By PR Extension Office
Yes – something is biting you! Reports of biting midges, also known as “no-see-ums” are coming into the Powder River Extension Office, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. These tiny insects can be a nuisance to ranchers, campers, fishermen, hunters, hikers, gardeners, and others who spend time outdoors during early morning and evenings, and even during the daytime on cloudy days when winds are calm. They will readily bite humans; the bites are irritating, painful, and can cause long-lasting painful lesions for some people.
A common observation upon experiencing a bite from this insect is that something is biting, but the person suffering cannot see what it is. Biting midges are sometimes incorrectly referred to as sand flies. Sand flies are insects that belong to a different biological group and should not be confused with the biting midges.
The natural habitats of biting midges vary by species. Areas with substantial salt marsh habitat are major producers of many biting midge species; which begs the question, “why are they here?!” asked Rumph. Fortunately, these insects do not establish inside homes, apartments, or inside humans or other animals.
“I’ve contacted our MSU Extension state entomologist to find out why we have a sudden infestation of the biting midges,” said Rumph. “I’m curious to know why we have them when current conditions are so dry,” she added. “We are sending in a sample for positive identification,” concluded Rumph.
Biting midges are holometabolous, progressing from egg to larva to pupa, and finally to the adult stage. The complete cycle can occur in two to six weeks; but is dependent on the species and environmental conditions. The adults are most abundant near productive breeding sites and will disperse to mate and to feed. The mean distance for female flight is a little over two miles, less than half of that distance for males.
Males and females feed on nectar, but the females require blood for their eggs to mature. The females will blood-feed primarily around dawn and dusk; however, there are some species that prefer to feed during the day. The adults can live only a few weeks under natural conditions.
The larvae are present on shores of streams and ponds, and in muddy substrates.
The biting midges are primarily a nuisance, and the major medical issue associated with them is allergic reactions to the bites.
Biting midges, primarily the species Culicoides sonorensis, are responsible for transmission of bluetongue virus to sheep and cattle in the US. Bluetongue is a serious disease of ruminants.
Homeowners can install proper screening for windows and patios to prevent no-see-ums from entering residences and outdoor areas used for leisure and entertaining. Most biting midges can pass through 16-mesh insect wire screen and netting, so a smaller mesh size is required. The small mesh size does limit air flow through the screens. Additionally, because no-see-ums are so small and are weak fliers, ceiling and window fans can be used at high speeds to keep no-see-ums out of small areas.
Repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) typically used as mosquito repellents are also labeled for use against no-see-ums and can be applied prior to exposure to the biting midges.
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