474 



OTHER BLOOD-SUCKING FLIES 



resemlilo niosquitoes except for the absence of tlie long proboscis, 

 and the dancing flocks of these insects which can be seen over 

 pools or swamps on any summer day are usually taken for mos- 

 quitoes without question. As expressed by Riley and Joliann- 

 sen, " these midges, especially in spring or autunm, are often seen 

 in immense swarms arising like smoke over swamps, and pro- 

 ducing a humming noise which can be licard for a considerable 

 distance." In such swamps the larvae, most of wliich are aquatic 

 and live in the mud or amid aquatic vegetation, may be scooped 

 up, hterally by the shovelful. Fortunately the great majority 

 of these insects are quite harmless, in fact, inasmuch as the 

 larva^ are an important food for young fishes, they are distinctly 

 beneficial. The blood-sucking species belong to the subfamily 



Fin. 210. Life history of blood-sucking midge, Culicoides: A. aihilt male (T. 

 relirulalus), X "); B, eggs (C. Tnnrium), X IS; C, larva (C. reliculatus). x 5; />. 

 pupa (C. marium), x 10. (After Lutz.) 



Ceratopogonina^ and are very small; only the females -aw known 

 to suck blood. The}' an^ well known to hunters and anglers and 

 other frequenters of the woods in most parts of the world. In 

 America they are usually called " gnats " or " punkies " and in 

 the West are known as " no-see-ums," on account of their v(>ry 

 small size. 



These insects (Fig. 210) can usually be distinguished from 

 allied insects by the peculiar venation of the wings, the first two 

 veins l)eing very heavy while the olhei-s are indistinct. Though 

 the bodies, and sometimes to a slight degree the wings, are more 

 or less hairy the scales so characteristic of mo.scjuitoes are ab- 

 sent. The proboscis is nexci- long even in the blood-suck(>rs, 

 and f)ne is led to marvel at tlie irritation which can be inflicteil 

 by such a small insect with such a small organ. I'sually midges 



