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Learn more about "Midge"
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Midge
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:[Merritt, R.W., and Cummins, K.W. (eds.), 1996. ''An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America''. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.]
- 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
While the Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) are serious biting pests, and can spread the livestock diseases Blue Tongue and African Horse Sickness, 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.[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.]
For further information concerning specific groups, consult their entries.
References
See also
- Mosquito
- Gnat
Category:Flies
Category:Pollinators
Related Images- Midges on a car
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
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