Mosquito - A small flying insect of the family Culicidae, the females of which bite humans and animals and suck blood, leaving an itching bump on the skin. Long after the black flies and midges are gone for the season the mosquito will still be... Factoid: The oldest known mosquito with an anatomy similar to modern species was found in 79-million-year-old Canadian amber from the Cretaceous. An older sister species with more primitive features was found in Burmese amber that is 90 to 100 million years old. Two mosquito fossils have been found that show very little morphological change in modern mosquitoes against their counterpart from 46 million years ago. These fossils are also the oldest ever found to have blood preserved within their abdomens. Despite no fossils being found earlier than the Cretaceous, recent studies suggest that the earliest divergence of mosquitoes between the lineages leading to Anophelinae and Culicinae occurred 226 million years ago.

Black Fly - A black fly is also known by some other names such as the buffalo gnat, the turkey gnat, or the white socks; however, many Mainers consider the black fly to be the true Maine State Bird. Over 2,200 species of black flies have been formally named, of which 15 are extinct. Most black flies gain nourishment by feeding on the blood of mammals, including humans, although the males feed mainly on nectar. They are usually small, black or gray, with short legs, and antennae. They are a common nuisance for humans, and many U.S. states have programs to suppress the black fly population - Maine does little to no spraying. For more information you can read about surviving black flies here and here. Factoid: Black flies often occur in enormous numbers in the spring and early summer months, especially in the northern latitudes. Bites can be extremely painful, and their mouthparts are somewhat similar to those of a horse fly (bladelike and piercing) in the female. Mouth parts are rudimentary in the male. On people, they crawl into sleeves, under neckbands, around boot tops and other vulnerable places, especially favoring the head just beneath the rim of a hat. Bites can cause swelling and numb soreness for many days.

Midges - A midge, otherwise known in Maine as a No-See-Um, is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito Nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Although a Black Fly is also a Midge, we in Maine differ between Midges and Black Flies as two totally different blood sucking pests - one you can see and the other you can't; hence, No-See-Ums. You can read more about midges here. Factoid: If you've been bitten by a No-See-Um, there's little to worry about besides an irritating bite. A common myth is that No-See-Ums lay eggs under your skin, but this is not the case at all. No-See-Ums actually lay their eggs in what is called a lace. The laces are moist because the developing larvae require a high degree of moisture in order to develop. After a blood meal, the female No-See-Um often seeks out a body of water to lay her eggs near such places as a riverbank, a marsh, a still pond or even a hollowed-out tree stump. No-See-Ums are most active during dusk and dawn, increasing the odds of being stung during these times.

Browntail Moth Caterpillar - Although this pest is not a biting fly, it can cause a rash that can be misinterpreted from fly bites. So, we give honorable mention here.

This species was accidentally introduced to the United States in the 1890s. During the early 20th century it was present from eastern Connecticut northward into New Brunswick, Canada, but a subsequent severe population collapse reduced the territory to parts of coastal Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the late 20th century. One theory for the decline appeared to be parasitism by a fly introduced to combat gypsy moths. Starting in 2015 there has been a population spike and territory expansion in coastal Maine. Hairs from the caterpillars are toxic for humans, causing a poison ivy-like itchy rash of up to several weeks' duration due to mechanical and chemical irritation. Direct contact with the caterpillar is not necessary, as the hairs are shed and can become windblown. Toxins in the hairs remain potent for up to three years. Outdoor activities such as mowing a lawn or raking leaves in the fall can cause exposure. Factoid: According to the DownEast Magazine, towns paid bounties for the nests, which school children collected by the bushel and piled into truck beds to be transported to furnaces and burned. State and federal scientists banded together to release millions of parasitoid flies and other insects to try to thwart the moth population boom in especially hard-hit regions, while others drove around administering a lethal fungus to infested trees. According to Central Maine News, the browntail moth caterpillar had for years been relegated to areas of Massachusetts and the Maine coast, but since about 2015 the caterpillar has steadily moved into areas of Waldo, Kennebec and Somerset counties. They defoliate trees in their wake and their poisonous hairs can cause skin rashes similar to poison ivy or cause respiratory difficulty if inhaled. And, of course, the Maine CDC has something to say about the pest. Host Note: We have not seen any Browntail Caterpillars or the telltale cobweb like nest anywhere on the island to date, but it doesn't mean they're not out there.