Midges, Midges, Everywhere

We're right on the verge of the dreaded blind mosquito season in Central Florida, and if you've never lived through the onslaught, gird your proverbial loins. These tiny terrors, also called aquatic midges, are common in areas like Mount Dora. Our beautiful fresh-water lakes and swampy areas are heaven

to midges, which lay their eggs in the water. When they hatch, midges look like mosquitoes -- but thankfully, they don't bite! However, they are a nuisance. Aquatic midges are drawn to light, so it's not uncommon to see garage lamps and windowsills literally covered with midge carcasses in the morning.

But besides their grossness, midges play an important and beneficial role in our area's ecology. They're a great source of food for fish and other aquatic life, and while they're in the larva stage, midges clean the water they're in by consuming the organic debris. That's awesome....but still, is there anything humans can do to make surviving the midge season easier?

The short answer is, as individuals, not much. Unfortunately, the midges emerge in numbers that we aren't going to be able to make a dent in through our own efforts. Towns and counties can work to improve lake water quality, stock fish that eat larvae and adult midges, and applying naturally derived insecticides in large areas. But if you want to try to limit the amount of dead-midge piles in your own domain, your options are limited. You can try to keep outdoor lights to a minimum during the season (some research suggests that midges are less attracted to LED lights than regular bulbs, so perhaps consider switching). You can also use the type of pesticide used for regular mosquitoes during heavy emergence periods. This insecticide can be sprayed around lighted areas and under eaves -- but be careful when applying. The goal is to prevent the liquid insecticide from entering our water system!

For more information and tips, check out these articles:

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/biology-and-control-of-non-biting-aquatic-midges

https://floridalake.com/solutions-for-aquatic-midges/

https://pondinformer.com/aquatic-midges-chironomidae/