Answers (1)
The word "midge" simply refers to a group of many species of small (very small) flying insects. Most are harmless, some are not and carry infectious diseases.
Examples of families that include species of midges include:
Blephariceridae, net-winged midges
Cecidomyiidae, gall midges
Ceratopogonidae, biting midges
(also known as no-see-ums or punkies in North America, and sandflies in Australia)
Chaoboridae, phantom midges
Chironomidae, non-biting midges
(also known as muffleheads in the Great Lakes region of North America)
Deuterophlebiidae, mountain midges
Dixidae, meniscus midges
Scatopsidae, dung midges
Thaumaleidae, solitary midges
Mosquitoes are a different and separate family of small, midge-like flies: the Culicidae. Although a few species are harmless or even useful to humanity, the females of most species are ectoparasites whose tube-like mouthparts (called a proboscis) pierce the hosts' skin to suck the blood. The word "mosquito" (formed by mosca and diminutive ito) is from the Spanish or Portuguese for "little fly". There are thousands of species of mosquito.