MIDGES
what you need to know
I'm not going to sugar coat it and keep this answer short & sweet...
YES - they most certainly do.
A midge bite can vary from person to person. Some folks experience small red bites while others experience a welt like bite. A fully grown midge is grey in colour and has cutting teeth to puncture the skin. Once the adult midge has sunk its teeth into you, they emit a scent that invites more biters to join.
Their bite is a cross between a flea bite & mosquito bite and often you won't know you've been bitten until it starts itching. It's very rare that you'll only get a few bites from a midge and more often than not you'll experience clusters of bites on any exposed skin. They seem to love the hairline, around the ears & neck. More often than not your lower back and legs can be the worst.
Their bites are small, red lumps that can be painful and very itchy and on some occasions swell up. In rare cases, some people may develop fluid-filled blisters.
There's not much you can do to treat a midge bite but we find some anti-histamine helps with the itching. Rubbing calamine lotion onto affected areas can also help to ease the itching.
Similarly to mosquitos midges are drawn to the carbon dioxide we breathe out.
These two little beasties are very similar except that midges don't carry disease. Midges are much smaller than mosquitos which is why it's important to ensure the mesh layer of the tent is small enough to keep them out.
Midges are tiny, stubby-winged flies that fly in swarms while mosquitos are more solitary with slender and long-legged.
The bites may appear immediately but can take up to 2-3 days to appear and start itching. Once your midge bite has appeared it can last up to 2-3 weeks.
No, thankfully midges can't bite through clothing. That's why it's always best to ensure you have cool long sleeves & trousers for the summer to cover up should these little beasties make an appearance. A cool buff/snood will be your best friend to protect your neck & hairline.
Don't be fooled though, if you're wearing a midge net that lies against your skin, on some occasions, they're smart enough to bite through the whole of the net so ensure it does not lie against your skin.
Other than the sick & tired of scratching, luckily these little biters do nothing more than cause an irritation to your skin.
No matter what people say there is no golden "remedy" for keeping midges away. In my opinion you have some options which work best when combined together:
- Cover Up: as I've said before this is the best answer. Cover up as much skin as possible when the midges are out. Long sleeve shirts, long trousers, socks, buff, etc. Anything to cover as much exposed skin as possible.
- Midge net: this is a net that you wear over your head and tucked into your shirt. But remember what I said about keeping the net off your skin. So wear a cap underneath it to help. Alternatively, you could purchase a slightly more expensive midge net that has a wide-brimmed hat built-in. We have these for sale at WildTrax HQ.
- Avon Skin So Soft: some people say this dry oil skin spray is the only thing that helps. Now after living in the highlands for 6 years and spending many a summers day amongst midges I can honestly say it works for some but not others. We have this available at WildTrax HQ to purchase.
- Smidge: this is an insect repellent that is available for purchase at WildTrax HQ. Whenever we travel I always take both Smide & Avon Skin so Soft. Some members of our family find Smidge keeps them away while others prefer Avon Skin So Soft. Sometimes when they're really bad I may just spray both.
Midges tend to appear between May & September depending on the weather. July & August are usually the worst time for them but last year September 2021 they were particularly bad. We also didn't have many reports in May & June last year that they were an impediment to anyone adventures.
More often than not they won't be out all day and they can't fly in the wind. So if there is a slight breeze you'll be midge free.
The times to avoid (when midges are at their worst) can also depend on the weather conditions in a given year. A damp warm spring can often see an increase in midge numbers. These tiny monsters are also worse throughout the spring, summer and early autumn when the weather is humid and still. If summer is warm and wet, midges can still be bad later in the summer and into the early autumn, as subsequent generations arise. A late approach of autumn with warm, wet conditions into September can also prolong the midge season.
When it comes to setting up camp & avoiding midges there's not much you can do to escape them, but there are a few tips to help:
- Avoid camping near the water such as beside a loch, river, bog.
- camp on a hill where it's drafty, they can't fly in the wind.
- Avoid camping near the bush, woods or trees
- The smoke from a campfire can help to deter them. So get your BBQ going a enjoy a s'more.