Midges are gnat-like two-winged flies in the order Diptera, which encompasses a wide range of individual species. Many people find midges extremely annoying and unpleasant, and there are fortunately a number of ways to deal with them. It also helps to remember that although midges are irritating, they are essentially harmless, and they do not carry any known diseases.

The term “midge” is somewhat imperfect, because it encompasses such a huge group of insects. As a general rule, people break midges up into three categories: biting midges, gall midges, and non-biting midges. As you might imagine, biting midges are known for biting people and animals, typically causing some skin irritation, but no lasting damage. Gall midges will create areas of swelling in plants with their larvae, but they are not generally harmful to people, while non-biting midges are exactly what they sound like.

Like their relatives the mosquitoes, midges breed and hatch in water. As a general rule, these insects are found around large bodies of water, especially if the water is stagnant, and they tend to come out in the warm weather, often forming thick swarms which are not very enjoyable to look at or walk through. Midges are much smaller and more fragile than mosquitoes, and their wings are typically shorter than their bodies; you can use these differences to distinguish between midges and mosquitoes.

Some topical insect repellents work on midges, as do things like citronella candles. Midges are also very attracted to bug zappers, which should be located far from the house so that people do not deal with the resulting swarm. They are also attracted to light, leading many biologists to recommend that people wait to turn on outside lights at night until the cool of the evening has set in, causing most of the midges to retire for the night. It is also a good idea to locate light fixtures away from doorways and outside lounging areas, although the light can be aimed into these regions so that people can see.

To prevent midges from infesting your home and garden, it helps to get rid of all standing water. This will also discourage mosquitoes and other unwelcome visitors. If you have a pond or watering trough for animals, stock it with carp or goldfish, who will happily eat midges and their larvae before they become a problem.