How do biting midges differ from nonbiting midges?

Biting midges and nonbiting midges are distinct groups within the order Diptera.

Biting midges (family Ceratopogonidae) are small, bloodsucking insects approximately 1 mm long. They possess mouthparts adapted for piercing skin, which they use to feed on the blood of humans and other animals, often causing significant irritation.1

Nonbiting midges (family Chironomidae) are harmless flies that superficially resemble mosquitoes but lack the elongated, piercing mouthparts necessary for blood feeding. Unlike biting midges, they do not have scales on their bodies or wings, and their wing vein patterns differ from those of mosquitoes. Adult nonbiting midges are often observed in large, humming swarms near water, where they live only long enough to mate and lay eggs. Their aquatic larvae, often called bloodworms, are a vital food source for fish such as trout and salmon.23

While the two groups share the name "midge," they belong to different families and exhibit fundamentally different feeding behaviors and physical structures.12