No-See-Ums

No-see-ums is a common name for biting midges, tiny flies in the family Ceratopogonidae.

No-see-ums are a common name for biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. These tiny flies, typically about 1–3 mm long, are found worldwide except in Antarctica and the Arctic. The name reflects their small size, which makes them difficult to see with the naked eye, and only females bite to obtain blood for egg production.

Classification

No-see-ums are not a single species but a common name for biting midges, a family of small flies in the order Diptera. The term is often used for species in genera such as Culicoides.

Physical characteristics

These insects are tiny, usually only a few millimetres long, and can be hard to notice before they bite. Their small size is the source of the name no-see-ums.

Behaviour and habitat

Biting midges are most often associated with moist environments such as seashores, rivers, lakes, marshes, and other wet habitats. They can occur in large numbers and are considered nuisance pests in some areas.

Bites and significance

Female no-see-ums feed on blood and can cause irritating or painful bites. Some biting midge species are also known in veterinary and public health contexts because they can transmit diseases to animals and, in some regions, to humans.