A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases. Many others play useful roles as prey for insectivores, such as various frogs and swallows. Others are important as detritivores, and form part of various nutrient cycles. The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles.
Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges, generally 1–3 millimetres in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic.
Culicoides is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are over 1000 species in the genus, which is divided into many subgenera. Several species are known to be vectors of various diseases and parasites which can affect animals. The genus has a long fossil record, with earliest known fossils being from Burmese amber, around 99 million years old.
Corethrellidae are a family of biting midges, small flying insects belonging to the order Diptera, females of which feed on the blood of frogs. The members of the family are sometimes known as frog-biting midges. The family currently consists of just one genus, totalling 115 extant and 10 fossil species worldwide. Most extant species are found in the lower latitudes, usually associated around the tropics.
Leptoconops is a midge genus in the family Ceratopogonidae. It has a mostly tropical or subtropical distribution worldwide, but some species occur as far north as Moscow region in Russia and the Yukon Territory in Canada.
Paleohaemoproteus is an extinct genus of Haemoproteus like organisms.
A gnat is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae. Most often they fly in large numbers, called clouds. "Gnat" is a loose descriptive category rather than a phylogenetic or other technical term, so there is no scientific consensus on what constitutes a gnat. Some entomologists consider only non-biting flies to be gnats. Certain universities and institutes also distinguish eye gnats: the Smithsonian Institution describes them as "non-biting flies, no bigger than a few grains of salt, ... attracted to fluids secreted by your eyes".
Forcipomyia is a genus of biting midges in the subfamily Forcipomyiinae. Species of the subgenus Lasiohelea suck vertebrate blood. Some species are ectoparasites on larger insects. Other species in the genus are important pollinators of the cacao tree. There are at least 1,000 described species in Forcipomyia.
Atrichopogon is a genus of biting midges, small flies in the family Ceratopogonidae.
Leptoconops zherikhini is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Lower Cretaceous amber from Álava, Spain. These fossils represents the earliest known occurrence of extant genus Leptoconops.
Leptoconops nosopheris is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Early Cretaceous. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, in Kachin State, Myanmar
Leptoconops gravesi is an extinct species of biting midge belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Late Cretaceous amber from Vendée, France. The piece of amber containing the holotype specimen also preserved a scelionine wasp and an earwig nymph.
Leptoconops amplificatus is an extinct species of biting midge belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon.
Leptoconops antiquus is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon.
Leptoconops burmiticus is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Lower Cretaceous. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar.
Leptoconops rossi is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Lower Cretaceous. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar.
Bezzia is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are more than 310 described species in Bezzia.
Forcipomyia fuliginosa is a species of biting midges.
Stilobezzia is a genus of predaceous midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are more than 330 described species in Stilobezzia.
Culicoides villosipennis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae.
