Bluetongue
Guides
Ceratopogonidae
biting midges, no-see-ums, sand flies, punkies, midgies
Ceratopogonidae is a family of minute flies in the order Diptera, commonly known as biting midges, no-see-ums, or punkies. Adults range from 1–6 mm in length, with most species between 1–3 mm. The family contains over 5,000 described species distributed worldwide except Antarctica and the Arctic. While many species feed on the blood of vertebrates including humans and livestock, the majority feed on the hemolymph of other insects. Several species serve as important pollinators of tropical crops, notably cacao.
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.