How to beat the midges in Scotland this summer

This year’s midge invasion is set to be 800 times worse than normal due to the heaviest snowfall in living memory.

One of the worst Scottish winters does not seem to have affected midges and experts say the many feet of snow that covered the land for weeks acted as an insulating layer for midge larvae.Instead of being killed off by the million as a result of ground frost, the blood-sucking insects were kept alive in record numbers by a protective blanket of snow. This comes from Dr Alison Blackwell, who runs the Scottish midge forecast website, which predicts the prevalence of the pest based on weather forecasts.

Dr Andy Evans, of the Scottish Agricultural College, agreed that the heavy snowfall had created the conditions for people to be attacked by “clouds” of midges. He said: “People will have to be prepared to be bombarded”. By one estimate the midge costs Scotland's tourist sector more than £250m every year in lost revenue.

A Visit Scotland spokesman said: “While midges can certainly be an annoyance, they do not deter the majority of visitors from coming to Scotland or enjoying their holidays here. Not even midges can detract from the breathtaking beauty of Scotland’s landscapes.”

Where is the midge problem?

• Damp soil, bog areas, the epic centre Glencoe, Fort William
• North West in the main while North East is spared,
• Breezes over 7mph take down the levels of infestation so less at the coast,?Habitat, long grass, heather

 When are midges at their worst?

• High season- June, July, August
• Dawn and dusk and low level Lighting.

 Top tips to reduce the midge torment this summer: