Posted by Sean Di Ianni on October 8, 2007

Q: In the last week i have noticed swarms of flies that resemble male mosquitoes or possibly crane flies in fields and lawns. They are mostly in the grass, possibly feeding. I have never noticed so many of these insects before, they rise up from the grass when you walk through it. I am wondering if it has to do with the warm humid weather that we have been experiencing in the last few days. Can you explain this phenomenon? Are they likely to be male mosquitoes?

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: New Jersey

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: My guess is that you're seeing some kind of midges rather than mosquitoes. There are many different kinds of midges that live in North America - about 670 species. These animals are very mosquito-like in appearance, often occur in huge swarms, usually in the evening. The male midges have very feather-like antennae and if there are enough of them flying at one time actually make an audible hum. The larvae of midges are aquatic, the adults don't bite (of course male mosquitoes don't either) and their larvae are an especially important food for many aquatic animals. It's interesting to note too that for various environmental reasons, some years are much better for a given species of insect than another - my guess is that where you live conditions are just right for the insects you've been seeing. Hope this helps and thanks for writing.

John Wiessinger ( October 9, 2007)