Are midges a blood-sucking pest that can completely ruin a good day out? Or are Scottish midges a vital part of the eco-system?
We give you the detail on when they are about, why they bite, how to avoid them and how to stop them biting. And for the mindful and forgiving out there, why they should be celebrated.
You may have noticed that midges are a definitely a Scottish feature that belongs to the spring and summer seasons. So where are they for the rest of the year? The life cycle of the Scottish midge consists of 4 key stages.
To find out more about the midge life cycle click here for a useful guide made by the Scottish Natural Heritage.
Midges don’t bite us just for the hell of it. Out of hundreds of species of midge, only 35 midges actually bite you and they do that because they need to survive. Male midges primarily feed on rotting vegetation and plant nectar. Females will bite you because they need the protein from a blood meal to create their eggs. Interesting fact: male midges aren’t even capable of biting you, as their mouthparts are not strong enough to pierce skin!
Whilst mosquitos are known for being vectors for disease, midges are definitely not. Rest assured, midges do not carry any infectious diseases, so you won’t get anything from being bitten aside from a very itchy bump.
There are some easy ways to avoid getting bitten by midges in Scotland when you are out and about.
We can’t always go out in perfect midge-free conditions so here are some ways you can protect yourself from being bitten.
The two most commonly known midge repellents are Smidge and Avon Skin so Soft. Smidge is a skin-safe insect repellent that protects you from midges, mosquitoes, horse flies, sand flies, fleas and ticks. The fragrance is surprisingly inoffensive and comes in a handy travel sized bottle which you can easily keep handy in pockets.
Avon Skin So Soft never set out to be a midge repellent but somehow found itself being most famous for that particular characteristic. The theory is that the dry oil forms a barrier on your skin which makes it more difficult for those pesky lady midges to get hold and bite you. Side benefits include moisturising effect and smelling nice. Although Avon Skin so Soft is proven to significantly reduce biting, the midges will still land on you. If you want to really keep them off you and repel them, Smidge would be a safer bet.
Covering up is a good way to deter midges as their mouthparts are a. not strong enough and b. not long enough to bite through clothing. The go to protective gear is a head net made out of a very fine mesh that midges can’t fly through. Do not use mosquito nets! Midges are so small they will easily fly through a mosquito net.
Read our last blog on midges in Scotland for more creative ways to escape midge bites: Midges in Scotland – How to Combat the Mighty Midge
Concerns have been raised time and time again about the negative impact that midges may have on our tourism and economy. Due to this government-funded investigations have been led into looking into a means of controlling midges.
However despite the harm they may do to Scotland’s image, they are actually a fundamental part of the ecosystem in the highlands. Midges feature prominently in the food chain. Being part of the diets of other insects and even bats! There are also some carnivorous plants in Scotland that can’t resist a side of midge.