Biting-midge
Guides
Allohelea johannseni
Allohelea johannseni is a species of predaceous midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, originally described as Monohelea johannseni by Wirth in 1953. The species belongs to a genus of small, predatory biting midges. It has been documented through limited observations, with only two records on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Alluaudomyia needhami
Alluaudomyia needhami is a species of predaceous midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Thomsen in 1935. The genus Alluaudomyia comprises small biting midges, many of which are predatory as adults or larvae. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only three records in iNaturalist. The species' biology and ecology remain poorly known.
Atrichopogon fusculus
Atrichopogon fusculus is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Coquillett in 1901 from the United States. The species has been recorded from multiple continents, including North America, South America, and Europe. Like other members of the genus Atrichopogon, it belongs to the subfamily Forcipomyiinae, which includes both biting and non-biting species. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Atrichopogon levis
grass punky
Atrichopogon levis, commonly known as the grass punky, is a biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. Larvae develop within grass stems, particularly bluegrass (Poa pratensis), feeding on plant juices. Adult females are aggressive blood-feeders on mammals, including humans, causing irritating bites. The complete life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 3–4 weeks under favorable conditions. The species is a significant nuisance pest in grassy areas and has been recorded from Hawaii.
Atrichopogon minutus
Atrichopogon minutus is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1830. Originally placed in the genus Ceratopogon, it was later transferred to Atrichopogon. The species belongs to the subfamily Forcipomyiinae, a group whose members are often associated with various ecological roles including pollination and parasitism. Records indicate presence in European and Atlantic island localities including the Azores.
Atrichopogon peregrinus
biting midge
Atrichopogon peregrinus is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. The specific epithet "peregrinus" (Latin for "wanderer" or "foreigner") suggests a potentially wide-ranging or introduced distribution, though detailed geographic records remain limited. As a member of the genus Atrichopogon, it belongs to a diverse group of small, blood-feeding flies commonly known as no-see-ums or punkies. The species was described by Johannsen in 1908, indicating it has been recognized in scientific literature for over a century, though comprehensive biological studies appear sparse.
Bezzia nobilis
Bezzia nobilis is a biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, widely considered one of the most common species in the genus Bezzia. It has a notably broad geographic distribution spanning Eurasia, North America, Central America, and South America. Adults are distinguished by black and yellow banded legs, while larvae and pupae have characteristic coloration and morphological features. The species is predatory, with larvae feeding on immobile prey including dead insects, bacteria, and protozoa.
Bezzia perplexa
Bezzia perplexa is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Dow and Turner in 1976. The genus Bezzia comprises non-blood-feeding ceratopogonids whose larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. As a member of the Palpomyiini tribe, this species shares characteristics with other predatory or detritivorous biting midges. Published records for this species are limited.
Bezzia varicolor
biting midge
Bezzia varicolor is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Coquillett in 1902. The species has been the subject of morphological study focusing on female-specific abdominal structures. Females possess distinctive eversible sacs attached to internal dorsal apodemes of the tergites. The function of these structures remains unresolved, though glandular activity has been ruled out by histological examination.
Ceratopogon
no-see-um, biting midge, punkie
Ceratopogon is a genus of biting midges (family Ceratopogonidae) first described by Meigen in 1803. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution, with species recorded across multiple continents. Members of this genus are minute flies, typically 1–3 mm in body length, and are part of the diverse Ceratopogonidae family that includes over 600 species in North America alone.
Clinohelea bimaculata
Bimaculata Group
Clinohelea bimaculata is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Loew in 1861. It belongs to a diverse family of tiny flies commonly known as no-see-ums, punkies, or biting midges. The species has been documented in North America, with photographic records from Kansas. Like other ceratopogonids, it is extremely small and presents significant challenges for observation and identification.
Culicoides
biting midges, no-see-ums
Culicoides is a genus of over 1,000 species of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. These tiny flies, measuring 1–3 mm in length, are significant vectors of animal pathogens including bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and Schmallenberg virus. Only females take blood meals, required for egg maturation, while both sexes feed on nectar. The genus has a fossil record extending to approximately 99 million years ago in Burmese amber.
Culicoides crepuscularis
Culicoides crepuscularis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Malloch in 1915. The species has been documented as a natural host for the filarial nematode Chandlerella quiscali, demonstrating vector competence for transmission to birds. Its specific epithet 'crepuscularis' suggests crepuscular (twilight) activity patterns, though this has not been explicitly confirmed in the available literature.
Culicoides villosipennis
Culicoides villosipennis is a species of biting midge described by Root and Hoffman in 1937. As a member of the genus Culicoides, it belongs to a group of small blood-feeding flies known for transmitting viral pathogens to livestock and wildlife. The species is placed in the subgenus Amossovia within the broader Culicoides classification. Published records for this species are limited, with few documented observations relative to more extensively studied congeners such as C. sonorensis and C. stellifer.
Forcipomyia bipunctata
Forcipomyia bipunctata is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1767. It occurs in Europe and North America, with distribution records also from the Azores (Faial, Pico, São Jorge, São Miguel, and Terceira islands). Like other members of its genus, it is a tiny fly, typically 1–3 millimeters in length. The specific epithet 'bipunctata' refers to two spots, likely a diagnostic marking pattern.
Forcipomyia bystraki
Forcipomyia bystraki is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Grogan & Wirth in 1975. The genus Forcipomyia includes species with diverse ecological roles, including pollinators of cacao trees and parasites of other insects. Males of Forcipomyia species are distinguished by their bushy, plumose antennae. Larval stages typically develop in moist environments, feeding on algae, plant debris, or fungi.
Forcipomyia fairfaxensis
Forcipomyia fairfaxensis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Wirth in 1951. It is placed in the subgenus Lasiohelea. The species has been documented bloodfeeding on frogs in Algonquin Park, Ontario. Like other Forcipomyia species, it possesses distinctive antennal and palpal sensilla that have been studied morphologically.
Forcipomyia fuliginosa
Forcipomyia fuliginosa is a biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. It exhibits ectoparasitic hemolymphophagy, feeding on the blood of insect larvae. The species has been documented as a pest of the tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta in India, where preferential landing and blood-feeding behavior on silkworm larvae threatens the sericulture industry. It is one of numerous Forcipomyia species, some of which are notable as pollinators of cacao.
Forcipomyia genualis
Forcipomyia genualis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. Like other members of the genus Forcipomyia, adults are minute flies, typically 1–3 mm in length. The genus includes species with diverse feeding habits: some females bite birds or mammals, others feed on the blood of large insects such as moths and dragonflies, and some are pollinators. Larvae develop in moist or decaying organic substrates, feeding on algae, plant debris, or fungi.
Forcipomyia glauca
Forcipomyia glauca is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Macfie in 1934. The genus Forcipomyia is notable for containing species that serve as specialized pollinators of cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), though the specific ecological role of F. glauca has not been individually documented. Adult females of many Forcipomyia species feed on blood or hemolymph, while males possess distinctive plumose antennae. The species has been recorded in Brazil.
Heteromyia fasciata
biting midge
Heteromyia fasciata is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. The species occurs in North America and belongs to the genus Heteromyia, which is classified within the tribe Heteromyiini. As with other ceratopogonids, adults are small, blood-feeding flies, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Heteromyia prattii
Heteromyia prattii is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Coquillett in 1902. It occurs in eastern North America. As a member of the tribe Heteromyiini, it belongs to a group of small, blood-feeding flies commonly known as no-see-ums or punkies.
Johannsenomyia annulicornis
Johannsenomyia annulicornis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Malloch in 1918. It belongs to the tribe Sphaeromiini within the subfamily Ceratopogoninae. The genus Johannsenomyia comprises small, delicate flies associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Leptoconops
black gnat, no-see-um
Leptoconops is a genus of biting midges (family Ceratopogonidae) commonly known as black gnats or no-see-ums. The genus has a relictual distribution with predominantly tropical and subtropical range, though some species extend to temperate regions including Russia and Canada. Adults are small blood-feeding insects; females are diurnal feeders on vertebrate blood. The genus represents one of the earliest existing lineages of biting midges, with fossil records dating to Cretaceous amber.
Leptoconops californiensis
Leptoconops californiensis is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Wirth & Atchley in 1973. It belongs to the subgenus Brachyconops within the genus Leptoconops. The species is known from California, USA. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a blood-feeding pest with aquatic or semi-aquatic immature stages, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Mallochohelea atripes
Mallochohelea atripes is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, originally described by Wirth in 1962. The species is currently recognized as a synonym of Anebomyia atripes, with the genus Mallochohelea having been synonymized under Anebomyia. As a member of the Ceratopogonidae, it belongs to a family of small, blood-feeding flies commonly known as no-see-ums or punkies.
Monohelea
Monohelea is a genus of predaceous biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution with records from the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, as well as other regions. Females are known predators of small insects, particularly chironomid midges. Immature stages are poorly documented in the Neotropics, though larvae have been found in sphagnum moss and bog-like habitats in other regions.
Palpomyia rufa
Palpomyia rufa is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Loew in 1861. The specific epithet "rufa" refers to reddish coloration. Ceratopogonidae are small, blood-sucking or predatory flies commonly known as no-see-ums or biting midges. Members of the genus Palpomyia are generally predatory as larvae.
Phaenobezzia opaca
Phaenobezzia opaca is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Loew in 1861. It belongs to the tribe Palpomyiini within the subfamily Ceratopogoninae. The genus Phaenobezzia comprises biting midges that are generally predatory or hematophagous as adults. Specific biological details for P. opaca remain poorly documented in available literature.
Probezzia albitibia
Probezzia albitibia is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Wirth in 1971. It is one of approximately 30 described species in the genus Probezzia, a group of small, blood-feeding or predatory flies. The species is documented from North America.
Probezzia pallida
Probezzia pallida is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Malloch in 1914. It belongs to the genus Probezzia, a group of small blood-feeding flies commonly known as no-see-ums or punkies. The species is part of the tribe Sphaeromiini within the subfamily Ceratopogoninae. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species.
Probezzia xanthogaster
Probezzia xanthogaster is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1917. The species belongs to the genus Probezzia, a group of small, blood-feeding flies within the tribe Sphaeromiini. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only two records in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Stilobezzia antennalis
Stilobezzia antennalis is a species of predaceous midge in the family Ceratopogonidae. Originally described as Ceratopogon antennalis by Coquillett in 1901, this species belongs to a genus of biting midges known for predatory feeding habits. It represents one of many species within the diverse Ceratopogonidae family, commonly known as no-see-ums or biting midges.
Stilobezzia sybleae
Stilobezzia sybleae is a species of predaceous biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Wirth in 1953. The genus Stilobezzia comprises small, predatory midges whose larvae and adults feed on other small invertebrates. The species epithet honors Syble, likely referring to a person significant to the describer.