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The Highland or Scottish Midge
Midges in Scotland
The Scottish or Highland Midge, in it’s own right, probably explains why a country as beautiful as Scotland only has a population of some 5 million people. The Highland midge has a notorious reputation for spoiling folks enjoyment of the great outdoors during the summer months.
There are actually a large number of different types of midges in Scotland but Culicoides Impunctatus the Highland or Scottish midge, which is a tiny insect, enjoys a reputation as being the fiercest biting midge.
It reeks havoc across vast tracts of Scotland from May to September. Their nuisance value to the camper, walker, angler etc. is so great that many holiday makers and tourists have been known to pack up and leave within an hour of being attacked. The Scottish Midge is especially prevalent on the West Coast where in the right weather conditions and at certain times, in the early morning or late evening, it becomes impossible to stay outdoors for more than a few seconds.
The good news is that the midges are having a bad year in 2006 due to the very dry weather we have had this summer in Argyll & Bute
Beat the midge menace. Read our Guide to Midges and your stay in Argyll & Bute should be truly memorable and in relation to midges as trouble free as possible. From September the scottish midges are on the decline. If you plan to visit Argyll & Bute before the following May forget about midges otherwise have a read below.
The Midge Guide
Highland Midges usually begin to appear around the second week in May although this date will vary widely across Scotland and they are often not really evident until June. The timing of their annual appearance is largely influenced by the prevailing weather and they are generally more prevalent in the Western and Northern Highlands
The Scottish midge is tiny. It’s only a couple of millimetres in length but pound for pound, it is probably the most formidable and aggressive life form on the planet.
Midges breed and thrive in damp places. They are well adapted to the peat bog and heavy rainfall found on the west coast. Their numbers are largely unaffected by any predation by other creatures. Individuals live and breed within a small geographical area but they are carried into new areas on the breeze. In a small piece of ground of just a few square metres the population of scottish midges can sometimes be measured in the millions. No wonder they cannot be ignored.
Midges are particularly active in the early morning and towards sunset, they do not like direct sunshine and anything more than a breeze will ground them. It is therefore advisable to avoid being outdoors at these times of day and you can afford to relax when there is a slight breeze or where you are on the coast ,in a light wind, or at least a few hundred metres up a mountain, as the midges can’t fly in any reasonable breeze.
Midges are attracted to dark clothing so beware. Wear light coloured clothing and avoid standing or sitting in a shady spot when midges are about. They also have an ability to detect the carbon dioxide given off in your breath. Only the female midge bites, as she requires a blood meal to feed her eggs. When she finds a suitable host she may take a few minutes to drink her fill, but she also gives off a chemical signal which attracts other females. They will swarm and partake of the free meal so don’t hang around. If you do feel the presence of midges get out of the situation quickly to avoid even more bites.
If you are camping make sure you keep all sleeping compartments zipped up at all times. If you don’t you run the risk of midges getting in and being in your bed all night. Not a pleasant experience.
There are numerous midge repellents on the market all claiming to provide protection against the evil midge. Some people swear by certain repellents. If you find one that works for you then fine but we are not convinced that a solution currently exists
Barrier methods are probably the only proven protection available for the traveler. A midge net placed over your head can allow you to fish, sit outside your tent and cook etc. as long as all other parts of your skin are also suitably covered up. There are some manufacturers of outdoor clothing who are addressing this need and midge jackets with fully enclosed hoods are now available from some specialists outlets. Try searching on Google.
Midge machines are now available which can be very effective in a local area but they take a few weeks to begin to have an impact on the local population and are therefore inappropriate when traveling around. If you have a problem with midges in your garden at home, then a midge machine may well prove to be a good investment.
Individuals react differently to midge bites. For most people the irritation involved in being bitten will drive them indoors. Afterwards the bites will irritate further. In a minority of people midge bites will induce swelling and intense discomfort in localised areas of the skin. The midge bites are aggravated by any scratching or rubbing and they can become infected by such activity. Avoid scratching the skin and consider taking mild over the counter anti inflammatory drugs
To keep Scottish midges in perspective, their existence is primarily of nuisance value only. It’s really only in July and August that midges really present a significant problem. They do not spread disease, nor to they pose any significant health risk to human beings. Midges enjoy a respected position in the folklore of Highland life and they are part of the experience of life in the Highlands of the Scotland.
Some Midge Facts
The Scottish midge has a wingspan of 1.4 mm. A swarm of midges can deliver approximately 3000 bites an hour. A female will feed on the skin for up to 4 minutes taking 0.1 microlitres of blood. A female midge can probably detect you from a range of up to 100 metres. It is estimated that in the Highlands midge populations can reach densities of 10,000,000 midges per acre in ideal conditions. Midges have probably only been in Scotland for about 8000 years.
As we move into Sept 2006 the Highland Midge will have had one of it’s poorest years on record but were sure it will begin to reappear in May 2007. Another year without a real cure or remedy and so we await the little menaces reappearance for another season.
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