Can be pests especially in coastal regions-Scotland. Bite mainly in the evening around sunset. The head and neck are the preferred regions for biting.
Many species can have prolonged seasonal distribution with both univoltine and multivoltine species.
They breed in water-logged soil. In Scotland univoltine species lay their eggs in June, these hatch in October and adults are present in March. Most species overwinter as larvae, Culicoides vexans has been reported over wintering as eggs. C. vexans larvae are found in the ecotone between the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Pupae have small breathing trumpets with the pupal stage lasting 3-7 days.