How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Midge Bites at Home

Download Article

Board-certified allergist and immunologist Farah Khan, MD, offers the best ways to relieve itchy midge bites

Co-authored by Farah Khan, MD and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: September 22, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

Midge Bite Appearance

|

Treating Bites

|

Preventing Bites

|

Are bites dangerous?

|

More About Midges

Biting midges are very small flies (often confused for mosquitoes) that live near water and can leave painful, itchy bites behind. We spoke to medical and pest control experts to share how you can identify and treat midge bites, plus how to prevent getting them in the first place. We’ll also share more about the midge’s habitat and life cycle so you can understand and avoid this pest better.

What is the best treatment for midge bites?

Download Image

An infographic showing what midge bites look like and how to treat and prevent them.

Board-certified allergist and immunologist Farah Khan, MD, recommends antihistamine creams or chamomile oil to relieve itchy bites. She also advises not to scratch, which can worsen the irritation and lead to infection. Wear long sleeves, use bug spray with DEET or picaridin, and install fine mesh to keep midges away.

Section 1 of 5:

Identifying Midges and Their Bites

Download Article

1
Midge bites are typically small, red, raised bumps that form in groups. It’s rare you’ll only get one midge bite. Entomology and pest control expert Brandon Runyon says midges leave behind lots of bites.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert

Expert Interview} These tiny insects can swarm any area of exposed skin, leaving behind a cluster of small, red, raised bumps.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source

National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK

Go to source} The bites are often irritating or painful right away, but some people may not notice they’ve been bitten for several hours. The severity of the reaction depends on the person.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Runyon notes that people can have different reactions to midge bites. For example, they might swell up or get itchy on some people.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Brandon Runyon
  Entomology and Pest Control Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- People who share a habitat with midges may get desensitized to the bites over time, experiencing only mild reactions (or sometimes none).
- On the other hand, tourists and visitors who aren’t used to them can have severe reactions, with red, swollen bites that can be several centimeters wide.
- In some cases, the painful bites can also form blisters that may “weep” (ooze a clear or yellow-ish liquid) for days to weeks.
- Midge vs. mosquito bites: Mosquito bites leave behind single, red, swollen lumps with a puncture mark in the middle where they break the skin and become itchy later. Midge bites come in red clusters, have no puncture mark, and are often painful or itchy right away.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Farah Khan, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist specializing in skin conditions, asthma, and allergens affecting both adults and children.

Brandon Runyon is an entomologist and pest control expert. He has over 18 years of experience as a pest control professional.

Julia Eze, NP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 10 years of experience creating content around wellness and the advancement of nursing.

Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH, is a board-certified integrative medicine doctor with over 15 years of experience specializing in preventive health care.

Chris Parker is a pest control specialist with over 8 years of experience in sustainable, chemical-free pest management.
2
Midges themselves look like tiny brown flies, about the size of a pinhead. Midges are small, dark brown flies that only grow to be 1 to 3 millimeters long (that’s less than ⅛ of an inch).^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source} That’s why in the US, you’ll often hear them referred to as “no-see-ums.” Their wings are usually shorter than their bodies, and a female midge’s abdomen will expand and look reddish-brown as it feeds on blood.
- Male midges do not bite. Only females, who need protein from blood to develop their eggs, will bite a mammal.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- Midges are most easily seen when they swarm together in circles, especially around dawn and dusk. Swarms are largely made of males attracting mates and don’t necessarily mean you’ll be bitten (although there may be females in the area).
- Not all species of midge bite humans. In fact, most types of midge don’t!^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
- Unlike mosquitoes, midges don’t have a visible proboscis to suck blood with. Instead, they have sharp “teeth” that break the skin, causing painful bites.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Section 2 of 5:

Treating Midge Bites

Download Article

1
Anti-itch creams Board-certified family nurse practitioner Julia Eze, NP-C, explains that an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream is going to be “very good” for itchy bug bites.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Julia Eze, NP-C
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Interview} Dr. Khan also suggests antihistamines (which can be taken orally or applied as a cream).^{[10]
X
Expert Source

Farah Khan, MD
Board Certified Allergist & Immunologist

Expert Interview}
- Both hydrocortisone and antihistamines reduce itchiness, swelling, and redness, making them perfect OTC treatments for pesky midge bites.
“You can apply cool compresses to the area to help with the itchiness,” explains board-certified integrative medicine doctor Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH. She also warns against using heat for relief: “Avoid hot showers because even if they feel good at the time, they can make the bites much itchier afterwards because the heat releases the histamines that make you itchy.”^{[11]
X
Expert Source

Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
Board Certified Integrative Medicine Doctor

Expert Interview}
3
Topical home remedies “Aloe vera and witch hazel are also going to be good” for bug bites, Eze says. “Witch hazel is an astringent and has a cooling property, as does aloe vera. So, those are some really good over-the-counter options that could be helpful.”^{[12]
X
Expert Source

Julia Eze, NP-C
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Interview} Dr. Khan also recommends chamomile oil or a calming lotion.^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Farah Khan, MD
Board Certified Allergist & Immunologist

Expert Interview}
- Dr. Rudominer offers this soothing solution: “An aromatherapy blend of 5 drops of lavender essential oil, 3 drops of frankincense essential oil, and 2 drops of peppermint essential oil in 1 ounce of a carrier oil like almond or coconut oil applied to the bites can help with ich and can be soothing.”^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
  Board Certified Integrative Medicine Doctor
  
  Expert Interview}
4
No scratching “Don’t scratch,” warns Dr. Khan. “That’s the biggest thing. Otherwise, it just sort of perpetuates the itch.”^{[15]
X
Expert Source

Farah Khan, MD
Board Certified Allergist & Immunologist

Expert Interview} If you have children who have been bitten, try distracting them with games or other activities they enjoy to keep them from scratching and irritating their bites.
- Excessive scratching can break the skin and potentially lead to a secondary infection requiring an antiseptic cream or antibiotics.^{[16]
  X
  Research source} Keeping the skin around the bites clean can reduce the risk of additional irritation or infection.
- If you or your child cannot stop scratching and over-the-counter treatments don’t help, see your doctor for stronger alternatives.

Section 3 of 5:

Preventing Midge Bites

Download Article

1
Wear light-colored long sleeves and use bug spray in midge-friendly areas. “Wear longer sleeves and longer pants just to minimize the amount of skin that is exposed,” Dr. Khan recommends. She also suggests “wearing your bug spray” to keep unwanted insects like midges away.^{[17]
X
Expert Source

Farah Khan, MD
Board Certified Allergist & Immunologist

Expert Interview} For midges, insect repellents with diethyl toluamide (DEET) or picaridin are the most effective.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- Apply your bug spray evenly and directly to your skin (minus your face). To cover your face, spray it in your hands first, then rub it into your facial skin (avoiding the eyes and mouth).
- Where are midges most common? Biting midges breed and live near salt and fresh water habitats all over the world, and female may travel up to a mile seeking food.^{[19]
  X
  Research source} If you’re near water (especially around dawn or dusk), cover up!
Midges tend to bite the most around dawn and dusk, but can also bite throughout the night when the weather is calm. If the weather is overcast, they can also bite during the day (particularly on humid and calm days).^{[20]
X
Research source}
3
Consider installing fine mesh screens in your windows, doors, and tents. Typical window screens or mosquito netting may not be enough to keep ultra-tiny midges away since they can fit through the holes. Opt for fine mesh screens instead to confidently keep midges out of your home, porch, or camping tent.^{[21]
X
Research source}
- Pest control specialist Chris Parker also recommends that you “check all your window screens to make sure they’re not damaged and easily penetrable by a small insect. Make sure they’re all fitting properly. You can also apply a chemical deterrent around the screen so it's also a chemical barrier.”^{[22]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Chris Parker
  Pest Control Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
4
Eliminate standing water sources near your home. Parker, “Whenever I get calls about midges or mosquitoes, there’s a standing water source [nearby]. If someone wants a long term solution for a marshy area, things like French drains or a sump pump, which take moisture away from your home and drive it away, are typically your best bet for controlling something like that long term.”^{[23]
X
Expert Source

Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Also make sure to empty or consistently cover any water buckets, kiddie pools, pet bowls, or other sources of standing water in your yard to keep midges away.

Section 4 of 5:

Are midge bites dangerous?

Download Article

1
No; midge bites may itch and hurt, but they are very rarely dangerous. Biting midges are not known to transmit diseases to humans in the US (there are species that cause infections in humans in other areas, like South America, the Caribbean, and Africa, but these have not spread to North America). The itching and bumps you experience are actually an allergic reaction to their saliva, not a disease.^{[24]
X
Research source}
- However, midges do pose a threat to other mammals they bite, including livestock, deer, and horses. For example, they’re known to infect cattle with bluetongue virus in the western US.^{[25]
  X
  Research source}
A midge bite is not normally cause for concern, but symptoms like hives, major swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea, and vomiting can indicate a severe allergic reaction that requires medical attention. Similarly, an infection includes symptoms including warmness, swelling, fever, chills, pain, or red streaks or drainage around the bite.^{[26]
X
Trustworthy Source

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source}

Section 5 of 5:

Midge Habitat & Life Cycle

Download Article

Midges live in near water sources in warm, moist environments worldwide. Unfortunately, it can be tough to escape midges if you like to be by water! Runyon says midges are usually found near water and in warm, moist environments. For instance, you might encounter them near a lake, pond, or creek, or around damp soil.^{[27]
X
Expert Source

Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert

Expert Interview} They thrive in areas with lots of surface film, or the zone where air and surface water meet.^{[28]
X
Research source}
- Midge eggs are laid in standing water, and this is where larvae hatch and grow. Eggs often hatch within 24 hours after being laid.
- Non-biting midge larvae feed on algae and bacteria in the water, acting as a water filter. Biting midge larvae species venture deeper into open water and can eat fleas and other larvae, too. The larval stage lasts for about 2 weeks to several months (larvae may overwinter in mud or underwater before maturing).
- Once they mature, midges don’t often stray far from where they hatched. Adults swarm near the water, riverbanks, damp woodlands, or tall grasses where they were born.
- Most midge species only live for up to 10 days or so after their larval stage. Their entire life span can last anywhere from a month to a year, depending on the species, their habitat, and whether they overwinter as larvae or not.