How To Get Rid Of Biting Midges

Midge Control: How to Get Rid of Midges

This page is an expert guide on getting rid of Midges using the products and methods suggested by our experienced pest control specialists. Follow this guide and we guarantee you will be successful in eliminating Midges from your home.

If you are noticing a flying insect around your home that resembles a mosquito, it may instead be a Midge. There are many species of midges, some a minor nuisance, while others can be more harmful. They are known by many names including punkies, sand flies, and no see ums.

Among the worst Midges are biting Midges. Biting Midges pierce into the skin of humans to suck blood that can cause irritation and allergic reactions.

Biting Midges thrive during the Spring and Summertime and can be a particularly large problem if you live near large bodies of water like near lakes, rivers, and beaches.

If you have a large infestation of these pests on your property, you must take action to stop the invasion. Follow the expert guide below to learn more about Midges and what products best control and prevent Midges on your property.

Identification

Before moving forward with pesticide applications, you need to first properly identify Midges so you know whether or not you're dealing with them. Misidentification can lead to choosing the wrong products for control, resulting in wasted time and money.

Midges bare a close resemblance to mosquitoes and are often mistaken for them.
Midge species are divided into two groups: biting midges, and non-biting midges
Non-biting midges range between 1/16 to 1/2 inch long. They have one pair of wings, long legs and males have feathered antennae.
Biting midges are considerably smaller at about an 1/8th of an inch long. They are gray in color and the female midges have saw-like mouthparts for biting. Males do not bite.
Midges have fragile bodies which are reddish-colored six legs and clear wings that have unique spots and patterns on them.
Male midges have antennae that are covered with little hairs giving it a bushy appearance.
Midge larvae are found in stagnant water and are known as "blood worms" for their red color.

Midge

Use the image and description above to help you to determine what Midges look like and if you have them. If you are not completely sure, contact us and we will try to assist with identification.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed that you are encountering Midges, you can then proceed with an inspection. You will need to pinpoint where the Midges are concentrated, and what could be attracting them to the area. This will also help you in determining where to focus your pesticide applications.

Where To Look

Midges like to gather around aquatic environments like marshes. Search areas around your home where there is a water body or accumulation of water. If you have an area where there is sand, wet mud, a pond, swimming pools, a slow-moving stream, or something similar, you may likely find Midges there.

Midge inspect

What To Look For

Look for areas where there are Midges are flying around. You can also look for Midge larvae and eggs that are usually laid near vegetation or a water source.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Midges and noted the hot spots where they are active, you can move forward with treatment.

Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

To get rid of Midges, we recommend spraying a mixture of Reclaim IT Insecticide and Tekko Pro IGR as a barrier treatment around your home perimeter and for spraying surfaces.

Outdoors, we recommend applying Flex 10-10 with an automatic misting system or mist blower to control Midges around yard trees, ponds, and ornamentals.

Step 1 - Remove Standing Water Sources

Before applying any insecticides, you need to first get rid of Midge breeding grounds. During this step, you will get rid of any standing water and fix any moisture issues around the home.

Remove any accumulated moisture outside and near your home, since these are prime areas Midges will reside. Discard all stagnant water from inside the house.

Remove water from birdbaths; cover the swimming pool with plastic sheets. Empty buckets of water and tires filled with stagnant water. Make sure all moisture is removed.

Your lawn soil should not be too damp. If it is, you need to address drainage issues in your yard. By eradicating all sources of water the midges will not be able to breed and it will help in curbing the population of the midges.

Step 1 - Outdoor Treatment with Reclaim IT and Tekko Pro IGR

Midge Barrier Treatment

Reclaim IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide concentrate labeled for controlling Midges and can remain effective for up to 90 days. Tekko Pro is an insect growth regulator (IGR) and works by disrupting the reproductive and development cycle so Midges are sterilized and not able to multiply their population.

This makes for a lethal combination that controls the Midge population while being safe to apply on turf and ornamentals.

Before applying the products, make sure you first calculate the square footage of your yard to determine how much product you need. You can do this by measuring the area length and width and multiplying the two values (length x width = square footage).

Mixing 1 oz. of Reclaim IT with 1 fl. oz. of Tekko Pro IGR with a gallon of water will treat 1,500 square feet.

Use a handpump gallon sprayer and go around the perimeter of your home to treat exterior walls, windows, light fixtures, doors and other areas where Midges have been seen resting. Spray your foundation 3 feet up and 3 feet out.

Continue to apply this application every 10 to 14 days until the population is under control.

Step 2 - Outdoor Misting Treatment with Flex 10-10

Fogging Flex 10-10 with a ULV Fogger

For Midges that are congregating outdoors, we recommend applying Flex 10-10. Flex 10-10 is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide and can be used both indoors and outdoors, but is excellent to use as an outdoor treatment for your yard ornamentals where midges commonly rest.

Flex 10-10 is specially formulated to be used in Automatic Misting Systems, mist blowers or other approved misting equipment. Under normal conditions, dilute between 3.2 fl. oz. to 6.4 fl. oz. of Flex 10-10 per gallon depending on the severity of the Midge infestation.

Disperse the Flex 10-10 misting solution out in your yard, spot treating mulch beds, flower beds, shrubs, ornamentals, garden areas, around trees and other areas, especially in areas where there is moist soil, and where standing water accumulates.

When applying around ponds or lakes, make sure the mist doesn't directly contact the water surface. After misting, make sure to keep out of the treated areas until the space has properly ventilated.

Prevention

Once you have used our professional treatment products to remove Midges, you will need to make sure the pests don't make a return. Here are some preventative measures we suggest:

Continue Addressing Stagnant Water Issues
Since midges require standing water to breed, address standing water and drain bird baths and other stagnant water areas. Trim back tree branches to reduce shades as well as rake, dethatch and aerate your lawn to promote air circulation in your soil.

Shielding the House from the Midges
Screen the windows and doors properly. Use mesh wire and other material to screen any openings near the plumbing pipes and electrical wires.
Use silicone foam to seal all the gaps, cracks and crevices to prevent midges from entering your home. Canopies and nets can be used over the bed to prevent the midges from biting while you are sleeping.

Taking Care of Outdoor Lighting
Use dim lights or remove them from nearby doors. Midges and other bugs are attracted to lights. Yellow sodium vapor lights are better suited for outdoors, to keep the midges away from your home.
Relocate lighting away from all entry point and keep them further away from the entrance. Tinted pink and orange color lights are also helpful.

Quarterly Reapplications of Reclaim IT and Tekko IGR
Applying Reclaim IT and Pivot 10 IGR applications will keep Midges away for up to 90 days so if you apply every three months you will get year-long control from not only Midges but a large number of other pests. These are just some of the natural remedies that can kill bird mites.

Since these are small insects, getting rid of them is harder. However, by keeping your house clean and blocking the entry points such as door and windows, you can prevent an infestation.

Key Takeaways

What are Midges?

Midges can be an irritating pest in yards and homes, especially if you leave close to bodies of water.
Midges are tiny and appear in swarms by the thousands near water and can cover your car, your house and your body in seconds.

How To Get Rid of Midges

To get rid of Midges, a combination of Reclaim IT and Pivot 10 IGR is highly recommended.
Apply the Reclaim IT/Tekko Pro 10 combination as a perimeter barrier around the home structure and on any surfaces, you have been seeing Midges rest.
Outdoors, apply Flex 10-10 using an Automatic misting system or a mist blower over shrubs, ornamentals, as well as around ponds or lakesides

Preventing Midge Reinfestation

Prevent the return of Midges by sealing up points of entry, addressing standing water issues where possible and reapplying Reclaim IT and Tekko Pro IGR quarterly.