Small, delicate flies, resemble mosquitoes but do not bite. Often “dance” in the air in large swarms over water or lawns. At rest, characteristically hold their front legs above head-height and extended forward, giving the illusion of elongate antennae to the untrained eye. Midges range in size from very small (1 mm) to about 3/8 inch (10 mm).
Midges are a very common insect in North America. They are widespread in our environment and are present from summer into late fall.
There are about 1050 species of midges in North America and more than 7000 worldwide. The larvae almost always are red. They generally live in tubes or cases and have 2 vertically arranged eyespots on each side.
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