Wednesday, 18 July 2007

Midges


The Scottish Highlands and Islands are prone to midge infestations during the summer months. The severity of the midgey problem is set out along this sliding scale:
    0 - No midges

    1 - A few midges visible

    2 - Midges occasionally alight on uncovered skin, some biting

    3 - Frequent landings and some discomfort due to biting

    4 - Midges cannot be repelled by hand alone, protection necessary. Serious discomfort if you stay in one place


    5 - Midges begin to mass on skin and clothing; ointments may become ineffectual


    6 - Midges visible in clouds, clothes seething; hair, eyes, ears and nose clogged and midges inhaled with each breath; acute discomfort


    7 - Black clouds of massed midges causing serious injury, impossible to remain outside


    8 - Dense, black clouds of enraged midges capable of breaking windows, attacks may be fatal

9 comments:

  1. Nasty.
    Jenny <><

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  2. Yuk...you need more birds and bats to eat those nasty things.  Linda in Wa shington state

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  3. Holy crap...hopefully you've not been above a 5!   (not like I go outside much anyway where it'd bother me, but I know you love to walk...)

    ~Amy

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  4. Nasty little buggers...here we call them mosquitoes :-) but they are a REAL nuisance no matter which name they be called!!We get to level 5 here midsummer!
    The only cute midge is a DEAD one (and the one on your entry :-)

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  5. I just had to to come see what a midge was.  Now that I know it's a misquito, I can say "I feel your pain."  -  Barbara

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  6. I think if I was going to get a "skeeter" up my nose, I'd find it almost intolerable to be outside:)  Yep, we have those here, too, more so near bodies of water, of course.

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  7. I don't think I've ever dealt with a "midge"/mosquito infestation above a three.  THANK GOODNESS!!!!  Good luck keeping them away!!
    -K

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  8. Sounds like our mosquito... lol

    be well,
    Dawn

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  9. I just hate bugs!! Luckily, it's not too bad here this summer.
    Pam

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