Bodenheimer (Animal Life in Palestine, 1935) has this to say:
The numerous species of midges (Chironomidae) are trapped mainly when swarming about the light. Only very few species have actually been bred from the larvae. This is to be regretted as they are good indicators of the biological types of the waters in which they develop. In spring- and summer-evenings, enormous numbers of these midges are attracted to th light at Tiberias. Some of these species, as Trichotanypus tiberiae are troublesome blood suckers. The Arob of the Bible is probably identical to the Barchash of the Arabs, a small midge which enters the eyes, ears, nose etc. of the field workers in the early morning during the harvest season. The genera Tendipes, Culicoides [now Ceratopogonidae] and Forcipomyia [now Ceratopogonidae]are richly represented.

From Wikipedia:
Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids or non-biting midges) are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes but they lack the wing scales and elongate mouthparts of the Culicidae. This is a large group of insects with over 5000 described species and 700 species in North America alone. Males are easily recognized by their plumose antennae. Larvae can be found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes, bromeliads, rotting vegetation, soil, and in sewage and artificial containers. Larvae of some species are bright red in color due to hemoglobin; these are often known as "bloodworms".
Adults can be pests when they emerge in large numbers. They can damage paint, brick, and other surfaces with their droppings. When large numbers of adults die they can build up into malodorous piles. They can provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Larvae are important as food items for fish and other aquatic organisms. They are also important as indicator organisms, i.e., the presence or absence of various species in a given body of water can give a good idea of what kinds of pollutants may be present and in what quantities. Their fossils are also widely used as indicators of past environmental changes, including past climatic changes.