They're everywhere, thousands upon thousands of them swarming every store front, car grill and front door. If you live in Central Florida there is no way you could not be aware of these pesky little insects. It's midge season and these guys really make a mess of things. Even though they haven't come up with a sure fire method of getting rid of them, there are a few things you can do to keep them away from your door step.

Aquatic midges, or blind mosquitos, are born deep in lakes and other waterways throughout the Southeast. Some areas have more than others, and researchers are still trying to figure out their patterns and why they are in more areas than others. They come up out of their watery nurseries once the larvae sprout wings and spread out in search of food and mates. They are pretty much harmless except for the damage they cause to buildings and cars. Sometimes they can stain surfaces making a big mess.

Even though we can't get rid of them altogether there are ways to stave off huge swarms around your home.

Here are a few tips for keeping the midges at bay:

• Keep the grass short: The midges love to rest under grass blades during the day, mowing it decreases their resting places.
• Get rid of standing water: These can be breeding grounds to not only the harmless blind mosquitos, but also to the bitting ones that carry diseases.
• Close your doors or install screens: These guys show up about a half hour before it gets dark.
• Turn off outdoor lights: All bugs are attracted to light but midges are the worst and love a good white surface under a porch light.
• Use a fan: Their wings are light and delicate and they have a hard time moving around under windy conditions. Point an inside fan out of the door or even use an outdoor fan to create "no fly zones" near entrances.
• Use insect repellent: Midges are deterred by the smell so keep some repellent candles and other products handy.

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