Midges are back and worse than ever.

[Angus Og]

Click on the link and watch the video.

One thing that might put you off camping in Scotland is the midge. Despite being a little later than normal the midge season is under way.

But what effect has one of the worst Scottish winters had on the midge population?

Early evidence is that they are back and worse than ever.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10337160.stm

:yikes:

 

[JonathanD]

Good luck folks, seems you are going to need it. Time to break out the Deet.

 

[Melonfish]

Got to say i tried those highland midge patches over the weekend.
dispite making me smell like a breakfast cereal they worked a treat, not a single bite all weekend!

i guess its a trade off mind, smell like rusk to get rid of mossies and midges, just be careful not to be gummed to death by a hoard of hungry toddlers!

 

[Nagual]

Got to say i tried those highland midge patches over the weekend.
dispite making me smell like a breakfast cereal they worked a treat, not a single bite all weekend!

i guess its a trade off mind, smell like rusk to get rid of mossies and midges, just be careful not to be gummed to death by a hoard of hungry toddlers!

Tried them last year, but unfortunately for me didn't work. Have to agree with the BBC, so far this year the wee blighters have been quite bad, getting worse too.

 

[andy_e]

Mosquitos are out too and the Clegs (Horse-flies).

Wore one of these much of the biting season last year and the only place I got bitten was on the legs, through trousers by Clegs...

http://www.bugshirt.com/

... no connection etc, and can't find the UK link I bought it from now.

 

[Angus Og]

Mosquitos are out too and the Clegs (Horse-flies).

Wore one of these much of the biting season last year and the only place I got bitten was on the legs, through trousers by Clegs...

http://www.bugshirt.com/

... no connection etc, and can't find the UK link I bought it from now.

Is this it http://www.midgeguard.co.uk/bugshirt.html

 

[Angus Og]

I use this head net its big enough to go over a Tilley T3 hat and the bag it comes in as a belt loop.
http://www.lifesystems.co.uk/psec/mosquito_nets/mosquito_headnet.htm

 

[Shewie]

They were pretty relentless one morning on Loch Shiel this week, I had my Beaton jacket on but they were still getting in my brew and porridge.

I was hoping for a tame season too but from what I've seen so far they're definitely out in force.

 

[listenclear]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

 

[Toddy]

Happy to report that so far the Autan is working

Well, that and the Beatons jacket

cheers,
M

 

[dave53]

hi been to scotland quite a few times never been bothered by the little buggers they must not like my blood regards dave

 

[locum76]

I didn't notice they had gone away.

 

[Mesquite]

Not sounding good for when I'm up in Perthshire in August

 

[Toddy]

oooooh.........trust me, you want to buy a Beatons jacket before then

Ach, maybe not, we do get peace from them, sometimes, occasionally, when it's windy, sunny, very dry, rarely really

atb,
Mary

 

[Bumpy]

Are they as bad near the coast if I stay out of the woods? I'm off to Sandyhills/Dalbeattie in August - and I;m hoping they don;t ruin it for me... Any advice?

 

[Shewie]

Any advice?

Yep, get a Beatons jacket

 

[Andy BB]

I was up in Inverness last week - no midges that I could see. A local told me that for some reason the East Coast - at least round Inverness - doesn't seem to have a midge problem - that's more over on the West coast.

But what a great place the Highlands is!

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

In the BBC report what was the 'Edinburgh University' repellent he talked about.

I'll try anything!

 

[andybysea]

Deffinately worse on the west coast, once there were a few in the tiny bit of woodland at the back of my garden, but ive never come across any whilst camping on the coast here.

 

[Toddy]

HWMBLT said that he saw a puddle that the air was black above with mosquitos this morning on his walk down the woods beside the river
Midgies are bad enough, clegs are a nightmare, but mozzies too :yikes:

cheers,
Toddy