THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands
An Identification Guide and Educational Resource

Most people don't speak well of the biting midges, also known as punkies or no-see-ums, as adults are small enough to pass through window screens to inflict a painful itchy bite. But if you like chocolate, it might be worth knowing that these little pests also help pollinate cacao plants (as well as rubber trees) as adults, and the larvae can be important predators in stream ecosystems.

Ceratopogonid larvae prefer standing or slow-moving waters and are commonly collected in wetlands; some are semi-aqautic and inhabit moist sand or mud. Larvae can be diverse, but the most commonly encountered types have a long, cylindrical, threadlike body with a distinct narrow head capsule; most lack prolegs. In the Northwest, the biting midges are represented by three subfamilies.