Midge is any of a large family of small flies. Midges look like tiny mosquitoes, but they do not bite. There are thousands of species (kinds) of midges, hundreds of which live in North America. Midges have slender bodies and long, thin legs. Adult males have feathery antennae. These insects often appear at dusk in large swarms that look like a moving haze.
The larva (young) of a midge resembles a worm. It may be green, white, or red. Red larvae are frequently called bloodworms. Midge larvae are found in mud, in water, or on decaying plant matter. They are a major source of food for larger insects and fish.
Several families of flies that have the word midge as part of their name are not really midges. These include the biting midges, also known as punkies or no-see-ums. Biting midges have stout bodies and a painful bite. They are found near lakes and rivers and at the beach. Some people call biting midges sand flies (see Sand fly).
