Dr Alison Blackwell, the UK’s leading midge expert, tells us about midges:

Biting midges are the scourge of the Highlands of Scotland during the summer months – in fact, you would be hard pushed to finding recruits for a ‘midge supporters’ club, apart from the odd passing bat and songbird that occasionally likes to spice up its diet with an intake of ‘Culicoides impunctatus’ – the infamous ‘Highland biting midge’.

Midges find their bloodmeals by detecting miniscule changes in the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air – so all of us are at risk, just by breathing. However, it is the cocktail of other body smells with which the CO2 is mixed that determines exactly how ‘attractive’ we are. Research has shown that these additional smells can vary enormously – for example, depending on age, sex, diet, medication and level of activity. On top of that, midges prefer dark colours to light colours and love a moving target. This presents a dilemma – should you stand and face your enemy or frantically head for the hills? This may depend on how you react to midge bites – not at all, small red spots which disappear within a day or so or huge, lumpy wheals which can itch for days? Few people have ever been hospitalised by a midge attack but most certainly, midges have left a number of both mental and physical scars on visitors to the Highlands!

Although midges are here to stay, they needn’t spoil your holiday if you take just a few simple precautions. Using a good repellent is perhaps most important and there are lots to choose from in the chemist and supermarket, including preparations especially for children. Keeping covered up is also a good idea, particularly if you’re going to be out at the ‘peak’ midgy times. These are usually dawn and dusk, although don’t let your guard down – these blood-seeking experts are quick to take advantage of dreich Highland days!

How midges find you