Scotland-midges
 

I have answered a couple of questions in the last year about these little flying pests. For those whoare unaware, they are tiny, nipping flies prevalent in the west of Scotland and particularly voracious in July and August. <BR> <BR>I have consistently said that their nuisance value was overstated. <BR> <BR>Well, I WAS WRONG!!! <BR> <BR>I'm just back from a weekend in Morvern, on the Sound of Mull, when the weather was humid overcast and still; and they were just AWFUL. Take Autan. Take Deet. Take hand grenades and sub-machine guns. Kill!

You must smell too good, Sheila. <BR> <BR>When I was in the Army, we did a special forces course, they teach you to wear the same clothes and not wash for at least three days to blend in, in olfactory terms, with the surroundings. Now I'm not suggesting that you try that however spraying yourself with all that repellant is perhaps not the right thing to do. <BR> <BR>If the midges are anything like the skeeters we have in Charleston, you should not wear perfume and try to use non-perfumed deoderant. They will leave you alone and go suck on some other Chanel-led sap.

Sheila, a friend of a friend, etc., of mine, who from time to time would harvest a spare salmon here and there under - shall we say - covert conditions? would become so plagued by midges that he took to laying in the stream fully clothed with only his face (and pipe) above the surface, like some Highland submarine with its periscope up (ever watchful for you-know-who.) Evidently he preferred hypothermia to the creatures. <BR> <BR>Did Burns ever write a poem about them? He should have, being the expert in irritating orgamisms that he was. <BR> <BR>In Alaska we have a nasty called a no see'um which behaves similarly - but even more aggressive if that's possible. Another good reason one should be thankful one was not born a caribou. <BR> <BR>

What fascinating tips about pests! <BR>My travel guide to Scotland does <BR>warn about these midges. <BR> <BR>Lest you folks feel <BR>especially blighted. Let me tell <BR>you about chiggers! The bane of the <BR>Mississippi Delta and possible other areas in the south! <BR> <BR>Chiggers dont fly. You cannot see them they are too small. But you <BR>put any bare part of your anatomy <BR>to the ground and you are likely <BR>to pick up some. Then the misery <BR>starts.....you get red welts that look like mosquito bites except these things itch for WEEKS! <BR>Some believe the thing gets in <BR>your skin..but that is not true <BR>they have one $&@^%$@&#(@$** of <BR>a nasty bite that lingers and <BR>lingers. I unfortunately <BR>attract them like crazy..so <BR>I am a recluse in the summer! <BR>I have been out on my back porch <BR>for 10 minutes and a day later I <BR>will look like I have a plague! <BR> <BR>There are products on the market <BR>that do help suppress the itch.. <BR>"Chigger Rid" only problem is <BR>you smell like nail polish for <BR>weeks! :-)))

Charleston England, I presume?

Nope, my wife and I have lived in the same subdivision for 11 years now. I lived in England a long time ago, when I was in the army. Bentwaters.

Avon Skin-so-Soft is supposed to be a magical deterrent for these Scottish pets.<BR>Can't confirm it as I always prefer to travel south for my holidays.<BR>

Or "pests" even". Sorry about the typing error.

Amy, we have those little blighters in Texas as well. They live in Johnson grass, and will attach to any living body that brushes through the grass. They are tiny, and I do mean tiny, little red bugs, and their bite puts a mosquito bite to shame! I'd rather have poison-oak than chiggers.