What is an environmental factor that could affect the distribution of midge populations?

Temperature is a crucial environmental factor that influences the distribution of midge populations. Midge larvae thrive in specific temperature ranges that affect their development, growth rates, and reproductive cycles. Warmer temperatures can enhance midge activity, leading to increased population densities, while colder temperatures may limit their growth or lead to decreased survival rates. Additionally, changes in temperature can affect the availability of suitable habitats, such as water bodies, where midges live and breed.

Urban areas, soil type, and light pollution can indeed play roles in the dynamics of midge populations, but temperature directly impacts their physiology and life processes, making it a more fundamental factor in their distribution. Understanding the relationship between temperature and midge populations can help in managing and predicting midge outbreaks, especially in agricultural or aquatic contexts.