[Paddlewise] Midges

Order Diptera - Flies
Family Chironomidae - Midges
    Small, delicate, mosquito-like insects found almost everywhere.  Often 
occur in large swarms, usually in the evening, and the humming of the swarm 
is often audible for some distance.  Midge larvae are an important food item 
for freshwater fish and other aquatic animals.

Family Thaumaleidae - Solitary Midges 
    Five species, rather rare, found along streams in North America

Family Ceratopogonidae - Biting Midges, Punkies or No-see-ums
    Very small, serious pests because of their blood-sucking habits, 
particularly along the seashore o along the shores of rivers and lakes.  
Their small size is responsible for the name "no-see-ums" and thier bite is 
all out of proportion to their size.  Many species in this group attack other 
insects and suck their blood.  Most of the punkies that attack man belong to 
the genera Cuculoides and Leptoconops.  These insects apparently do not 
travel far from the place where the larvae occur, and one may often avoid 
punkie attacks by simply moving a few yards away.

Family Blephariceridae - Net-winged Midges
    Uncommon, long-legged, mosquito-like insects found near fast flowing 
streams.

Family Cecidomyiidae - Gall Midges or Gall Gnats
    The larvae of about two-thirds of the more than 1200 North American 
species cause galls on plants, most of the others are plant feeding.

Family Deuterophlebiidae - Mountain Midges
    Four species are known from the western North America (California to 
Alberta), larvae occur in swift mountain streams.

Family Dixidae - Dixid Midges
    Mosquito-like but do not bite, larvae aquatic.

Family Chaoboridae - Phantom Midges
    Similar to mosquitos but do not bite, sometimes abundant, frequently 
destroy large numbers of mosquito larvae.
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