CLEVELAND — Midges are back in full force along Lake Erie.

What You Need To Know

  • Midges are swarming around Cleveland and other cities along Lake Erie

  • Experts say that midges play an important role in the environment serving as a food source and an indication of healthy water

  • Using LED lights and spraying scents including lavender and peppermint oil can help keep the bugs away from homes. 

The insects have been seen on backdoors, at parks, and even at Progressive Field during Cleveland Guardians’ games. 

Mayim Hamblen is a naturalist at the Cleveland Metroparks and said rising water temperatures in Lake Erie are what’s causing the midge invasion. 

“Midges are an insect, they’re often mistaken for mosquitoes,” Hamblen said. “It is the time of year we start seeing them again. They prefer to have the water hit about 60 degrees. This is the time that they come out as adults.” 

Midges live the majority of their lives as eggs, larva and pupa in bodies of water like Lake Erie. Once they hatch, their life spans don’t last very long. 

“They live about five to seven days,” Hamblen explained. “Those adults, after they have mated, will lay eggs or die, and then it takes a few weeks for the life cycle to begin again. We will have midges all through the summer and into the fall, but they may not be as large as the amount we’re seeing right now.” 

Despite their swarming nature, the insects don’t pose any threat to humans. 

“Our non-biting midges that we have here are totally harmless,” Hamblen said. “Even though they can be annoying and in your face, they can’t hurt you.” 

Ohio State University professor of Entomology Ben Phillip said midges are a sign of a thriving ecosystem in Lake Erie. 

“They are a vital source of food for a lot of different organisms in the ecosystem and understanding the importance of water quality in making sure that when we see these large swarms, it can be a good indication that the water is clean and healthy,” Phillip said. 

Despite the benefits, there are ways for those annoyed by the bugs to limit the amounts around their homes. 

“Using LED lights, there’s been some studies saying they’re less attracted to those,” Hamblen said. “There is some research that says they’re attracted to scent and they don’t like citronella, peppermint oil and lavender. So spraying those around the home may help.” 

Phillip says there has been an increase in midges to the area so far this year because of several factors. 

“Water temperature, the food resources, all of those things culminate in this being the right place, right time for them,” Phillip said. “You’ll get this large emergence.”

Midges peak in late May and early June but can be around all summer and even into the fall. 

“One of the classic things that many Clevelanders remember is the MLB playoff game in 2007 when the midges attacked the Yankees and seemed to leave when Cleveland took the field,” Phillip said. “They can certainly come back in the fall with the right conditions.” 

Although they can be annoying, both Phillip and Hamblen say they continue to spotlight a strong environment in northeast Ohio. 

“Although we may be annoyed, it can certainly be good to pat ourselves on the back in that we’re doing things right within the environment,” Phillip said. 

“They’re a great resource for Lake Erie and the surrounding wildlife,” said Hamblen.