Can be pests especially in coastal regions-Scotland.
Bite mainly in the evening around sunset.
The head and neck are the preferred regions for biting.
Many species can have prolonged seasonal distribution with both univoltine and multivoltine species.
They breed in water-logged soil.
In Scotland univoltine species lay their eggs in June, these hatch in October and adults are present in March.
Most species overwinter as larvae, Culicoides vexans has been reported over wintering as eggs.
Larval respiration occurs entirely through the cuticle- no spiracles are present.
C. vexans larvae are found in the ecotone between the aquatic and terrestrial environment.
Pupae have small breathing trumpets with the pupal stage lasting 3-7 days.
These flies cause Sweet itch in horses, transmit Onchocerca cervicalis in horses, and C. obsoletus has been shown to carry the blue tongue virus.
Control can involve land drainage, treatment of manure and the use of DEET.
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