Title:     Midges (genus: Culicoides)

COMMON SCOTTISH MIDGES

Midges are tiny swarming insects that occur across large portions of the globe. There are many thousand different species if midges.  The most common midge found in Scotland is the Highland Midge, or Culicoides impunctatus:  it has a reputation for being more ferocious than most, spoiling many summer activities such as BBQ’s, fishing trips, late afternoons on the golf course or tending to ones flower beds!  And here in Scotland, given the short summer months, that’s just not fair play!

Other common midges found in Scotland are Culicoides newsteadii: often found around lakes such as Loch Lomond in the Argyle & Bute area.  This one is a biter and it hurts!  It’s known locally as the ‘Beast of Arrochar’.   Culicoides nubeculosus can be found around cattle and sheep.  They prefer animals to humans, yet time is short and the latter may have to do! Culicoides obsoletus is typically an urban midge and is found in the lowlands of Scotland, Ayrshire for example.

HABITAT & BEHAVIOUR

Midges tend to be more common in the North and West of Scotland where wet and un-cultivated land is in abundance.  With less severe winters and generally wetter summers in Scotland, midge numbers are on the increase.  A wet summer helps their breeding cycle, with a resulting increase in numbers.  Their season starts late May and starts trailing off in August, diminishing totally at the first sniff of autumn.

Midges do best in cool, shady, calm conditions and are most active early morning and evenings.  Midges don’t like rain, cold weather or a breeze and you’ll rarely see them in such conditions.  But why should you plan your social calendar around them?

THE BITE!

Only the female midge bites, and of the thirty odd species of midge in Scotland, one in particular is responsible for most of the attacks on humans, Culicoides impunctatus.  The female needs a blood meal before she can lay her eggs and that’s where we become so very useful!  The males are harmless vegetarians feeding off flower nectar.

The whole process is remarkably efficient. Firstly her senses can detect carbon monoxide at 100 yards.  Unless you stop breathing, there is no hiding place!  Smokers are particularly attractive because the level of carbon monoxide levels in the breathe increases significantly. 

Once she’s landed, she will hone in to a nice soft and sensitive piece of your skin making a small puncture until the blood oozes out.  An anti-coagulant will be injected thus ensuring a continued good blood flow.  Usually you won’t even feel a tickle at this point: she’s such a tiny creature.  Once she’s eaten well, her size will increase significantly thus making her much more noticeable.  Fed, she’ll be soon on her way having left this deposit of anti-coagulant.  It’s this that will irritate the hell out of you for the next few days, the severity of which varies greatly person to person. 

It is nice to know that Scottish Midges are not carriers of diseases yet we still don’t want our afternoons and evenings blighted by them, nor do we want to be scratching thus further irritating our skin for days afterwards!

THE REACTION TO THE BITE!

Despite popular belief, everyone gets bitten. It is just that some people do not show a "reaction" to the bite. This reaction (itching, swelling and redness) is caused by an allergic response to the insect’s saliva, which is injected into the skin. Those individuals who think they never get bitten, are simply not allergic to the saliva, and therefore have no visible reaction.  Scratching an infected area often increases and prolongs the irritation. 

If you’ve been bitten, we recommend:

Starfish Direct Travel Shop - Insect Repellents & Bite Relief

PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE!

There are numerous products on the market and at Starfish Direct Travel Shop we stock three brands, Autan, Crocodile and Jungle Formula.

Based in Ayrshire, South West Scotland, we’ve got some of the worst midges in Europe.  Customers visiting our stands tell us that “they have tried everything and have given up looking for a solution”.  Our own tests confirm that many of the leading brands just don’t have an impact here.  The Scottish midges are so ferocious that they often ignore the chemical barrier insect repellents offer.  This chemical barrier is typically produced by synthetic substances such as DEET (Autan / Jungle Formula) or Icaridin (Autan only). 

Both DEET and Icaridin can be considered the most effective Insect Repellents available.  There are arguments for and against the use of these synthetic products and we cover these points in another guide.  This may be good reading for those who require a natural alternative, are using these products on children, the use by pregnant and nursing women.  The guide also covers the use of DEET by members of the armed services, camping and line fishing enthusiasts etc.

CROCODILE NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT

Following the introduction of Crocodile Natural Insect Repellent to our product range (May, 2006), we’ve experienced more repeat business than any other repellent, online and via one of our regular trade stalls throughout Ayrshire. 

During our own tests, we found that only the most eager midges landed on the skin yet these flew off straight away without penetrating the skin.  If you are looking for a repellent effective on the Scottish variety of midges, may we suggest Crocodile Natural Insect Repellent?

Starfish Direct Travel Shop - Insect Repellents & Bite Relief

Thank you for reading this guide.  We trust that it has been informative and helpful to you.  Questions received are all answered so please submit yours if you have one.   

Regards

Starfish Direct Travel Shop, Service Team