Biting midges are small blood sucking flies in the family Ceratopogonidae. They are commonly referred to as "sandflies" in northern Australia. The term "sand fly" is a misused term for a number of families of small biting flies. Culicoides ornatus is becoming an increasing problem across northern Australia due to urban development encroaching nearer to their major breeding places. They can impose serious restrictions on outdoor activities within flight range of their mangrove breeding sites due to the extremely annoying and painful bites, and to the discomforting after effects of the bites.