Knowledgebase

What are these insects? #926348

Asked March 19, 2026, 8:12 PM EDT

These insects have been swarming and landing on nearly every surface. Can you please give me information on them. Thank you.

Kent County Maryland

Expert Response

They're a type of midge (in the fly order), but we can't ID them to species without a microscope, and there are over a hundred midge species in Maryland. Some insects like these can emerge quite early in spring, and most fly larvae breed in sources of moisture, such as vernal woodland pools, brackish marshes, ponds, etc. They are a great source of food for birds, frogs/toads, and other wildlife. If the midges are accumulating near sources of night light (like a porch light or lamp post), turning it off can avoid attracting them to congregate nearby, but other than potentially being a nuisance, they likely aren't hurting anything.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 20, 2026, 11:10 AM EDT
Many thanks!

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 20, 2026, at 11:10 AM, Ask Extension wrote:


The Question Asker Replied March 20, 2026, 2:10 PM EDT
You're welcome!
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 20, 2026, 2:16 PM EDT

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