Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Midges start in May/June but end when?
Hi,
planning a couple of weeks with the tintent for the August b/h
Thinking 5-6 days near the top of Loch ness
and
then 5-6 days on the club site at Onich on Loch Linnhi near Oban
But will the Midges be slowing up by then
seen a few posts about them starting to get active from end of May but when do they start to bu##er off and are these two areas hot spots for them
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
Ask DG / NoDosh they should know as they are quintisentially migets
1st Apr 2014 1:13 am
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
They'll still be around in August.......they're known to fast for 3 days before the Bank Holiday in preparation for the feast to come "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
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1st Apr 2014 6:27 am
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
Don't forget to stock up with Avon So Soft! The midges hate it.Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
1st Apr 2014 6:33 am
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2929
They may start to appear in May,but willonly calm down the following May for about 6 hours before the next season starts! Seriously, we already have the early ones out already
They prefer still, damp environments but can only fly for 200m or so. Any site near to a Loch, river or boggy area is therefore likely to be susceptible, particularly if there is thick/dense vegetation around. However, they do not come out if there is any wind or (less likely) direct sunlight.
As McSimmo has said, Avon Skin So Soft does seem to work for many.
If in a group try and hold back from sctatching until a couple of others have given in - the dead midges give off something (I think ferromones) which attract the others.
And finally, it is only the females which bite, or so I am told!Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
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1st Apr 2014 8:11 am
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
Skin so Soft works well enough that outdoor shops stock it......
However,I have been told that the formula for Skin so Soft has been changed and it's no longer as effective.....can't confirm either way,but I'm sure you'll find out soon enough
Here's a picture of somebody that didn't use it last August Bank holiday
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
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D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
1st Apr 2014 8:18 am
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5107
Skin so soft made things a bit better. They land on you but are less likely to bite. Some still did though.
What has revolutionised Summer evenings for us is Smidge.
It really does work.
I normally get bitten relentlessly* but Smidge ends up with you able to have a cloud of midges around you with none actually landing on you to bite.
August is still midge season...before we moved up we always holidayed here in May and September. Tended to get the best weather then also.
* I haven't tested it with many midge clouds as there are a few things that you do:
- don't go out in the morning or evening when the air is still.
- avoid disturbing soil (planting veg etc) without precautions (Smidge, 'net' clothing).
- don't camp!
Of course, when you are on holiday in this part of the world you tend to be outside more often and longer so you notice the midges more.
The only times I really notice them are when I'm fixing something under the car (they know when you're unable to move!) and gardening.
Overall, I get much worse bites in the south of France than the Highlands. The midge bites annoy for a short while and then disappear.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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1st Apr 2014 11:36 am
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Hi,
Thanks all for the comments
so on the positive side
swmbo always gets bit before me so don't know about "the females bite" or "they bite females"
and she is bound to scratch before me, although it will still be my fault anyway
on the negative
both sites we are looking at are at the side of lochs
I want to do a bit of flyfishing never manage the early morning but last hour would be nice
there still about in August
and looks like I will waste away as well
might have to stop at Jedburgh Transit! 2019
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1st Apr 2014 11:30 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
I'm sure you know,but if your heading to Jed,I can thoroughly recommend you go via the A68 through the Northumberland National Park......beautiful drive "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
2nd Apr 2014 6:21 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
+1 for Smidge, far superior to Avon SSS in my experience.
Smidge was, IIRC, developed at Edinburgh University. Here's the link:
http://midgeforecast.co.uk/smidge/about-smidge/2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
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