It is midge season in Toronto, which means one might spot more and more clouds of the tiny, winged insects. These are non-biting midges from the family Chironomidae, often mistaken for mosquitoes.
There are more than 10,000 species of Chironomidae worldwide, and nearly 800 have been spotted in Canada, according to entomologists. Adult midges typically live only a few days to a few weeks, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Midge swarms are common near lakes and rivers, including Lake Ontario, where they emerge in spring and fall. They do not bite or transmit diseases, but their large numbers can be a nuisance.
