Non-biting
Guides
Chironomidae
non-biting midges, chironomids, lake flies, bay flies, sand flies, muckleheads, muffleheads, Canadian soldiers, American soldiers, blind mosquitoes, chizzywinks, bloodworms (larval stage)
Chironomidae is a large family of non-biting midges with over 10,000 described species globally. Adults are frequently mistaken for mosquitoes due to their similar body shape, but they lack wing scales and piercing mouthparts. The family exhibits remarkable ecological versatility, with larvae inhabiting diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments from Antarctic glaciers to tropical lakes. Males possess distinctive plumose antennae. Larvae of some species contain hemoglobin analogs that produce bright red coloration, earning them the common name 'bloodworms.'
Clogmia
drain flies, moth flies, filter flies, bathroom flies
Clogmia is a genus of small, non-biting drain flies in the family Psychodidae. Adults are 3–5 mm long with fuzzy, moth-like appearance due to dense hairs on wings and body. The genus includes the cosmopolitan species C. albipunctata, commonly known as the filter fly or bathroom fly, which frequently inhabits human dwellings. These flies are primarily nuisance pests associated with moist, decaying organic matter. Larvae play a documented role in sewage treatment as decomposers.
Clogmia albipunctata
Bathroom Moth Fly, Drain Fly, Filter Fly, Bathroom Moth Midge, Sewer Gnat, Sink Fly
Clogmia albipunctata is a small, non-hematophagous moth fly in the family Psychodidae with worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions. Adults measure 2.2–2.5 mm in body length with distinctive broad, hairy wings marked by black spots near the middle and white spots along the edges. The species is strongly associated with human dwellings, particularly bathrooms and kitchens, where larvae develop in moist, decaying organic matter within drains. Adults are weak fliers that rarely move from walls and live approximately 12 days. Though historically reported as a myiasis agent, critical review of evidence finds no incontestable documentation of true parasitism; reported cases typically involve facultative infestation of pre-existing cavities with decaying material rather than tissue invasion.
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus
Hackberry Disc Gall Psyllid
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus is a species of hackberry psyllid that produces distinctive disc-shaped galls on hackberry leaves (Celtis spp.). Adults emerge in fall and seek shelter to overwinter, often becoming household nuisances when they congregate on building exteriors. The species is one of at least seven Pachypsylla species associated with hackberry in North America, each producing a characteristic gall morphology.
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peaceful stonian horsefly
Stonemyia tranquilla is a non-biting horsefly species in the family Tabanidae, notable for being one of the few tabanid flies that does not require blood meals for reproduction. The species reaches approximately 1.5 cm in length and is distinguished from its relatives by its non-hematophagous biology. It occurs primarily in northeastern North America, with scattered records extending south to North Carolina and west to the Midwest.