Midges: description, types, how to get rid of them at home, where they live, what they eat, how dangerous they are to humans

Reasons for the appearance of midges in the house

Until you find out why these small insects appeared in your home, you will not be able to completely remove them.

Important! Start fighting midges as soon as you notice them. When there are a lot of them, it will be much more difficult to get rid of them.

The appearance of midges is associated with the following factors:

• With irregular cleaning of the trash can, delay in taking it out. The temperature and especially humidity in a garbage heap with organic waste is slightly higher than in the environment. The remains of vegetables rot, midges begin to multiply. They notice insects when they are already flying everywhere. Often, midge eggs are laid on the walls and bottom of the bucket, and if it is not washed periodically, the insects will also begin to actively reproduce.

In most cases, insects breed in rotting environments.

• With unwashed fruits and vegetables from the garden or store. Many people believe (and not without reason) that the harvest from their own garden is the best, without nitrates, etc. They don’t wash the fruits right away, they begin to spoil. As a result, midges appear. The same thing happens due to lack of time or simply laziness with vegetables and fruits purchased at the nearest market or store.

Dirty or spoiled fruit.

• With rotting of the roots of indoor plants. This happens when the latter are watered abundantly. Any soil that is not sterilized contains midge eggs. As soon as a nutrient medium appears, small parasites immediately begin to multiply.

Flower plants. Midges appear in pots due to excess moisture.

• With improper fertilization of house plants. Tea is often used for the latter. The midges love him very much.

They parasitize house plants, inhibiting their growth.

• With placing indoor plants on the balcony. Insects can come from the street. Therefore, if you have already placed pots of flowers there, check them as often as possible.

The presence of unkempt indoor plants.

• With irregular cleaning of the tray and the habitat of pets, especially rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs.

There is always organic matter there; if you don’t clean it out regularly, it rots.

• With improper care of the aquarium. Algae can also decompose. In addition, fish require moderately warm water.

These are ideal conditions for the appearance of rot, and therefore midges.

• With clogged water supply and sewer systems. First of all, with siphons for sinks and toilets. Residues of food settle at the bottom, and if not cleaned in a timely manner, they rot. The result is not difficult to predict.

Malfunction of the sewer system or other communications, leaking pipes.

Important! Don't be too scared of midges. They are, of course, unpleasant, but they do not bite humans, and they do not transmit pathogens of dangerous diseases. In general, unpleasant, but not dangerous.

Harm and danger

As soon as a midge appears in the house, you should immediately think about how to get rid of it. After all, in addition to being quite unpleasant, they also cause harm and pose a great danger to humans. Many insects also feed on human blood. Bite marks can later develop into a serious illness. The harm varies from person to person:

• Discomfort from the bite: the midge inserts its proboscis quite deep under the skin. This is fraught with itching, redness and swelling.
• Possible allergic reactions. They can manifest themselves with different external signs - fever, swelling, blister. The degree of manifestation depends solely on the characteristics of the person.
• Anaphylactic shock is a fairly serious reaction of the body to a bite, as death can occur within 60–90 minutes.
• The possibility of contracting a serious disease - hepatitis C, encephalitis, tularemia and many others.

Therefore, if irritation appears on the skin after a bite, it is worth treating the area with antihistamines, and possibly ingesting them. If all else fails, you should consult a doctor.

Types of midges

Midges seem the same, but in fact there are many types of them. The species most commonly encountered by humans are sciarids, fruit flies and butterflies.

Sciarides are soil insects that are found almost everywhere. Once they appear on indoor plants they can easily be destroyed. They mainly affect the root system and young seedlings. Body length 1.5 to 4 mm. The color of the integument is light gray in young animals and black in adults. The female lays up to 300 eggs in a clutch. The larvae are vermiform, 3 to 5 mm long, with a gnawing mouthpart.

Fungus gnat, midge, sciarid are the names of the same insect, some species of which pose a danger to home flowers.

Drosophila (winter gnats) are a type of fruit gnat. They prefer to live on rotting berries and fruits. Size no more than 4 mm. The color can be dark yellow, orange, brown and black. There are up to 80 eggs in a clutch. They begin to mate after development is complete. The larvae are white, about 3-4 mm long. Life expectancy is about a month.

They got their name because they are attracted to the smell of wine that comes from rotting fruit.

Sewer flies (butterflies) feel good not only in the bathroom, but also in the bathroom, especially if cleaning there is rare. The harm to a person is purely aesthetic. There are no confirmed reports of infections or bites. Size no more than 5 mm. Color ranges from light gray to brownish. The clutch consists of several dozen eggs. They are deposited wherever there is decomposing waste. They fly very poorly and over a short distance.

Butterflies are sewer midges that look like moths or small mosquitoes.

Midges are also distinguished by habitat. There are fruit, sewer, onion, indoor, basement, etc.

Important! Insect larvae are noticeable only at an early stage of formation. Then they actually merge with the fruit and are almost invisible. Therefore, even if at first glance there are no larvae, all purchased products should be thoroughly washed and, in addition, scalded with boiling water.

Types of house midges, their differences and habitats

The food supply for small annoying insects that live in houses and apartments may be different, although they themselves are similar in appearance. Midges in an apartment look like a smaller copy of a fly or a very small mosquito with wings; they also belong to the class of insects (insecta), the order Diptera. The body length is 2–10 mm, there are three pairs of legs and one pair of wings.

Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a species of the fruit fly family. Other names are fruit or wine midge , fruit fly . The body length is 2–4 mm. The color is red-yellowish, brown.

Butterflies are small flies whose body length reaches 1–4 mm. Externally they look like very small night moths. The body is covered with light brown fluff, and a pair of wings are covered with gray fibers. Other names for these insects are sewer flies or drain midges .

Sciarids or detritnits are small insects that belong to the family Sciaridae, the genera Sciara, Licoriella and Bradisia. Other names are leaf gnats , soil gnats or fungus gnats . The length of the graceful dark-colored body of Sciara ranges from 2 to 7 mm.

Drosophila feed on plant debris and fruit juice, so they are more often found in the kitchen, where they swarm over food waste. Sewer midges fly near the sink and drain hole in the bathroom. Sciarides usually climb around indoor plants, sit on flower pots, window sills, and window frames.

On balcony and indoor flowers you can find leafhoppers - representatives of the order Coleoptera, family Cicadellidae. These are larger insects than fruit flies and fungus gnats. The body length in the shape of the Latin letter V reaches 1 cm. The color is light gray, yellow, greenish. Adult leafhoppers can fly around the room, and at one stage of development they do not have wings and jump high near food plants.

The described species of house midges do not include true mosquitoes and flies; they are much larger. Screens on windows usually trap these insects, but are often useless against the smallest representatives of dipterans.

Reproduction

Life cycle of the fruit fly Drosophila.

Like the entire Diptera family, they go through their life cycle in four phases:

• Egg.
• Larva.
• Doll.
• Imago (adult).

Moreover, all 4 phases are the same; the differences lie only in the timing of insect maturation, from eggs to adults.

To verify this, you need to consider each variety separately.

Drosophila

Its development cycle begins with the laying of eggs. To do this, the female chooses half-decomposed fruits or other products. Midge eggs, larvae and pupae are adapted to live in an aquatic environment. They have a special float chamber that helps keep them on the surface. One female is capable of laying about 400 eggs. Within 24 hours they transform into larvae. And by the end of the fifth day, it enters the pupal stage. After 5 days, a young Drosophila emerges from them, which in 8 hours will be a sexually mature individual.

Drosophila (appearance)

Whitefly

Its cycle consists of 6 stages.

Life cycle of a whitefly

• In the first stage, females lay eggs on the upper leaves of the plant. The duration of this phase ranges from 11 to 22 days.
• At the second stage, midge larvae emerge from the eggs, which are brown or black in color. At this time, they behave quite mobile, feeding on the juice of the leaves. The duration of this stage can be either 7 or 11 days.
• By the beginning of the third stage, the larvae become motionless. This continues for about 5-7 days, while their size increases.
• By the fourth stage they become even larger, but they are still motionless. This stage can be the longest, from 7 to 130 days. Its color and shape remain the same.
• At the fifth stage, they turn into a motionless pupa. It is 2 mm long and oval in shape, while the color of the pupa is the same, black or brown. The duration of this stage ranges from 7 to 34 days.
• At the last stage of development, the pupa turns into an adult, with a body length of 2 to 3 mm.

Sciarides

Sciarida

Reproduction of sciarids begins with the laying of eggs; the female does this in groups of 250 pieces. For them, she chooses moist soil or semi-decomposed wood. After 5-6 days, they become larvae, which actively feed within 2 weeks and turn into pupae. They stay in this stage for 4-5 days, after which they turn into adults.

Miracle Drosophila Fly

Midges - description, structure and characteristics

The body length of midges varies from 1.2 to 6 mm. The smallest species live in the tropics, the largest are common in the northern temperate and subpolar latitudes.

There are 3 main sections in the structure of midges: head, chest and abdomen. The rounded head of females has a wide forehead; in males it is narrower. The antennae of midges consist of 11 (sometimes 9 or 10) segments; they are very thin, rope-like and covered with short hairs. The color of the antennae varies from dark yellow and brownish to dark gray and black. The antennae of females are thicker and shorter than those of males, and also have a slight flattening and taper towards the end.

The eyes of the midge are faceted, in males they usually touch along the frontal seam, in females they are separated by the forehead. Horizontally, the eyes of males are divided into a larger upper part, where the large facets are located, and a smaller lower part, where the small facets are located. In females, all facets are the same size, and their number exceeds the number of facets in males. Additional simple eyes are not developed in midges.

Photo by: nadia. Taken from the site: diptera.info

The chest of insects is strongly convex. Hairs grow on the back, and there may also be various spots of dark or silver color. The color and shape of the spots vary among different species of midges.

The abdomen of midges is oval-shaped, slightly pointed towards the end and consists of 11 segments. The dorsal part of the first segment protrudes upward and backward, forming a kind of collar covered with a brush of long hairs.

Midges have well-developed halteres, which are club-shaped. The halteres are paired appendages of the thoracic segments of insects; in midges they are located on the metathorax and are modified wings. During flight, they help the insect maintain balance, vibrate and make a characteristic sound. That's why insects buzz. The stalk of the haltere in midges is of medium length, at the end of the club there is a slight impression. The color of the halteres varies from white-yellow, yellowish and ocher to brown and black. The club is usually lighter than the stalk. In addition, males have darker and brighter halteres than females.

Photo by: nadia. Taken from the site: diptera.info

The wings of midges are wide, round-oval, transparent, with longitudinal venation, length from 1.4 to 6 mm. The surface of the wings is covered with small tubercles. When at rest, the wings fold horizontally, covering one another.

Photo by: nadia. Taken from the site: diptera.info

The oral appendages of midges consist of palps and a complex proboscis of the piercing-sucking type. The proboscis is short and thick, it consists of an upper lip and epipharynx, hypopharynx, 2 mandibles (upper jaws), 2 maxillae (lower jaws) and a lower lip. The upper lip, mandibles and maxillae of blood-sucking females have teeth of the tearing-cutting type. In males and females that do not drink blood (for example, Prosimulium alpestre), the teeth are replaced by hairs. The maxillary palps consist of 4-5 segments; on the third segment a special sensory organ is developed that performs sensory functions. The palps are used by midges to orient themselves on the body of a person or animal when choosing a place for an injection. The upper lip also has the same functions, but first of all it serves to pierce the skin of the victim. After the bite, the wound is sawed off at the ends of the mandibles, which move from top to bottom. Maxillae, when immersed in the wound, tear the tissues and walls of the victim’s blood vessels. Next, the midge immerses the upper lip, epipharynx and hypopharynx into the wound and drinks blood. In the hypopharynx there is a channel through which saliva enters the wound, preventing blood clotting. The lower lip has a sensitive function and is used for licking. Like other bloodsuckers, midges pass water and liquid carbohydrate food through the esophagus into the crop, and blood flows directly into the midgut.

Midges have 3 pairs of fairly powerful limbs, each consisting of a coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and a five-segmented tarsus. The paws of midges are equipped with claws: in males, at their base there is a wide cup-shaped tooth, in females the claws can be simple (short or long) or also have a tooth (large or small). Most often, the limbs of midges are black, although in some varieties individual segments of the legs may be yellowish or brown in color or covered with silvery spots. The coloring, pubescence and shape of the limbs depend on the type of midge.

Midge under a microscope. Photo credit: United States Department of Agriculture, Public Domain.

What do midges eat?

The eating preferences of insects also differ depending on the species. At the same time, midge larvae are characterized by particular gluttony, which is due to their accelerated rate of development.

Sciarides feed on organic decompositions in the soil, as well as root shoots of plants. The favorite foods of fruit flies are overripe or rotting fruits and some types of vegetables. Whitefly larvae prefer to feed on plant sap.

Adult midges do not eat, but live off the supply of nutritional components that they made at the larval stage.

Why do midges appear on seedlings?

The main reason for the appearance of insects is excessive soil moisture. This especially often happens on a cold windowsill in the absence of air circulation. Stagnant cold air and densely sown seedlings always only aggravate the situation. Wet, cold soil is an ideal place for midges to lay eggs. A little later, larvae develop from the eggs, which cause harm to the plants, readily feeding on the roots.

Insects can be introduced with purchased soil. Moreover, this is often noticed only when the insects have noticeably multiplied. And everything happened because the soil was not disinfected before planting.

Another reason is the use of infusions of liquid organic fertilizers prepared independently for feeding seedlings.

It is also impossible not to mention the presence of indoor plants on which midges have already settled. Insects quickly move to young shoots, and then lay their eggs in the soil underneath, from which larvae later emerge.

Circumstances of occurrence of insects

It’s just that midges will never appear in the house. They are usually attracted to dirty fruits and vegetables. There are usually larvae on the fruits, and when the food begins to rot, they become active. Insects have a short life, but if suitable conditions are created, their number quickly increases.

Midges manage to lay a huge number of eggs per day

Causes of unwanted midges:

1. If the garbage in the house is not taken out for a long time, this may be the reason why midges appear in the apartment. They feed on food scraps in the garbage container. Small midges in an apartment are often located on the trash can itself, so it is necessary to constantly clean it.
2. If you have pets at home and their cage or tray is not cleaned regularly, this will also cause midges to appear in the room.
3. Insects appear due to stagnant water in an aquarium or terrarium.
4. Midges are often bred in indoor plants. Their favorite place is flower pots, the soil in which has been fertilized with tea leaves. If the soil of the flowers is too wet, then unwanted insects will quickly appear there.
5. If the kitchen is kept clean, but insects still appear, then you need to check the sewer system. Perhaps there is household waste there that has begun to rot and thus attracted midges.

This is interesting: how to get rid of midges in indoor flowers

Unwanted guests usually appear on decomposing products. And if you remove the potential cause of insects, you can get rid of midges.

Types of midges

Often the food type of midges predominates in the kitchen. They are attracted to waste or food. Typically the insects are black or burgundy in color. It is very easy to deal with them: you need to clean frequently and make sure that there are no spoiled foods in the house.

Another type of midge is the body midge. They start on stale things and are more difficult to get rid of. To remove small midges, you need to use special plates that will repel the midges. The most effective scent is lavender. To kill insects in your home, you can use dried hazel leaves. If there are places in the room where high humidity is noticed, for example in the bathroom, kitchen or bathhouse, then there is a high probability of water flies appearing here. Constantly ventilating the room will help remove unwanted guests.

Lifespan

The lifespan of midges largely depends on living conditions. Outdoors, larvae of this type of pest can appear when the air temperature warms up to +16 degrees.

Accordingly, the question arises at what temperature midges die. Adults, as well as their larvae, cannot tolerate low temperatures: if they come into contact with snow or ice outside, they can simply die. Therefore, small pests try to survive the cold season in a person’s home, settling in a trash bin or on a windowsill. Their life expectancy during this period increases to 50 days.

The easiest way to get rid of adult fruit flies and their larvae is to create unfavorable conditions for their habitat. First of all, it is necessary to remove, which can be a rotten fruit or vegetable. After all, knowing how long midges live without food, and how long they can live in starvation conditions for only a few days, getting rid of a swarm of midges using this method is quite quick and easy. If there is an excessive accumulation of insects, you can use pesticides, from which the insects will die en masse.

The lifespan of the midge, which pretty much begins to bother vacationers every summer, averages about a month. Insert it into the jar. This should be done with the tip down. This way, it will be easy for fruit flies to climb into the jar, but they will never get back out. Find the place where they are most concentrated. How long do fruit flies live? This is where they feel best.

Place traps in other places where they may accumulate.

However, strong winds and other weather factors significantly shorten their life outdoors.

20 days is the answer to the question of how long midges live on the street. It’s quite easy for them to find something to eat in garbage dumps.

Approximately 20 days. The most common place where they live is in vineyard plantations, because no one will fight the influx of such insects over vast areas.

The life cycle of a midge consists of laying and maturing eggs - this occurs under water and lasts about two weeks. The larvae and pupae of some species of midges use other aquatic arthropods, such as crabs and mayfly larvae, as a substrate. The second similar formation is located on the thoracic “leg” and serves to crawl along the substrate. In this case, most of the time the larvae are attached to the substrate (stones, aquatic plants, debris) by a special formation - a posterior attachment organ, consisting of many rows of hooks.

Place the jar in a visible place or near the insects' habitat.

Sometimes insects can live in a container that contains some kind of chemical, such as a paint can.

One fly lives in a warm room for a month, but their numbers can grow exponentially.

The midge, although small, is a rather unpleasant insect. How long do midges live in the kitchen? 35-45 days. Such a long period of residence is explained by a sufficient amount of food and a warm, well-lit room. How long do midges live in a trash can? Small colonies can live there for up to four months. Usually the larvae turn into full-fledged fruit midges in the early morning, so a lot of them accumulate in the first half of the day. Towards evening, the activity of annoying insects gradually fades away.

The most favorable habitat for midges is our apartments.

How long do midges live indoors when they have nothing to eat?

Even with short-term contact with snow and ice, the midge dies.

THUNDER 2…sprinkle a little soil in the pot, loosen it and water it…. Don't put vegetables in cabinets. Take inventory of your refrigerator and pantries regularly. Rinse your trash can even if you use bags. Wait for the fruit flies to fly and close the bag quickly. Take it to an outdoor trash container. Plastic bag. Take one garbage bag. Open it up as much as possible and place a few slices of fruit in the middle.

Sometimes even the smallest creature can cause a lot of trouble. In the modern world, there are more than 4,000 species and 78 genera of small midges. About 200 species are common in Russia, and only four of them feed on the blood of mammals.

flower midge

What do these little insects do, what harm do they cause, and what is their life expectancy? How much trouble the midge brings to humans and animals. Of the wide variety of complaints about midges, the following can be distinguished:

• their bites are very painful;
• spoil home and garden plants;
• can serve as a carrier of infection;
• in large quantities they get into the nose, ears, eyes.

How to get rid of midges in an apartment

The arrival of spring always sets the mood for a change of wardrobe, a carefree vacation and the imminent opening of the beach season. But along with the first rays, many insects wake up, which always strive to spoil the vivid impressions of summer days.

Some of the most unpleasant insects include midges, whose bites are much more painful than those from mosquitoes. The painful itching develops into severe swelling. Midges are more dangerous for people with allergies. In addition, midges are carriers of dangerous diseases.

Having settled in an apartment, these small flies begin to multiply in a matter of minutes and become quite annoying to all residents. Since midges reproduce very quickly, when two insects appear, after a short period of time there will be a whole swarm in the apartment. This happens because midges reproduce rapidly.

But what causes the most trouble is their accumulation in the kitchen. Then you can forget about being comfortable in the room. Insects always try to get into food, crawling on food, thereby causing discomfort to the hostess. And then the question begins to torment: midges in the apartment - where do they come from and how to get rid of them? Nervous tension and deterioration in well-being appear.

Development

Only a few dipterans require 10 to 12 days to complete the full development cycle. There are insects that reproduce only once during the year. The number of eggs laid may also vary.

Diptera

There are known midges that bear future offspring inside themselves, and when they are born, they immediately turn into a pupa. Another curious form of development has been discovered in some insect species. This is pedogenesis or the appearance of offspring in individuals who have not reached sexual maturity.

For example, we can take gall midges: a female can lay only 4 or 5 eggs, from which larvae will then hatch. In each of them, another 5 or 30 daughter larvae develop, which will then reproduce in the same way. At the same time, they use their mother for food. After several cycles they become pupae and then adults. Thus, development occurs without mating.

The same phenomenon was noted in several other dipterans. The female laid unfertilized eggs, which produced only female individuals. During the development of all dipterans, a phenomenon such as a rapid increase in numbers in a short period of time is often observed. And if this factor is not restrained, then the number of individuals can reach astronomical figures.

What if there are midges in the sink?

If you suspect that midges have infested your sink, it’s worth checking first. The technique is very simple - seal the drain hole with tape or regular cling film, again smeared with honey. If after an hour insects were found on the surface, then the suspicions were confirmed.

Getting rid of this problem is very simple - you need to pour a boiling soap solution into the drain. After this, the walls are also cleaned from accumulated fat with a special brush. You can also use store-bought powders like “Mole” or gel-like products, for example, Tiret.

It is better not to let the sink reach this state.

Top 3 best products

Among the most popular options are the following:

• Gardex products. There are personal protection compositions on sale, as well as those that are used to get rid of various types of insects.

• Reid enjoys well-deserved popularity. The products have various forms of release - plates, liquid, spray. After the product is activated, the midges disappear within 8-10 minutes.

• Mosquitall is distinguished by a clear gradation, which applies not only to specific insects, but also to the conditions under which it will be used.

Cultivation of soil in pots

If midges have infested flower pots, and you are not sure that the indoor plant will survive replanting, you need to use the previous traps and ways to repel midges, and also start cultivating the soil. There are several solutions that will help with this:

• garlic - rub the garlic head and pour boiling water (0.5 liters) and leave for 2-4 hours. The soil is watered with this solution and the plant is also sprayed. The remaining pulp can be buried to the roots;
• soapy - you need to grate a quarter of the laundry soap, dissolve it in a liter of water, spray the plant once a week;

• sulfur - four matches are stuck into the ground with the head down, replaced every other day. The plant must be watered after each replacement of matches;
• antiparasitic - any antiparasitic product purchased at a veterinary store will do. Dilute according to the instructions in a dosage suitable for puppies and water the plant.

If the plant is able to survive transplantation, then it is better to acquire new land.

How to prevent insolent guests from returning?

Following simple hygiene rules will help avoid the return of annoying guests:

• take out the trash once a day or more often;
• do not leave open food on the table - it is better to transfer it to a closed container or simply cover it with a microwave hood;
• do not leave dirty dishes in the sink;
• Conduct a thorough wet cleaning of the kitchen weekly;
• Water the plants in moderation and remove fallen leaves immediately. The soil can be covered with sand or pebbles to prevent the appearance of midges;
• Clean your pet's bowl and cage regularly;
• check vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator daily for freshness, remove rotten ones;
• Wipe any drops or puddles that have formed immediately.

Hygiene is the main prevention of the appearance of midges in the apartment.

Varieties

You don't need to be a biologist to know that individuals of each species may have external differences, according to which they are divided into subspecies.

The insects in question have their own varieties.

Different hereditary forms of the Drosophila fly

Drosophila are:

• Black Drosophila.
• Fruit Drosophila.
• Flightless Drosophila.

Whitefly happens:

• Greenhouse whitefly.

  
  Whiteflies

• Citrus whitefly.
• Strawberry whitefly.
• Cabbage whitefly.
• Tobacco whitefly.

Sciarids are also divided into subspecies:

• Licoriella.
• Bradysia.

These two species can most often be found in Russia, where 96 subspecies of these insects have been recorded.

How to get rid of small midges in the house?

How to deal with small annoying creatures? There are quite a few ways to get rid of an apartment or house from small but big “interference”.

Forced hunger strike

Human housing attracts insects because the owners “willingly” share food even with unpleasant neighbors, and also create ideal conditions for their existence. What is the most desirable thing for midges in the house? This is dampness, the smell of fruit, fermentation or rotting. These are the ideal conditions because these are the places to lay eggs.

The first task of the owners is to deprive midges of such foci, since getting rid of insects, but not eliminating ideal conditions for them, will lead to the fact that midges will reappear in the home in the near future. Therefore, first of all, you need to get rid of:

• all spoiled or uneaten fruits;
• leftover food in feeders and trays of pets;
• wet, undried sponges, rags, napkins and mops;
• contaminated water in aquariums, as algae may begin to rot in it;
• habits of accumulating waste, especially wet household waste;
• fears that plants will certainly die without abundant watering, since an emergency is more likely to occur for another reason - due to diseases or “albino” pests.

To ensure the absence of flying “nuisance” in the future, you need to stop watering indoor plants with tea leaves, or water remaining after washing the meat. Instead of this “dangerous” organic matter, it is better to use real fertilizers that will not cause guests to “come”.

What to do with midges in flowers?

How to get rid of small midges in the house if they are in pots with plants? In this case, it is recommended to use sharp aromas, which are “not to the liking” of many flying “irritants”.

They don't like the smell of geranium, they are afraid of tomatoes, they are afraid of garlic and horseradish. To combat midges, vegetables are cut into thin slices and then placed in pots. However, this method of control is controversial, because midges settle on spoiled spicy vegetables no less readily.

To ensure that the threat is eliminated, the soil must be protected. Several means are used as emergency measures:

• ground pepper, which is scattered on the surface of the soil;
• matches, they are stuck with sulfur heads into the soil;
• orange peels on top;
• tobacco, which is sprinkled on the substrate.

However, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is considered the most effective. It is dissolved in water in such quantities that the liquid acquires a pale pink color. Then the flowers with the “settlers” are watered with this solution. If it was not possible to get rid of the midges the first time, then the operation is repeated, but the next watering is possible only after 2 days.

If there are a lot of pests, then it is better to replace the top part of the soil with a new layer, but this is only a half-measure. The best option would be to transplant the plants into soil calcined in the oven. It is recommended to wash the roots of flowers before changing their place of residence.

To prevent reoccupation, a good drainage system must be installed. Reducing the amount of water for irrigation remains the main condition. To prevent water from stagnating, the soil must be loosened regularly.

How to get rid of small midges in the kitchen?

Midges that have infested in a room where there are no indoor plants, as a rule, are the most annoying and cause maximum inconvenience. The reasons for this invasion are products that are freely available. Therefore, you must first eliminate all potentially attractive objects. Typically, “cleaning against midges” is done like this:

1. Remove everything from the table that could attract small insects. These are containers from yoghurts, juices, cups of unfinished tea or coffee, used tea bags.
2. All kitchen working “tools” are disinfected and dried - sponges, rags, napkins, containers for storing them, etc.
3. Clean the sink (sink) and siphon; it is better to disconnect the last element. Flush the pipes.
4. The garbage from the bucket is thrown into the trash, the container itself is thoroughly washed and wiped.

After all the “goodies” for the midges have been removed, they move on to the second stage - removing the flying nuisance itself. The first option is repellent scents. The midge does not like the smells of cloves, basil and eucalyptus, so it is given unbearable living conditions:

1. Pour a glass of water into a small container, place it on the fire and bring to a boil. Then add 5 grams of cloves to boiling water, which is boiled for several hours, adding water regularly.
2. Camphor oil is heated in a frying pan. Then the dishes are carried throughout the house, stopping for a long time in places captured by the “enemy.”
3. Light the aroma lamp with eucalyptus for 2 or 3 hours.

After completing the work, do a wet cleaning, and then all rooms are well ventilated. Not only kitchens are attractive to midges, but also rooms with similar conditions - bathrooms or washrooms. But other types of insects already live there. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of “wet” rooms, appliances and pipes, and ensure good ventilation or regular ventilation of small rooms.

All about midges, mosquitoes and flies. What do they eat? Where do they live? What do they look like?

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Flying insect parasites: which of them drinks human blood, and why are they dangerous?

Flying insects are small and annoying creatures. Some species are a serious nuisance to people in homes, gardens and outdoors. These arthropods can not only ruin your mood, but also harm human health. In this article, the reader will learn about the types of midges, their main features, which will help develop the right attitude towards flying pests.

Insects in the air: a real nuisance in life and everyday life

Arthropods are one of the oldest inhabitants of the planet - these creatures appeared long before dinosaurs, outlived these giants and lived to this day. Their evolutionary adaptability made it possible to survive serious climate disasters, asteroid falls and other disasters that destroyed almost the entire biosphere of the Earth. By studying the characteristics and habits of these animals, scientists are exploring the history of ancient eras: insects inherited everything from their chitinous body to the nuances of reproduction and development from their ancestors who lived hundreds of millions of years ago.

Among arthropods, there are many species that are considered pests in human life. And if in modern, technologically advanced times, many ways to combat them have been created, then in the early centuries these parasites destroyed crops, caused epidemics, and caused the death of millions of people around the world.

Flying insects are considered one of the most harmful, creating problems in the lives of ordinary people. Many of them settle in human dwellings and feed on human blood, which creates certain health risks.

Among the most famous pests are:

These species have their own characteristics; These parasites will be discussed in more detail below.

Characteristics of mosquitoes

They were alive and well on Earth 100-150 million years ago, their fossils were found in rocks of the Cretaceous period. They are distributed throughout the world, living on all continents except Antarctica. In the conditions of the Arctic and permafrost, they live and reproduce quite successfully, uniting in huge flocks.

They belong to the Diptera family; there are now at least 3,000 species. There are about 100 species of mosquitoes across the vast territory of Russia.

Climate directly affects their characteristics and ability to survive.

1. In regions with warm weather, parasites remain active throughout the year.
2. In areas with a temperate climate, bloodsuckers can hibernate and wait out cold weather for several months. They are active during the warm season: from May to October; if spring is early, they awaken in April.
3. In the permafrost conditions of Arctic latitudes, they are active for less than a month, but during these weeks individuals reproduce very intensively. Their eggs are extremely resistant to low temperatures and can survive even under a layer of ice and snow.

They are found both in human dwellings and in nature (usually in wetlands). They like to winter in basements and buildings for livestock.

Arthropods have one thing in common - the need for water sources and a humid climate. Water is needed for mosquito breeding: females lay eggs on the water surface, on plants above water or in moist soil. Precise olfactory organs allow you to find the best place to lay. One female lays eggs every 2-3 days, laying up to 150 eggs at a time. The number of eggs depends on the satiety of the mosquito and the amount of blood consumed.

The larvae hatch very quickly and receive their first nutrition by eating plant particles and plankton. The speed of transformation into a flying insect is fast: usually it is 3-7 days, but sometimes it can take to the air within 24 hours.

The adult specimen is small in size - the squeak mosquito is only 5-7 millimeters long. It has several pairs of long thin legs and translucent wings.

At normal temperatures, the pest lives a little more than 40 days, but if it gets cooler (10-15 degrees Celsius), the mosquito can live about 100 days.

Attention! The lifespan of females is indicated; males live half as long.

Hunting and feeding process

Typically, only females need blood - they need this nutrient fluid to create offspring. Males eat vegetable juices, do not know how to bite a person, their oral apparatus is designed differently.

Bloodsuckers find a donor by smell - for this, the animal has 72 receptors that do not fail under normal conditions. They find a victim using a whole range of sensations:

• carbon dioxide that a person or animal exhales;
• the smell of sweat (lactic acid in its composition);
• body heat;
• movement;
• reflections of light.

Considering the size of their body, parasites move in the air quite quickly, reaching speeds of up to 5-7 km/h.

The female's oral apparatus is a proboscis, a sheath that is formed by elongated lips. It contains “teeth”: thin needles-stings, with the help of which bloodsuckers pierce the skin.

Arthropods eat blood:

• predominantly warm-blooded;
• some are cold-blooded;
• invertebrates (confirmed by recent research).

The process of hunting and the bite itself occurs according to the following scheme:

1. The pest, guided by its olfactory receptors, determines the location of the future victim and sits on it.
2. Having secured itself, the individual plunges the sting deep into the skin and injects its saliva into the puncture site.

   Attention! Saliva contains anticoagulants, which prevent blood from clotting, and antihistamines, which cause itching and redness.

3. If there is no interference, blood suction lasts about 3 minutes: the parasite inflates and darkens from the volume of food received. Once fed, the mosquito “disconnects” and flies away.

The main danger of these living creatures lies precisely in their bites. During the puncture, they inject saliva, which may contain pathogenic bacteria. You can find out more about this in the article: “Flying parasites: what harm can blood-sucking insects cause?”

Types of harmful mosquitoes

Among the many varieties of these arthropods, most are not dangerous to humans. Harmless species feed on nectars, vegetable and plant juices. For obvious reasons, they do not particularly attract the attention of people, unlike their blood-sucking counterparts. On the territory of Russia there are 3 dangerous varieties:

• common squeaker;
• biting mosquito;
• malaria mosquito.

Their main features will be described below.

Common squeak mosquito

They are the most numerous and widespread in Russia. It is this species that most often annoys people in the city, countryside or in the wild.

It appeared on the planet just over 40 million years ago and is highly adaptable in urban agglomeration conditions. Small in size - up to 7 mm, females can live quite a long time - up to 4 months, provided there is a suitable temperature.

It feeds on the blood of humans and animals, biting intensely and regularly laying eggs. If in nature arthropods lay eggs near bodies of water, then in anthropogenic conditions any vessel with accumulated water can be a suitable place:

• puddles, other artificial reservoir;
• jar, container, tire or other container.

Attention! Bloodsuckers are not interested in cleanliness: the larva is able to develop normally even in contaminated water.

Eggs laid on the surface of a reservoir gradually sink under water; Depending on the temperature of the liquid, a full-fledged mosquito is formed in 1-80 days.

Pests are quite sensitive to light, so they prefer to be in darkened spaces; the ideal time for activity is evening and night. They feed quite often - every 10 hours, which makes them very annoying neighbors, and together with the nasty squeaking and unpleasant bites - unbearable.

Several characteristic features of squeakers can be identified:

• the ability to create the first offspring almost immediately, without prior blood intake;
• the opportunity to be active throughout the year in apartment buildings: the presence of moisture, suitable temperature and general ventilation communications allows them to leave offspring and visit different apartments;
• adaptation to urban conditions: squeakers have reduced the volume of their squeaks (compared to forest mosquitoes) so as not to attract unnecessary attention.

Attention! They are carriers of diseases; in Russian conditions, most often - urticaria, eczema.

mosquito biter

It is also a blood-sucking parasite, distinguished by its special coloring, namely the presence of white stripes on the body and legs. They are found less frequently in Russia, preferring warmer southern territories. This is explained by the origin of the parasite: it was imported from Southeast Asia.

The motley individual is 2-10 mm in size, the length depends on the conditions in which the larva developed. Prefers to live close to humans in cities and villages. The presence of water is also important for insects; they can live even in areas with very poor vegetation.

Only females suck blood; males are not capable of this; they are 20% smaller in size than females.

For the Russian and European regions, the color of the kusaka is considered unique, although in its homeland in Asia this variety is easily confused with other species also black and white.

It is a carrier of various pathogenic diseases and viruses, although this is more typical for individuals living in southern countries.

Malaria mosquito

Despite the fact that this species prefers to live in tropical climates, it poses a certain danger to Russians. Firstly, it is found in the Far East, and secondly, many people are now traveling to the southern countries where this species lives.

This parasite is famous for its ability to transmit malarial plasmodia and many other viruses and bacteria that threaten fevers and other complications.

In Russia and Europe, outbreaks of diseases occurred, but of an episodic nature. The climate of the southern regions of the Russian Federation, including the Far East, is favorable for the life of these arthropods. Epidemics of malaria do not occur only because of the climate, greater cleanliness and sanitary protection of the inhabitants of Russia.

Individuals are not much different from ordinary mosquitoes; average size 7-10 mm, gray-brown color.

Attention! These bloodsuckers need clean water to reproduce.

The optimal temperature for activity is 25-27 degrees Celsius.

There are several differences between a malaria mosquito and a regular one, which are difficult for a non-specialist to notice. For example, the most typical:

• these individuals have much longer legs;
• while sitting, the body is located at a steep angle relative to the plane, the back part is raised. The body of an ordinary squeaker is almost parallel to the wall on which the arthropod sits;
• if the squeaker simply lands on the victim, then the malaria mosquito seems to dance in front of the donor before landing.

Despite these minor differences, it is recommended that you learn to recognize the difference between these bloodsuckers to better protect your health.

flies

These creatures are known to almost every person. There are many varieties of flies (there are more than 3,500 species worldwide), although only a few live in the Russian climate. Of those considered pests, two types can be distinguished:

• ordinary room;
• autumn burner.

House flies

These are synanthropic insects that are practically never found in the wild - they are accustomed to parasitizing humans. They are distinguished by omnivorousness, fertility and importunity.

The body is up to 2 cm long, there are two wings, 3 pairs of legs, a large head with a characteristic mouthparts similar to a proboscis. The paws are equipped with sticky pads, thanks to which the arthropod can move along any horizontal and vertical surfaces. You can notice how often insects rub their paws against each other - this is how they clean their pads.

Quite large eyes give them the opportunity to survey the entire space around them, easily focus their vision, highlight interesting details and dangers. The structure of the eyes helps to achieve this - they are equipped with thousands of small hexagonal facets.

Pests also have a well-developed sense of smell: antennae-receptors allow them to notice even the most subtle echoes of aromas and find their sources.

The female lays eggs within 2 days after fertilization. She lays eggs in food scraps and garbage with rotting organic matter. The clutch is usually 140-150 eggs. The larva hatches after 20-25 hours, grows intensively for 7-15 days and grows into a flying individual. The lifespan of one animal is about 60 days.

Flies, being omnivorous creatures, feed with the help of their proboscis, soaking solid food before absorption. They love sweets and sugar very much. Garbage waste is the most accessible source of food for them.

This is the main danger of these pests. Despite the fact that houseflies do not parasitize humans, they can cause significant harm by spreading pathogens. By picking them up in the places where they land, the parasites spread them on their paws.

In medical practice, there are many cases where these flying pests have become the cause of infection with a dangerous disease. The risk is especially high for young children.

Attention! The fly is an object of scientific research due to its amazing immunity - this is how scientists want to find protection against many dangerous diseases.

Autumn flies and horse flies

They bite, and they do it very painfully. These insects are true flies that can live in the wild. Being bloodsuckers, they prefer to live where there are large animals, such as livestock. They are sensitive to light and prefer to hide in the shadows. They will not be found, like ordinary flies, on tables or chairs; the flies will rather be located under them.

It reaches 7 mm in length, the body is gray with darker spots on the abdomen and stripes on the chest.

Bloodsuckers love warm and even hot weather, because at this time the larvae mature quickly. The largest population of insects is formed in the fall, at which time they become especially active.

Females lay eggs in manure, rotting plants, and sometimes in open wounds on the body of people and animals, which threatens complications and the entry of harmful microbes into the body. During its life, one zhigalka makes seven clutches of 100 white eggs. All metamorphoses of this fly’s maturation occur quickly, and the speed depends on the ambient temperature:

• 16 degrees Celsius - an adult (imago) grows in 20 days;
• 26 degrees Celsius – the adult grows in 14 days;
• 35 degrees Celsius - an adult grows in 6 days.

Already 120 minutes after emerging from the pupa, the zhigalka begins an active life; after about a week it begins to reproduce and lay eggs.

They feed on the blood of animals and humans, this is the main danger.

1. The bite is very painful and causes a burning sensation.
2. Parasites carry diseases. If a fly first bites a person or animal infected with any disease (including typhus, sepsis, ulcers, etc.), during the next bite there is a high probability of transmitting the pathogen to a new victim.

   Attention! Depending on the disease, the likelihood of transmitting a microbe or virus is high during the first 4-5 days after the bite of an infected person.

3. The raids of a flock of these bloodsuckers harm the human economy. When many livestock attack cattle, the animal can lose up to 300 grams. mass per day. This accordingly affects the milk yield and fat content of the resulting product.

The peculiarity of persistent horse flies lies in their name - during a bite they become defenseless, apparently they are so immersed in sensations that they do not see anything around them. Their bites are also very painful, partly due to the large size of the individuals. Horseflies reach 2.5 cm in length.

Together with these insects, one can distinguish the gadflies - they also bite, although they do this not to obtain food, but in order to lay their eggs under the skin. It is believed that adult gadflies do not require food at all. They bite people rarely, but accurately: the consequences of the activity of the larvae under human skin are very serious, sometimes it comes to amputation of limbs or removal of part of the skin.

Malicious midges

There are a great variety of these small creatures: there are about 4,000 species of midges around the world, about 200 of which live in Russia. Some of these insects can be harmful to human health and house plants.

1. Blood-sucking midges bite much more painfully than mosquito bites. This is due to the fact that these animals do not puncture the skin, but simply tear off microscopic pieces of the skin.

   Small in length, rarely reaching 5 mm, there are several pairs of legs and a small proboscis. They unite in flocks and are part of the vile population. They appear in a person’s home for several reasons, mainly due to unsanitary conditions in the kitchen, the presence of old or rotting garbage.

   The reproductive process is similar: females look for ponds or containers with this liquid in which they lay eggs. Under natural conditions, this is a group process: midges create densely populated colonies of up to 200 larvae per 1 square meter. cm. The adult appears in about 2 weeks.

   These diurnal insects love fairly bright light and warm weather. Only females consume blood; during their aggressive bite they inject an anesthetic, and the bite itself goes unnoticed by humans, but consequences soon arise:

   • redness in the middle of a small wound;

   swelling soon occurs;

2. the place begins to itch very much, a burning sensation and pain arise.

Midge saliva contains toxic substances; in some cases, symptoms of poisoning may occur:

• increased body temperature;
• increased heart rate;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• various rashes.

In addition, biting midges can carry pathogens, including the most dangerous ones: plague, leprosy, anthrax, etc.

The main reasons for the appearance of small arthropods in the house:

• unsanitary conditions in the house;
• dirty vegetables and fruits not purchased in stores with specialized storage facilities;
• through ventilation ducts from neighbors (in apartment buildings);
• indoor plants, especially those affected by diseases.

Sciarids lay larvae in the soil - this can lead to the rapid death of the plant. The larvae, tiny white worms, start by feeding on dead parts of your home plantings, but once they reach the roots, the pests will begin to eat them. This is a nutritious food for arthropods: they will mature quickly and lay more eggs. As a result, the plant may not be able to withstand such parasite activity.

Attention! Fungus gnats are also dangerous because they can infect all the plantings in the house: flying from place to place, the pests carry fungal diseases and lay new eggs.

Flying insects are small creatures, but very harmful. They have fertility and high adaptability on their side; The small size of these parasites can create a false sense of insignificance of the threats they pose. The information in this article will help you look at blood-sucking pests objectively and see all the risks they pose.

Chemicals for insect control

On store shelves you can find a huge range of products to combat midges. When choosing one of them, you need to pay attention to the instructions for use and how safe it is for humans.

There are many options that differ in the method of application, and everyone can choose the most convenient option for themselves.

Aerosols

Such as "Gardex", "Dichlorvos" and "Raptor". This product is in the form of a spray, which is sprayed indoors. Instructions for use are the same for all:

1. Before using the product, you need to prepare the room. Place all food in the refrigerator or put it in cabinets with tightly closing doors. Hide clothes, toys, cover tables with cloth.
2. Make sure there are no people or animals in the house.
3. Close all windows and doors.
4. Spray the product in all corners of the rooms. You need to start from the back room and end at the front door, so that you can immediately go outside.
5. Leave the room closed for a long time. The required period is indicated in the instructions for use.
6. After the time has passed, open the windows and ventilate all rooms.
7. Carry out general cleaning. After exposure to chemicals, midges will lie on the floor, furniture and other horizontal surfaces. They need to be collected and immediately taken outside. Because after a few hours the insects come to life again.
8. After complete ventilation, you can stay indoors.

Fumigators

They are a plastic device with a heating element. When heated, insecticides are released - substances that destroy insects. For the fumigator to work, it must be connected to the network. There are two types of insecticides:

• Lamellar. A plate is inserted into the device, which, when heated, releases the necessary substances. One plate can protect against insects for no more than 10 hours. If the plate has lost its color and turned completely white, it means it is no longer suitable for use.
• Liquid. This liquid is in a closed container, which is screwed to the bottom of the fumigator. One bottle is enough for one month of work. When the device is plugged in, the insecticide instantly begins to evaporate.

Light traps

This is a universal trap for all types of insects. Represents lamps with ultraviolet light. Used only at night.

Insects fly into bright light, fly up to the lamp and are shocked. Since no chemicals are released during use, such traps are completely safe for humans and animals. However, they cannot be used during the daytime. And during an electrical discharge, a characteristic sound is produced that can interfere with comfortable sleep.

Repellents

Devices that are a housing into which a plate containing a chemical substance is inserted. This device is convenient to use. It is enough to hang it in places where midges accumulate, and the product begins to repel and remove them from the room en masse. Repellents can be used in any enclosed area. This could be a basement, garage, attic. After use, it is necessary to ventilate the room. Before purchasing, read the instructions for use. The released chemicals can be dangerous to humans.

Traditional methods

Since midges have been bothering people for a very long time, there are plenty of home-grown ways to get rid of this scourge. At the same time, of course, the most annoying individuals are considered to be fruit flies that have settled in the kitchen.

Vacuum cleaner

This method is suitable if a place where insects accumulate is found that is similar to the bait (for example, a trap in the form of a bag with rotten fruits and vegetables). At full power, harmful insects are sucked into the vacuum cleaner, after which the container is cleaned away from the house.

It is convenient to use a vacuum cleaner to clean areas where midges accumulate.

Smoking

An excellent option for getting rid of midges, especially if there are children in the house. This method is based on the fact that insects cannot stand strong odors.

Instructions:

1. Grind a piece of camphor.
2. Place in a hot pan or roasting pan.
3. After the steam appears, we smoke the whole house.

Instead of camphor, you can use verbena or clove oil.

Clove oil is one of the life-saving remedies against the dominance of midges

And for those who combine the fight with prevention, we can advise growing tomatoes on the windowsill. If there are few midges, it is enough to spread the leaves of bird cherry and basil near the place where they are located.

Water

This method is suitable for eliminating sewer midges. We direct a strong stream of water under the sink, adding any of the means to remove blockages (Mole, Floop, Mister Muscle, etc.). The disadvantage of this method is that you have to remove water from the floor.

It is convenient for owners of private houses to use water to get rid of midges - there is no risk of flooding neighbors

Traditional methods

You can use traditional methods to combat midges.

These include:

1. Vacuum cleaner . With its help, you can get rid of midges; to do this, you need to turn it on at full power and direct the suction tube to places where insects accumulate. It is recommended to clean the container or bag away from the house so that they do not return.
2. Smoking out midges is another method of control that has proven itself. To do this, we need a piece of camphor (a white crystalline substance used as a medicine), which must be crushed and placed on a roasting pan. As soon as steam appears, you will need to take a brazier and walk around the home. House flies hate it, but it is safe for humans and pets.
3. Homemade traps . Can be made from a plastic cup or jar. To begin with, place pieces of sweet fruit on the bottom or pour in a little juice, wrap the top of the neck with cling film and make several holes through which insects will penetrate. We leave it overnight, and in the morning you will be surprised how many midges have got there.

Currently reading: Flower midges

Preventing the appearance of house flies

Getting rid of insects is not as easy as getting these small pests as guests. It is necessary to follow simple rules of prevention so that such trouble does not happen again.

1. Systematically do general cleaning in the house (including sorting out cereals, folding clothes in closets). Regular high-quality cleaning will not give flies a chance to carry out their aggressive plans for your home
2. Store food in the refrigerator.
3. Wash store-bought vegetables and fruits thoroughly with hot water (this will kill the midge eggs).
4. Take out the trash and throw away spoiled food in a timely manner, and do not forget to wash the waste bin.
5. Clean the drain regularly and avoid excess moisture.
6. Properly care for indoor plants.
7. It is known that in a house where there is a strong smell, midges usually do not appear. So it’s worth getting a variety of essential oils that are poured into an aroma lamp, or at least pine cones, spreading them around the house.

At first glance, it seems that these small dipterous insects cannot cause much harm, but in fact they can cause big problems. We are talking not only about disgust, but also about the danger that their cohabitation with a person provokes. Excessive activity of house flies must be fought to the bitter end. To protect yourself from midge bites in nature, you must use products that repel insects from your body. Only in this case will it be possible to talk about our peaceful coexistence with them.

Sources

• https://severdv.ru/sovety/vidy-moshkary-i-sposoby-ee-vyvedeniya/
• https://safari-34.ru/borba-s-nasekomymi/gde-obitayut-lichinki-moshek.html
• https://WikiParazit.ru/babochki-i-moshki/moshki-v-dome.html
• https://kursi-floristiki.ru/vrediteli-drugoe/kak-izbavitsya-ot-moshek-v-kvartire.html
• https://J.Etagi.com/ps/kak-izbavitsya-ot-moshek-v-kvartire/
• https://remontkit.ru/poleznye-sovety/moshki-v-kvartire-kak-izbavitsja.html
• https://dom-i-remont.info/posts/obshhie-voprosy/kak-izbavitsya-ot-melkih-moshek-v-dome-sposoby-vojny-s-razdrazhitelyami/
• https://zoolog.guru/drugaya-poleznaya-informacia/kak-izbavitsya-ot-moshek.html

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Midges and protection against it

To reduce midge populations in their natural habitat, streams and swamps are drained, forests are carefully cleared, and banks along water bodies are cleared. To protect livestock from midge bites, livestock complexes or summer grazing pens are located away from wetlands and low-lying areas. During periods of excessively high activity of midge flights, it is advisable to keep animals indoors by installing mosquito nets on windows and doors. The walls of the room can be treated with insecticidal preparations such as Bytex, Actellik, Metathion, Difos. Ear tags for animals impregnated with Alletethrin, Resmethrin and similar drugs have a good effect.

To protect themselves from midge bites, people have to look for more and more new solutions. It is quite possible to protect yourself from the attacks of these annoying, annoying, and sometimes dangerous blood-sucking insects, if you take into account some nuances:

• do not rest near bodies of water, the banks of which are overgrown with lush vegetation;
• during the period of midge summer activation, try to wear clothes of not too light colors, covering the body as much as possible;
• avoid long stays in swampy lowlands and damp, shady forests;
• Staying near livestock farms usually risks being attacked by a swarm of midges - exclude such places from your list of stops for a picnic or a country walk.

In order to protect yourself from attacking midges, you should use protective measures such as repellents or fumigants.

• Repellents are midge-repellent substances in the form of sprays, ointments and various strong-smelling lotions, manufactured industrially or homemade (based on folk recipes). They are applied to exposed areas of the body, blocking the olfactory receptors of midges.
• Fumigants have a completely different principle of action: they contain toxic substances that cause the death of midges.

Folk remedies for midges

• Infuse ordinary vegetable oil (preferably refined) for 2-3 weeks in a dark and cool place on clove buds, wormwood leaves, parsley, tobacco, eucalyptus, fir branches, vanilla pods or anise seeds. Then the oil should be filtered and, if necessary, lubricated with it on areas of the body;
• You can make an ointment based on baby cream or regular Vaseline, including crushed lavender leaves, bird cherry inflorescences, basil, rosemary, crushed garlic or finely grated lemon zest;
• Place walnut shells (about 250 g) in 500 ml of alcohol diluted to 30-35 degrees or in half a liter of vodka, add 10-15 drops of camphor oil or 30-40 drops of peppermint oil. After a couple of days, this tincture can be used by lubricating the skin with a swab dipped in liquid.
• you can simply smear the exposed areas of the body with vanilla, which is sold in bags. The smell of vanilla repels midges.

Factory-made midge repellents

• Mosquitall ointment – ​​contains vanilla extract and diethyltoluamide, has a repellent effect on midges, the effect lasts 8-9 hours;
• Aerosol Help - the product can be applied to both skin and clothing. Valid for 6-8 hours. Not recommended for use by children under 12 years of age, as well as pregnant and lactating women;
• Aerosol Gardex is a product based on ethyl alcohol and diethyltuolamide. The period of protective action is 4.5-6 hours.

Before using these products, be sure to test for allergic reactions: apply a minimal amount of the drug to your wrist and observe whether the skin in this area turns red or begins to itch.

Fumigators against midges

Fumigators against midges are divided into pyrotechnic and electric. In the first, a spiral smolders and smokes, impregnated with substances toxic to midges. Fumigators of the second type work by heating an element on which a plate impregnated with a substance poisonous to midges is placed. Another option for a fumigator is an element that connects to an outlet, to which a bottle of toxic liquid is attached. Among the most current fumigators are devices from the brands Raid, Mosquitall, Fumitox.