Your Guide to Midges in Scotland

We can’t always go out in perfect midge-free conditions so here are some ways you can protect yourself from being bitten.

1. Midge Repellents

The two most commonly known midge repellents are Smidge and Avon Skin so Soft. Smidge is a skin-safe insect repellent that protects you from midges, mosquitoes, horse flies, sand flies, fleas and ticks. The fragrance is surprisingly inoffensive and comes in a handy travel sized bottle which you can easily keep handy in pockets.

Avon Skin So Soft never set out to be a midge repellent but somehow found itself being most famous for that particular characteristic. The theory is that the dry oil forms a barrier on your skin which makes it more difficult for those pesky lady midges to get hold and bite you. Side benefits include moisturising effect and smelling nice. Although Avon Skin so Soft is proven to significantly reduce biting, the midges will still land on you. If you want to really keep them off you and repel them, Smidge would be a safer bet.

2. Cover up

Covering up is a good way to deter midges as their mouthparts are a. not strong enough and b. not long enough to bite through clothing. The go to protective gear is a head net made out of a very fine mesh that midges can’t fly through. Do not use mosquito nets! Midges are so small they will easily fly through a mosquito net.

Read our blog for more creative ways to escape midge bites: Midges in Scotland – How to Combat the Mighty Midge

Why don’t we do some form of pest control for midges?

Concerns have been raised repeatedly about the negative impact midges may have on our tourism and economy. Due to this, government-funded investigations have been conducted. As a result, government-funded investigations have been conducted into ways to control midges.

However, despite the harm they may do to Scotland’s image, they are actually a fundamental part of the ecosystem in the highlands. Midges play a prominent role in the food chain, being part of the diets of other insects and even bats! There are also some carnivorous plants in Scotland that can’t resist a side of midge. You can find out more about the medicinal properties of Scottish plants on our blog.