Ceratopogonidae: Biting Midges of Hawai'i II

Brief description

Ceratopogonidae (Order:Diptera) is a large family of small flies (1-3 mm in length) commonly referred to as "biting midges". There are over 4,000 species described within 78 genera worldwide. They are a widespread group, found in nearly every aquatic or semi-aquatic habitat. They feed on other insects, and the blood of mammals and other non-human animals. These pests are common around livestock, pets and other wildlife. Due to their blood-sucking habits, many are concerned that they may play a role in the transmission of disease agents. Biting midges from Asia, the South Pacific and Oceania are specifically of a great concern to Hawaii. They can be transported on plant material via boats and airplanes. Please help transcribe the UHIM's biting midges collection in order to better help us understand their distribution and impact in Hawai'i.This expedition of 484 tasks is fully transcribed and validated. This data resource is harvested periodically into the main occurrence index.