What’s This Non-Biting Mosquito-Looking Flying Bug In Minnesota?

Let's play out this scenario for posterity's sake. You're up at the lake this weekend with the family. Your kids come running up to you, bothered by a mosquito-looking bug that isn't biting them, but let's face it, it's a bug. So what kind of bug is bothering your kids Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota? The US Forest Service just posted your answer. Midges.

According to MSMosquito.org, the same place that the US Forest Service cited above, states that non-biting midges are:

Small flies that look like mosquitoes. While these insects do not pose a health threat, they can be a serious nuisance, particularly in communities adjacent to large aquatic habitats. Adult midges are short-lived and weak flyers. During peak emergence, massive swarms of these midges can cover houses, cars, and other structures. Homes and buildings with outside lighting will attract large numbers of nonbiting midges. To discourage the congregation of these insects, move lights away from areas such as doorways, windows, patios, etc. Replacing mercury vapor lights with yellow or sodium vapor lights will help reduce concentrations of these insects as well. Blacklight traps (bug zappers) will kill midges, but unfortunately, often attract more midges into the area than are killed.

You might know midges by another name altogether, as some people have called them blind mosquitos!

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The non-biting mosquito-looking bugs could also be two other types of insect, the crane fly or fungus gnat, but if you are out by the lake around dusk, it's mostly likely a midge that is bothering you or the kids.