THE Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised residents to watch out for midges, which are commonly found in parks and on roadsides during summer.

Midges are tiny two-winged mosquito-like flying insects, which are faster and smaller than mosquitoes. Most midges are brown or black, and their wings can hardly be seen.

Biting midges develop near swampy areas. These insects can be major pests since they bite and draw blood from their victims, including humans.

Midges generally don’t act alone. They usually fly in the air in groups, especially inside parks in the summer. They surround a person and attack even fiercer than mosquitoes.

Although midge bites are similar to mosquito bites, they often cause irritation and leave clusters of tiny, red and itchy bumps on the skin, and some reactions to these bites can be severe, with fluid-filled blisters around the edge.

Most midges transmit some diseases among animals, but there is no conclusive evidence that they can transmit these diseases to humans.

What should we do if we get midge bites? The Shenzhen CDC advises residents to avoid scratching the bites to prevent infections. If the symptoms still persist after an hour or two, rinse the bites with tap water and then with soap water.

If the blisters accidentally get popped, citizens should wipe them with iodophor or iodine solution. For serious symptoms, citizens must seek timely medical attention.

To get rid of midges, citizens can wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants and even long socks in parks.(Zhang Yu)