Midges



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Gary

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Just back from a camping / cycling weekend in Aberfoyle - let me tell you, the Midges were an
absolute nightmare.

We pitched tent in a fairly large clearance in a field around 7:30pm - average weather. After
pitching the tent, we sat in it for maybe 30 minutes and suddenly started to hear what sounded like
gentle rain. Opened the front door and I am not exaggerating when I say around 2000 midges had
gathered at the door. We got out the tent as quickly as possible, probably swallowing 30 of the
little shites as we ran for cover. After getting a thick hooded top on and tying the hood tight
around my head, leaving only space for my eyes, I dismantled the tent and stuck it in the car -
managed to find a proper camp site, took the highest point in a good breeze and the midges were no
were to be seen.

Next day, we started our cycle and managed to stay Midge free until Loch Katrine. Around two mile
around Loch Katrine I started to swallow hordes of the little buggurs and every part of my body was
being bitten! My eyes were also filling with Midge and I was infuriated, cursing terribly at the
annoying little *****. Around 5 mile of the Loch Katrine section was swarming with Midge and there
was no real way of escape, just cycled as fast as I could and looked forward to the open road.

After Loch Katrine the Midges seemed to fade away, although I now look like I have the worst case of
measles you have ever seen. I finished the cycle around 5:30 pm and I am still itching like mad, I
must say it has put a total damper on an otherwise perfect weekend.

If you are planning cycling in the Trossachs soon, be warned - these midge are on steroids.

Gary.
 
In article <QWeJa.1777$%[email protected]>,
"Gary" <[email protected]> writes:

> After Loch Katrine the Midges seemed to fade away, although I now look like I have the worst case
> of measles you have ever seen. I finished the cycle around 5:30 pm and I am still itching like
> mad, I must say it has put a total damper on an otherwise perfect weekend.
>
> If you are planning cycling in the Trossachs soon, be warned - these midge are on steroids.

Sounds like a lovely weekend (except for the bugs). As for the bites, I've found Noxzema Skin Cream
pretty well "cures" no-see-um bites, and greatly soothes mosquito bites. Maybe it would work with
midge bites, too? My Pauline can't stand the smell of the Noxzema, but the trick is to just not
smell it ;-)

Anyhow, you inspired me to do a web search on "aberfoyle cycling". The links that turned-up indicate
practically idyllic cycling adventures. Enjoy the Trossachs.

cheers, Tom

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[point] bc [point] ca
 
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 09:47:28 GMT, "Gary" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Just back from a camping / cycling weekend in Aberfoyle - let me tell you, the Midges were an
>absolute nightmare.

Midges? A problem? In Scotland? Surely not!

Guy
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>Next day, we started our cycle and managed to stay Midge free until Loch Katrine. Around two mile
>around Loch Katrine I started to swallow hordes of the little buggurs and every part of my body was
>being bitten!

Gee Gary. The word "midge" is used to refer to the adult of the chironomid family. These guys look a
bit like mosquitos to most people but they are not and they don't bite. About the worse thing they
do is gather in swarms and "bug" people. Chironomids are also used as pollution indicators. The
chiromid larvae live in aquatic sediments and can tolerate very low oxygen levels. So anytime you
get a bunch of chiromids in a bottom sample, you know the oxygen level is low and you start thinking
pollution.

There was no way that adult chironomids or "midges" could have bitten you. There must have been some
mosquitos in the mix also. Or I guess it could have been no see ums or black flies or............

Oh, I am an entomologist.
 
On 24 Jun 2003 13:49:18 GMT, [email protected] (Pbwalther) wrote:

>The word "midge" is used to refer to the adult of the chironomid family. These guys look a bit like
>mosquitos to most people but they are not and they don't bite.

Is the wrong answer. Try Googling on "Scottish biting midge" (Culicoides impunctatus) if you don't
believe me :)

Guy
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On 24 Jun 2003 13:49:18 GMT, [email protected] (Pbwalther) wrote:

>Oh, I am an entomologist.

If you eat well and get plenty of rest, you'll get over it.
 
The inhabitants of the Isle of Arran (ever been there? - beautiful, innit?) boast they sport the
fiercest midges in the Western world, scoffing at the mere striplings, the callow youths, found
round Loch Katrine.

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 21:47:45 GMT, Zippy the Pinhead <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 24 Jun 2003 13:49:18 GMT, [email protected] (Pbwalther) wrote:
>
>>Oh, I am an entomologist.
>
>If you eat well and get plenty of rest, you'll get over it.
 
Pbwalther wrote:

> >Next day, we started our cycle and managed to stay Midge free until Loch Katrine. Around two mile
> >around Loch Katrine I started to swallow hordes of the little buggurs and every part of my body
> >was being bitten!
>
> Gee Gary. The word "midge" is used to refer to the adult of the chironomid family. These guys look
> a bit like mosquitos to most people but they are not and they don't bite. About the worse thing
> they do is gather in swarms and "bug" people. Chironomids are also used as pollution indicators.
> The chiromid larvae live in aquatic sediments and can tolerate very low oxygen levels. So anytime
> you get a bunch of chiromids in a bottom sample, you know the oxygen level is low and you start
> thinking pollution.
>
> There was no way that adult chironomids or "midges" could have bitten you. There must have been
> some mosquitos in the mix also. Or I guess it could have been no see ums or black flies
> or............
>
> Oh, I am an entomologist.

Of course the term "midge" used in this aspect is a local language thing. The OP obviously meant
some sort of biting insect. Not mosquitoes, but some sort of fly, like a black fly or no seeum. In
Northern Ontario, people would say "lot of flies tonight" when the evening was thick with
mosquitoes. Of course they knew them as mosquitoes as well, but most used the local term "flies".

I rode thru a thick cloud of noseeums this afternoon beside a thicket on the shore of the Fraser
River. They were really tiny and the swarm was thick as fog. hundreds got trapped between my helmet
and forehead, and bit like tiny red hot wires. Had to stop and wipe them off with my bandana. Will I
ever learn to stop taking the scenic route?

Best regards, and don't forget the "OFF", Bernie
 
On 25 Jun 2003 13:10:30 GMT, [email protected] (Pbwalther) wrote:

>Well that is the problem with the common names of insects. Had he said "biting midge" I would have
>suspected that he was referring to something besides Chironomus.

Heh! Since he said they bit, I kind of thought it was implied :)

Guy
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