Ceratopogonidae

Biological Overview

Habitat
Damp humid environments

Diet
Plant nectar for energy and females blood or bodily fluids

Role in Ecosystem
The major food source for birds and other insects

Behavior
Female midges gather protein and males perform ‘dances’ for females to mate.

Human Impact

They take blood; the females feed on the animals including humans. The bites are itchy, which can cause severe skin reactions and they can transfer human diseases.

Creative Exploration

A strict love for blood,
But a notion for never enough,
Those who don’t understand,
Swat you with a shoe or the palm of their hand,
So tiny and small,
But thinking oh so tall,
Blood lusting parasite,
Senile from your bite,
Tranquil is the lake,
Where you hatch and take flight,
Boasting through night,
Ignorance is bliss,
Kalopsia might be this,
You’re just a smidge,
But to me, you’re more than a midge.

Emily Duarte, Addilyn Karshner, Abby Xon Reyes

Book 6