chironomid; non-biting midge
Refers to any insect of the family Chironomidae; resembles a mosquito but does not bite. Often seen swarming near water.
A large number of non-biting midges are appearing near the lake.
Non-biting midges look like mosquitoes but do not bite.
Katakana spelling is standard for this insect name; the word is usually written in kana.
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 揺 (sway) and 蚊 (mosquito) hint at the meaning.
Rarely used kanji form with okurigana.
The name likely comes from 揺する (yusuru, 'to shake') + 蚊 (ka, 'mosquito'), referring to the way these insects sway or dance in swarms. The exact derivation is uncertain.