The best way to prevent midge bites is to wear EPA-registered insect repellent, especially if you're wearing clothes that expose large areas of skin. Biting midges can't bite through clothes, but they can get underneath them. When enjoying outdoor activities, like hiking, it's best to wear long sleeves or pants.

No, biting midges (often called "no-see-ums") generally do not bite through clothing because their mouthparts are very short and designed for "sawing" into the skin rather than piercing through fabric like a mosquito. However, because they are incredibly tiny (often less than 1-2mm), they can easily crawl under loose-fitting clothing or through the gaps in coarse-weave fabrics. They are most attracted to areas where the skin is thin, such as wrists, ankles, and the neck. In 2026, the best protection against midges is wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers made of a tightly woven fabric with elasticized or "cuffed" openings at the wrists and ankles to prevent them from crawling inside. Light-colored clothing is also recommended as midges are attracted to dark colors. Since they are weak fliers, even a light breeze from a fan can keep them away. If you are in a midge-heavy area (like the Scottish Highlands or coastal Florida), applying an insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin to any exposed skin—and around the edges of your clothing—is the most effective way to stop them.