“Hello, I came across this tumblr, and would like some help identifying this particular bug. J

“Hello, I came across this tumblr, and would like some help identifying this particular bug.

Just some background information: I currently sell drinks out here in West Tokyo (Tachikawa), and generally work with a lot of sugar. My shop is also brightly lit, with neon lights and lots of LEDs. Some weeks ago, I’ve spotted a few of these bugs hanging around my neon lights and LEDs. Although it was fine at the start, starting last week there were more and more of them flying around, so I checked around and discovered a whole cluster of them hidden a section in my shop between the ceiling and a partition where I’ve got a strip of LEDs, and hosed down the whole area with some bug spray. However, it didn’t even take a day for a few of them to start flying around again. I plan to call an exterminator to deal with this, but I would also like to know just what bug is this so I could read up on it.  

It’s got a long black body, with hairy feelers, long legs, flies, and is usually found near or perched on light sources.”

Hello! Thanks for the submission!  With the help of the bug experts on Reddit, they believe your insect is a Non-Biting Midge. As the name implies, they look a bit like mosquitoes but do not bite, are attracted to lights, and are seasonal. Mostly they are a nuisance. Here’s a useful PDF about their behavior: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/Midge%20webpage%20guide%20PDF.pdf 

Non-Biting Midge

Unfortunately, it seems that pesticides offer only temporary control of the adults as these are water-breeding insects (and delicious members of the food chain), but the good news is that they don’t last long, and the swarms will disperse without causing damage to people or property. I hope they aren’t causing too much trouble for you and your shop! Thanks again for your submission and have a good spring :)