False colour scanning electron micrograph of the head & thorax of a female biting midge (family Ceratopogonidae). Midges are bloodthirsty, minute flie

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False colour scanning electron micrograph of the head & thorax of a female biting midge (family Ceratopogonidae). Midges are bloodthirsty, minute flies (less than 1mm body length). They feed only in the evenings when they attack humans primarily at the edges of their clothing. Some species feed on all warm- blooded animals and some only on cold-blooded animals. The feeding apparatus, or proboscis, is the long narrow extension at the bottom of the head. Above are two short palps, or tactile feelers with the long beadlike antennae in the middle of the head. Enveloping the head are the compound eyes. Magnification: x64 at 6x6cm size.

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Size: 3638px × 3696px
Photo credit: © DAVID SCHARF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, biting, blood, ceratopogonidae, false-coloured, feeder, humans, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, midge, nature, pest, stinging, wildlife, zoology