: any of a family (Ceratopogonidae) of tiny biting dipteran flies of which some are vectors of filarial worms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebDeer populations will decrease due to EHD in late summer and early fall when biting midge activity is at its peak. Gabriela Miranda, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2021 Pound for pound, the no-see-um, or biting midge, may be the worst of the lot. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2020 With hundreds of horse deaths reported there in the last 3 weeks, horse owners are rushing to seal their animals indoors with netting, away from biting midges that spread the virus for African horse sickness (AHS). Christa Lesté-lasserre, Science | AAAS, 16 Apr. 2020 It is transmitted through black flies, sand flies and biting midges, although scientists don’t completely understand its transmission process, the news release said. Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2019 The viral disease is transmitted by insects — black flies, sand flies and biting midges. Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, 5 July 2019 The disease is spread by biting midges and other tiny biting insects. Grant Robinson, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2017 See More
Word History
First Known Use
1945, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
biting midge
noun
: any of a large family (Ceratopogonidae) of tiny long-legged dipteran flies that have piercing mouthparts, attack birds and various mammals including humans, and include various vectors of filarial worms