Biology and Characteristics of Biting Midges Biting midges are tiny and darkcoloured flies belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. They cause nuisance to human beings in both rural and urban areas. Only females bite but they rarely do it indoors. Since they have short mouthparts, they cannot bite through clothing and so exposed body parts are more often attacked. Local species of biting midges attack humans are Culicoides circumscriptus and Forcipomyia taiwana. Biting midges rest in dense vegetation and sometimes shady places. They fly in zigzag patterns and usually not fly more than 100 meters from their breeding grounds; however, dispersal by wind is possible. Nevertheless, wind over 5.6 kilometers/hour and temperatures below 10ºC inhibit flying. In fact, they are so fragile that cool and dry weather will shorten their longevity. Larvae are aquatic or semiaquatic, and are usually found in damp places or in mud.
Hazards Caused by Biting Midges Irritation and discomfort caused by their bites can last for days, or even weeks. Scratching aggravates the pruritus and may lead to bacterial infection and slow-healing sores. However, biting midges are not considered important vectors of human diseases. 文章出處: 食物環境衛生署 Published by the Administration and Development Branch, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Printed by the Government Logistics Department (10/2013) 揀選滅蚊機 • 滅蚊機應配備下列一種或以上的引誘物/引誘劑以吸引蚊隻: 1. 發光體,包括紫外線 2. 二氧化碳(不適用於室內) 3. 八稀醇(不適用於室內) 4. 熱力 • 滅蚊機應具備抽吸功能,捕捉飛近的蚊子。 • 滅蚊機應配備易於清理的盛蚊盤或集蚊盒,用以收集捕獲或殺滅的蚊隻。 滅蚊機的擺放位置 室內 • 把滅蚊機放在經常有蚊子飛近的地方,例如門口和窗口。 • 把滅蚊機放在從外面看不到的位置。 • 按照供應商的建議安放足夠數目的滅蚊機,令滅蚊效用足夠覆蓋處所的範 圍。 • 把滅蚊機平均地安放在處所內。 • 滅蚊機應安放在離地1至2米的地方。 • 切勿在容易發生爆炸的地方使用滅蚊機。 • 滅蚊機如有電殺蚊隻的功能,應置於距離食物等無遮蓋物品最少1.5米(最 好距離4.5米至6米)的地方。 • 不要使用以二氧化碳、八稀醇或其他化學物質為引誘劑的滅蚊機。 文章出處: 食物環境衛生署 Published by the Administration and Development Branch, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Printed by the Government Logistics Department