Highland midge
Encyclopedia
The Highland midge (Scots
: Midgie) (Gaelic: Meanbh-chuileag) is a species of small flying insect
, found in upland and lowland areas (fens, bogs and marshes) especially in the north west of Scotland
from late spring to late summer. These insects are also found in suitable habitat throughout the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, other regions of Europe, Russia and Northern China. Female Highland midges
are well known for gathering in clouds and biting humans, and are the smallest flies in Scotland to do so, though the majority of the blood they obtain comes from cattle, sheep and deer. They are generally regarded as pests.
Despite Scotland's exceptionally cold winter in the early part of 2010, scientists discovered that after the prolonged freezing conditions, rather than reducing in number in the Scottish Highlands
, the midge population had actually increased the following summer due to the cold weather reducing its natural predators, such as bats and birds.
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
: Midgie) (Gaelic: Meanbh-chuileag) is a species of small flying insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
, found in upland and lowland areas (fens, bogs and marshes) especially in the north west of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
from late spring to late summer. These insects are also found in suitable habitat throughout the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, other regions of Europe, Russia and Northern China. Female Highland midges
Midge (insect)
Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies found world-wide. The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group, but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran Diptera. While some midges are vectors for disease, many others play useful roles as prey items for...
are well known for gathering in clouds and biting humans, and are the smallest flies in Scotland to do so, though the majority of the blood they obtain comes from cattle, sheep and deer. They are generally regarded as pests.
Despite Scotland's exceptionally cold winter in the early part of 2010, scientists discovered that after the prolonged freezing conditions, rather than reducing in number in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, the midge population had actually increased the following summer due to the cold weather reducing its natural predators, such as bats and birds.
Activity
The female midges tend to bite in close proximity to the breeding site (although they have been found up to 1 km away) and near to the ground, and are most active just before sunset. Midges are less active after sunset, as well as with wind speeds of over 6 mph, or humidity below 60-75%.External links
- Highland midge on Undiscovered Scotland
- APS Midge Forecast Interactive midge forecast for Scotland
- Institute of Animal Health Culicoides impunctatus
- http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/midge.htm