Chironomid Midge ( Adult )

Description:

True flies: mosquitoes / gnats / midges. Order: Diptera ( flies ) Family: Chironomidae ( midges ) A midge, is a true fly. Other common names: Non-Biting Midges, Blind Mosquitoes, and Common Midges. Size: mostly 1 to 10 mm. Identification: Small, delicate flies, resembles mosquitoes, but do Not bite. Often "dance in the air in large swarms over water or lawns". At rest, characteristically hold there front legs, above head-height and extend forward, giving the illusion of elongate antennae, to the untrained eye. Range: Worldwide, from Antartica to the high Artic islands, but perhaps from some hot deserts. Season: Early spring through fall, in temperate areas. Food: Larvae mostly scavengers. Most Tanypodinae, prey on small invertebrates, including other Chironomidae. Larvae of a few species, are parasites of invertebrates. Adults, are short-lived, and do not need to feed. Many will take sugar water ( or honeydew ), given the opportunity. Lifecycle: Larvae are mostly aquatic filter feeders, often living in tubes in soft mud, some are leaf-miners of aquatic plants. Chironomidae ( informally known as Chironomids, or non-biting midges ), are a family of nematoceran flies, with a global distribution. Males are easily recognized, by there plumose antennae. Adults of many species, do in fact feed. The natural foods reported, include: fresh fly droppings, nectar, pollen and honeydew, and various sugar-rich materials. Larvae, are slender and worm-like. Adults, have only two wings. Adult midges, are relatively small, with narrow bodies and long legs. Like all flies, the Chironomidae, are holometabolous, and undergo metamorphosis, in there lifecycle. A midge, is a non-biting fly, with two wings. This insect, had six, very long jointed legs. This insect, had two antennae, and two, large, black eyes. This insect, had a long, slender body. It's long abdomen, was banded, with alternating colors, of black and gray. It had two, transparent wings. This insect was alive, and able to fly.

Habitat:

Usually damp areas, or near bodies of water. Larvae mostly aquatic, a few occur in decaying matter, under bark or in moist ground. Larvae of some species, tolerate seasonal desiccation. Midges can be found along the coast, shores and beds, of any body of water. Lakes and ponds, will often see huge congregations of them. I saw this small insect, resting on a concrete wall, on the outside of my house.

Notes:

I went outside at 7:00 a.m. in the morning. I saw this small insect, resting on a concrete wall, on the outside of my house. After looking on my computer for a while, I decided that this insect was a Midge. A midge, is a small, non-biting fly, with two wings. This insect, had six, very long, jointed legs. This insect, had two antennae, and two, large, black eyes. This insect, had a long, slender body. It's long abdomen, was banded, with alternating colors, of black and gray. It had two, transparent wings. This insect was alive, and able to fly.