The Highland Midge - Top Tips

The Highland Midge

What are these swarms of flying black fleas biting us? I recall a visitor from the United Stated asking. Travel brochures don't mention these pesky creatures but if you are visiting Scotland during the summer months then you need to know the best ways to avoid them.

The Highland Midge (Culicoides impunctatus) is a species of biting midge that inhabits Scotland.  It is found in upland and lowland areas. In the north west of Scotland and down the Western coast. They are also found around Loch Lomond, Stirling, Wanlockhead and even in North Wales. The highland midge is usually very prevalent from late spring to late summer. Female highland midges gather in clouds and bite humans, though the majority of the blood they obtain comes from cattle, sheep and deer. 

The bite of a midge is felt as a sharp prick. It is often followed by irritating lumps that may disappear in a few hours but they can last for several days, and be quite large and itchy. It depends on the individual concerned so you won't know until you have been bitten. 

Midges are weather dependant so you may avoid them despite the season. They don't like strong wind, strong sunshine or heavy rain. They love damp, dreek, drizzle, forests and boggy peaty ground. Midges are worse in sheltered glens than they are on peaks or exposed locations. Midges are far less common at elevations over 500m. Sheltered locations with high rainfall and high humidity tend to be where you will find the highest concentrations of biting midges.So although seasonal, the weather and your location also play a large part in how many you might encounter. 

The midge also seem to find some people more attractive than others and scientists are looking into ketones and how they play a role in this. I personally don't seem attractive to the midges but my partner gets bitten a lot. Hopefully one day there will be a pill to make us all unattractive.Some people are highly sensitive to the bites and react badly. They may need antihistamines and even antibiotics in rare cases. 

There are dozens of chemical repellant sprays, herbal remedies, wrist bands and lotions available. The ones containing deet seem to work well. Smidge is popular in the highlands and a lot of people will advocate Avon Skin Soft or even taking vitamin B pills and eating marmite. Not all of these work for all people. Citronella candles and oil are also said to deter them, cigarettes too apparently, but I wouldn't advocate taking up smoking!

.

Top Tips to Avoid Midge Bites

Seasonal

Avoid the summer months. Midges are in their highest numbers between late May and Early September. While you may find the odd one in late April or even early October, they are far less prevelant in the colder months.

Location

If you stick to the coast you will find you encounter them a lot less.  A breeze of 7mph is enough to deter them so the coast is a great place to be. They are rarely seen on the East Coast of the NC500 compared to the West Coast where they are far more common. In short, the worst place for midges in Scotland is anywhere close to their breeding grounds which is usually boggy moorland and anywhere close to their favourite food sources of sheep, cattle, and deer. They like a forest too, so take care when walking in wooded areas.

Timing

Avoid being outdoors around dawn or dusk. These are the worst times of day. Summer in Scotland has very long days so this is fairly easy to achieve when they are at their worst. Stay inside if they are bad, you will notice how many highland homes have big windows to enjoy the views from the safety indoors. midges are at their most active in the early morning, just before dawn, and in the evening, as light levels begin to fall. You are less likely to be bitten if you avoid spending time outdoors at the beginning and end of the day.

Weather

Midges don't like strong wind, very hot dry places, or very heavy rain so in these weather conditions you will find you are safe. We have spent many days on beautiful beaches in Scotland in Summer, and as long as it is warm enough, dry enough and there is a breeze it can be midge free all day every day. 

Clothing

Wear two layers of clothing to deter the proboscis of the midge from reaching your skin. Tuck your trousers into your socks and wear long sleeved garments.  A midge net is a must if they are swarming and it is easier to wear with a hat. You can get midge proof clothing too. My partner has a full suit made from a thin netted material as he does a lot of outdoor pursuits and is highly allergic to the bites. Lighter coloured clothing is said to be less attractive to the midge than dark clothing.

Repellents

These are worth a try as they do work for a lot of people and there are dozens of different brands available. A lot contain DEET, some are natural and contain bog myrtle, citron oil and  other ingredients. Not all repellants work for all people so I would also recommend investing in a tube of antihistimine cream in case you do get bitten. The bites can be very itchy and a cream will help reduce this. Some people advocate taking vitamin b supplements or eating Marmite, these do not work for us but some people do claim they work so toast and marmite won't do you any harm and may help keep the midges at bay for some lucky people.

Treating Midge Bites

Avoid scratching! Easier said than done but try not to scratch a bite as doing so could lead to infection. Use an antihistimine cream or calamine lotion to soothe the area and relieve the itchyness. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine tablet can help reduce the itch and swelling caused by midge bites. Do consult a healthcare professional for appropriate recommendations or visit the NHS Inform website - "Treating Bites and Stings"  for further advice and guidance.