Midges in scotland when is the worst time

No seriously the tiny little nuisances can't take off when the wind speed exceeds 5mph - the not so mighty Scottish Midge ladies and gentleman However, midges can be a major pain in places like the Western Highlands, which is home to a number of adventure hotspots like Glen Coe, Fort William and Great Glen. If you fancy ticking any of those off your bucket list, it's worth upping your midge defence game.

We'll get onto the specific anti-midge strategies soon. That's right, 'midge season' is a thing. Midge season tends to run from spring to the early autumn May and September , although you can get some early birds in April depending on weather conditions. July and August are usually the worst time of the year and can be close to torture. Check out this guy doing the one-minute midge challenge.

If you're unfamiliar with Scottish dialect, you'd be forgiven for mistaking midges for mosquitos. Both the midge and mosquito bite and draw blood, albeit only female midges are biters. However, mosquitoes are much, much larger than midges. Mozzies are more often found in warm climates and make a distinctive and loud buzzing noise. Midges in Scotland on the other hand, are only about mm, and often grey in colour unless they've just been guzzling blood, in which case they turn red.

Midges are found in the Highlands of Scotland because they like to lay their eggs in wet soil. All the damp moss and rushes in the Highlands, therefore, makes it a paradise for midge egg-laying. Only half of them bite — male midges prefer chilling and eating — but the females need the protein in their blood to help grow her eggs. And that's where you come in. They feed on sweet things like flowers and plant sap but are also attracted to humans and animals thanks to the Carbon Dioxide CO2 we produce, unluckily for us.

In midge season, they hunt in swarms, and the bites can be itchy and painful more on this later. So instead of spending your trip frantically scratching yourself like a flea filled dog, be ready and prepared before you even set off. The male Scottish Midge usually emerges in early May.

Shortly after the females join the party. They then get it on and then the male midge dies About a week later the midge offspring mature. The eggs then hatch to become soil-dwelling larvae. They then go through a number of stages before bursting into a beautiful butterfly This is known as the first generation.

For the rest of the summer, they then inflict midge mayhem on us. Sometimes there's a second generation or even a third generation. Their life cycle usually comes to an end as the weather conditions become colder, or, hopefully, when they fly onto your Avon Skin so Soft laden forearms. So let's get into how to avoid the Scottish midge. Do we approach it like we do the weather and check the forecast?

No really, there's a Scottish midge forecast. Throw a few essential items into your pack to make sure your trip is unforgettable for all the right reasons. A good old-fashioned insect repellent we like Smidge midge repellent can be really effective for combatting midge season. As well as biting, midges can fly up your nose or into your eyes they're just delightful, really so it's a good idea to don a wide-brim hat, which is apparently due to come back into fashion any day now so my mate Ray told me.

Some hats come with a built-in net, or you can go for a full anti-insect head net. Midge hoods are another option. Feeling crafty, or just want to save some pennies? Make your own midge net from mesh — just make sure there are at least holes per square inch to really stop the determined beasties getting through and biting you.

Because if they can, they will. Whilst we're not scientists far from it and aren't offering an opinion, just note that there have been worries about DEET being carcinogenic so probably best not to bathe in it. Whilst DEET works to block midge antennal receptors meaning they can't smell you , Avon Skin so Soft works because once the midges land on you they ain't coming off.

It sounds a bit gross and it may weigh on your conscience probably not but after the first few hundred Scottish Midge bites, you'll be happy you brought it. Just because it's not thought to be as strong though doesn't mean it's not effective. Tried and tested by hundreds of wild campers, hikers and fishermen, Beastie Be Gone is a natural and child-friendly alternative to DEET.

Plus, it comes in a recyclable metal tin, so we're onboard. Midges can smell us from a mile away, so to speak. Those little rascals are attracted to the smell of our breath. Smidge midge repellent blocks the midges ability to detect that smell.

It's like wearing an invisible smell cloak If you've got little ones or are pregnant then it may be best to go with Smidge. Or if you're an 'I don't do chemicals' kinda person then there are completely natural alternatives like citronella. The jury is still out on the effectiveness of citronella as a midge repellent. Many swear by it. Many claim it's useless. I've personally had mixed results so you could always try it but have some Smidge in your back pocket just in case.

Finally, we recommend packing a handheld fan. If you have never been to the Highlands before, you may have heard stories of the dreaded Scottish midge. A tiny two-winged fly that moves in swarms, generally near water or marshy areas, and bites unsuspecting passers-by. With a bit of preparation and knowledge, this wee beastie should not affect your holiday.

Firstly, midge season is in the height of the summer, from mid-May to September. So, if you are visiting us at any other time of year, you will not be bothered by them. Unfortunately, their trillions of offspring are quietly waiting underground ready to emerge once the temperatures rise again, at which time the entire life-cycle repeats.

Before you leave home check out my handy weather map. What you might not know is that Smidge is also actively involved in researching the movements of insects, with the findings uploaded into their online Midge Forecast. This genuinely useful tool comprises a map of Scotland overlaid with scores from 1 to 5 which indicate how good or bad the current midge situation is throughout the country.

Smidge uses a combination of insect traps to record midge numbers allied with weather stations that monitor how windy and sunny it is, with the final verdict updated regularly throughout the season. Just look at his wee red face! Anyway — back to midge bites. Midges feast primarily on mammals, most of which have a thick layer of skin protecting the gooey bits inside.

As soon as you get bitten your body will flood the area surrounding the wound with histamine in an attempt to flush out the intruder. Another side effect of histamine is that it sends signals to the nerves surrounding the bite which your brain perceives as an itchy sensation. We then scratch the itch to relieve it but this just increases the inflammation making it even itchier.

So what can we do? Well, the first thing is to try to resist scratching. You can get it in your local chemist, or follow this Amazon affiliate link. Whether you want to risk it is entirely up to you. A midge trap works by releasing carbon dioxide, heat and moisture to mimic a bloody-carrying mammal so the biting insects that follow these markers are irresistibly drawn to it. Once the midges or any other similar insect is in the vicinity it gets sucked into a container by a strong fan and a trap usually a sticky pad stops them escaping.

A far more practical alternative is a portable midge protector Amazon link which covers 20 square metres, is powered by cheap butane canisters and works almost immediately.