The hot and dry weather during the second half of the summer recently led to a significant fall in the number of Highland biting midge (Culicoides impunctatas)throughout Scotland and catches are particularly low in Argyll, but with still fairly high catches recorded in pockets in parts of the north west. The midges have been monitored for the last 16 years, using 32 midge traps throughout Scotland. Traps that normally catch hundreds of grammes in a week are only catching tens of grammes. The midges thrive in warm, damp conditions and this has been the first year since monitoring began that it has been such a hot dry second half of summer.
The first midges hatch out at the end of May or early June, with a second hatch in the middle of July or early August. We were in the highlands the first two weeks of August and only found them when we were north of Ullapool. They didn't settle on us after we had sprayed ourselves with the Avon Skin so Soft Dry Oil Body Spray, I'm pleased to say. The smell is ok for men to use too, don't know whether they've changed the perfume, but it has a pleasant, fresh smell now.
Pauline.
Facebook
Twitter