Tour Scotland Photograph Monster Midge

Tour Scotland photograph of the Monster Midge painted boulder near Ardtoe, Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Lochaber, Scotland. The highland midge, scientific name: Culicoides impunctatus; Scots: Midgie; Scottish Gaelic: Meanbh-chuileag, is a species of small flying insect, found across the Palearctic, throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia, other regions of Europe, Russia and Northern China, in upland and lowland areas, fens, bogs and marshes. In the north west of Scotland and northern Wales it occurs from late spring to late summer. Midges tend to hate dry cloudless conditions, and are thus prevalent in humid, wet and cloudy conditions. Rain does not put them off, nor does darkness. However, they tend not to go into houses or buildings, but will enter tents. They are most active just before dawn and sunset but bite at any time of day. Midges are less active with wind speeds of over 6 mph, or humidity below 60 to 75%.



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