Non-Biting Midge Flies
go.ncsu.edu/readext?793521
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲This article was written by Gail Griffin, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.
Do you have non-biting midge flies at your house? If you are experiencing swarms of insects flying around your porch lights and they don’t quite look like mosquitoes, your visitors may be non-biting midge flies. They can be mistaken for mosquitoes, but they are more slender in appearance. They are sometimes called ‘blind’ mosquitoes because they do not bite. They belong to the species Chironomids and are a cousin, once removed, of the biting midges we refer to as “no-see-ums”, which defy description.
Non-biting midge flies are found in streams, deep ditches, lakes, ponds and slow-moving rivers. Their life span is spent in or near water. Midge flies are a beneficial organism as a food source for fish and aquatic insects. However, large populations can indicate evidence of excessive organic matter located in bodies of water. Midge flies can tolerate increased levels of nutrients and pollution that other invertebrates cannot. As a result, their numbers can
explode. Runoff from fertilization of fields and lawns and gardens can create excessive amounts of nutrients. Wetter than normal conditions can also contribute to a reduction in water quality.
Midge fly eggs are laid in masses on the water surface and sink to the bottom where they hatch. The larvae feed on organic material found in sediment and in the water. The larvae transform into pupae and swim to the surface. The adults emerge in late March or early April. They mate in swarms and live three to five days while females lay their egg masses. The life cycle repeats itself every two to three weeks until fall. Several thousand adults per square yard can emerge in a single night, depending on water temperature. They are attracted to lights
and may accumulate on plants, around windows and walls outside of homes. They can become a nuisance when large numbers emerge.
To help keep water quality in check, don’t over fertilize your lawn or garden. Only use the amount recommended in your soil test results and avoid application when heavy rain is expected. Limiting outdoor lighting or relocating lighting away from residences may help reduce swarms during emergence. Commercial sprays used for control of mosquitoes may be useful, but only temporarily.
If non-biting midge flies are bugging you, the solution may be as simple as turning off the lights. Besides, you’re messing up the dark.
For more information on non-biting midge flies, go to content.ces.ncsu.edu/biology-and-control-of-non-biting-aquatic-midges or visit our local extension website at lee.ces.ncsu.edu
Gail Griffin is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.