What is Midge?
{{Taxobox | name = Midges | image = BitingMidge.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = A [[Ceratopogonidae|biting midge]] feeding on blood through an artificial membrane for insect rearing | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]] | subordo = [[Nematocera]] }} [[File:Ceratopogonidae midge sucking Sphodromantis blood IMG 3045ss.JPG|right|250px|thumb|A midge in the family Ceratopogonidae sitting on the leg joint of a feeding mantis and sucking its blood]] '''Midge''' is a common term for many types of small [[fly]]. They are all in a [[suborder]], the [[Nematocera]]. They are found on practically every land area except permanently dry [[deserts]] and the frozen zones. Some midges, such as many [[Phlebotominae]] ([[sand fly]]) and [[Simuliidae]] (black fly), are [[vector (biology)|vectors]] of various [[diseases]]. Others are prey items for [[insectivore]]s, such as various [[frogs]] and [[Hirundinidae|swallows]]. The [[highland]] midge of [[Scotland]] (''Culicoides impunctatus'') is present in huge numbers. It is a significant blood-sucking pest. It is found in upland and lowland areas ([[fens]], [[bogs]] and [[marsh]]es) especially in the north west of Scotland from late spring to late summer.<ref>Hendry, George. 2003. ''Midges in Scotland''. 4th ed, Mercat Press, Edinburgh. {{ISBN|1-84183-062-3}}</ref> The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family midges commonly have similar ecological roles. Examples of families which include midges are:<ref>Merritt R.W. & Cummins K.W. (eds) 1996. ''An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America''. Kendall/Hunt Publishing.</ref> * Blephariceridae, net-winged midges * Cecidomyiidae, gall midges * Ceratopogonidae, biting midges :also known as no-see-ums or punkies in [[North America]], and sandflies in [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-0