The first thing I found out is that midge is a collective term for many flying insects. Also not all of them actually bite us. The reason that many midges bite is because they are blood suckers which means they feed on our blood! The main biting midge that we get in this country is the Culicoides Impunctatus (also known as the highland midge) and they live in wooded sheltered areas and love the taste of human blood (especially mine!!) |
- They are commonly found in the West of Scotland and other suitable places throughout the UK, Scandanavia, Russia and China.
- The largest number found is on the Isle of Skye
- They are active from early spring until late summer (depending on weather and temperature)
- They cant fly if the wind speed is more than 6mph
- They are less active if the humidity is below 65%
- They are most active just before sunset
- Only the females can bite humans
- They are attracted to the carbon dioxide we breath out
- They tend to only feed (and so bite) in close proximity to their breeding site