Scottish Midges

Scotland is a great country, full of culture and history and tourist attractions. In particular the Scottish Highlands are truly awesome, I never tire of visiting. Unfortunately not all the inhabitants of Scotland are welcoming - the people are great, the problem is the midges.

In a city centre like Edinburgh we suffer less from midges and their bites than some rural areas of Scotland, however even we see (and feel!) them, especially at the edges of the city. Unfortunately the peak midge season coincides exactly with the peak holiday season. If you're staying in the city centre you shouldn't have to worry too much, but if you're planning a trip out into the countryside or up to the Highlands then they could affect you.

If you're planning a trip to Scotland, you might like to check out the Advanced Pest Solutions Midge Forecast (external link).

Midge Facts

The midge, also known as "midgie" or "midgy", is a tiny flying insect of the genus "culicoides". There many thousands of known midge species, of which only a few bite. One of the most ferocious biters is the Highland Biting Midge, Culicoides impunctatus. This is known in Gaelic as "Meanbh-chuileag" which means "tiny fly".

Due to its small size the midge is sometimes known as a no-see-um (or "noseeum").

There are other species of biting midge in Scotland as well as the Highland variety and these pests can be found all over the country where conditions and the weather are suitable. They prefer damp conditions which are warm without being too hot - not too much sun. They also like still air. They are often encountered in the early morning or evening near to natural water, especially still water such as ponds.

We're not just talking about a few midges here. We're talking about swarms of the little critters. It's actually only the female midge that bites, but that's little consolation when the air around you is thick with them!

Midge Control

There have been a number of midge control solutions developed over the years. The simplest, and probably best for a casual tourist, is application of special midge repellent cream to try and reduce bites. There are a number of these on the market and they contain various ingredients. These usually don't drive away midges but help produce a barrier that reduces biting. Different people find different creams more effective than others. If you're planning a day trip, especially to the Highlands, it's probably worth stocking up.

For a more permament solution modern science has come up with devices such as the Midge Magnet or Midge Eater. Hopefully this will help the Scottish tourism industry begin to regain some ground from the midges and allow visitors to better enjoy their holiday in this lovely country.

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