AS Scotland prepares for a summer of staycations the world's leading midge expert has predicted a "mega" hatch of midges.
The minuscule winged bugs usually emerge around May with a "first-generation peak" usually coming in June.
Due to a period of milder weather that Scotland has now entered, hikers, campers and those just getting out into Scotland's rural areas, might see midges appear sooner than expected.
Dr Alison Blackwell (below), an expert on the insect that runs the official Scottish midge forecast and is the director of a leading anti-midge repellant, told the Times that conditions appear right for a "mega hatch".
She said: “Midges like wet and warm weather and that is what is predicted when they emerge in a couple of weeks. Already there have been reports of a few early ones about. But we could well have a mega hatch because the conditions appear right — and just as tourists head outdoors again. It may mean a summer of midge hell for people."
She added that the mild spell of weather Scotland has now entered into may bring out even earlier, especially as nights begin to warm up.
Blackwell continued: “The winter snow would have been like a big blanket for them, covering the ground where the larvae were buried. It is looking good for them, but not for people. Some birds feed on the midges at dawn and dusk but bats especially do. So the more midges the better for wildlife — but not for humans.”
Blackwell's midge repellant, Smidge, has become very popular for those experiencing the outdoors in Scotland, but the company has recently received large orders from Nordic countries like Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
READ MORE: Midge repellents: Top tips to keep Scotland's biting beasties at bay
She said that Iceland only started seeing midges about three years ago, but they have since become a pest in the northern island nation.
She also said that they recorded the largest "third hatch" in Scotland last October with the season seeming to become longer. A third hatch is not a usual occurrence, but Blackwell believes it could happen much more often.
Due to climate change and weather becoming warmer, she said "people will have to get used to" more midges because the bugs like "warm and wet" rather than "hot and dry" weather and that is the kind of weather predicted in the future with climate change.
The Midge forecast will relaunch in May at smidgeup.com and the team are looking for anyone with a midge trap in their garden or area to get in touch so they can provide the most accurate information possible.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel