during swarming at night. The adults do not feed during their adult existence and consequently only live for 3 to 5 days.
Breath, Sweat & Tears
A gnat is always searching for moisture and salt, which are found in sweat and tears. Unfortunately, the pests are vectors for pink eye. They are also drawn to the smell of bad breath and to the carbon dioxide people expel when exhaling.
Distribution. Biting midges occur in many coastal and inland areas of Western Australia (WA). They are most commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the state near sandy estuarine and foreshore areas and mangrove swamps. They are very common in some coastal areas of north-west WA.
Practice good hygiene. Whilst midges may still make their way to your home for other reasons, they particularly love body heat and the smell of sweat. Staying cool and clean will reduce the likelihood of them wanting to find you.
Citronella, peppermint oil, lavender and eucalyptus can all be used to repel midges by spraying your equipment or surroundings and even diluting for personal use. Citronella candles can be used to prevent midges from closing in on a localised area.
Biting midges have a histamine like substance in their saliva which can cause intense itching in sensitive individuals. To prevent acute allergic reaction and allow the body to develop its own immunity to midge bites vitamin B1 (thiamine) can be tried.
Only the females bite, using the blood they obtain as a source of protein for developing a batch of eggs. A bite is made in the skin and saliva is injected to prevent blood clotting, thereby allowing the blood to be sucked up. Contrary to common belief, it is not fly urine that causes the discomfort.
You can deter insects outdoors by using: mosquito coils. small lanterns that have a tea candle burning under an impregnated pad (same active ingredient as mosquito coils but 100 times more concentrated)
Not to be confused with mosquitoes, midges do not carry disease - however they're just as annoying. Midges are much smaller than mosquitoes, weighing only about 1/8000 of a gram. They have the fastest wing-beat speed of any animal in the world at around 1000 times a second.
Compared to mosquitoes, midges are generally less harmful and deadly. There are two categories of midges, as biting (or known as sand flies) and non-biting chironomids. For the non-biting, they do not have piercing mouthparts that bite and suck blood, hence they do not spread diseases like the dengue fever symptoms.
Midges are most likely to be out and about at dawn and dusk, and in still, humid conditions. Even a slight breeze will chase them away. They also can't keep up with you when you're walking. So while you're out hiking or cycling you should be perfectly fine.
Midge season tends to take place between mid-May to early September. Midges like warm, damp conditions, such as bogs and grasslands and populations of midges can reach very high numbers between late spring and late summer, and are particularly common in the Scottish Highlands.
Biting midges (often referred to as “sandflies”) are small biting flies about the size of a pin-head belonging to the Ceratopogonidae family. They are especially prolific in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical Australia where some species can cause significant pest problems.
Midge's primary nourishment comes from flower nectar and other high-sugar juices, such as plant sap. Midges are also attracted to humans, their pets and livestock thanks to the CO2, body heat and particular scents we make. Once midges become aware of these cues, they hunt down their target.
What Time of Day are Midges Most Active? Another thing to bear in mind if you are visiting an area where you expect to encounter midges is that they are at their most active in the early morning, just before dawn, and in the evening, as light levels begin to fall.
One of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes and midges is to use a treatment spray containing bifenthrin. Such sprays work both via direct contact, and residual contact, making them effective well after application.
Citronella and Saltidin (also known as Picaridin and Icaridin) are among the ingredients that midges are said to find repugnant and give a wide berth. Essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass have been credited with similar properties (more on this in a moment).
MIDGES: INTERESTING FACTS. Adult midges are often confused with mosquitoes. They can be distinguished from mosquitoes because, unlike mosquitoes, they do not bite and lack scales on their wings. In colder regions, the midge larvae may over-winter in the pupa stage within the sediment.
After mating, females lay from about a hundred to about a thousand eggs. Most moths lay eggs on a suitable plant, so that the caterpillars hatch on their food supply, but in some species the caterpillars have to search for the right plant before they can eat. Moths survive the winter in a variety of ways.