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The highland midge (scientific name: Culicoides impunctatus; Scots: Midgie; Scottish Gaelic: Meanbh-chuileag) is a species of biting midge found across the Palearctic (throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia, other regions of Northern Europe, Russia and Northern China) in upland and lowland areas (fens, bogs and marshes).
- C. impunctatus
- Culicoides
The highland midge (scientific name: Culicoides impunctatus; Scots: Midgie; Scottish Gaelic: Meanbh-chuileag) is a species of biting midge found across the Palearctic (throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia, other regions of Northern Europe, Russia and Northern China) in upland and lowland areas (fens, bogs and marshes).
Written by Chris Thornton | 1st of January 2024. The humble midge can be the bane of people living in Scotland, particularly in the Scottish Highlands and the west coast, but we do get them in east Scotland, too, just in lesser concentrations.
If you have never been to the Highlands before, you may have heard stories of the dreaded Scottish midge. A tiny two-winged fly that moves in swarms, generally near water or marshy areas, and bites unsuspecting passers-by. But don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you may think!
- What Are Midges? Midges in Scotland are a type of tiny insect of the order Diptera and the suborder Nematocera. Midges are found in practically every environment on earth, except the permanent cold deserts of the poles and the permanent hot deserts of arid zones.
- How Long Do Midges Live? A swarm of flying mosquitoes against green background. Midges mate and lay eggs during the summer months each year. The eggs are laid in boggy ground or ground vegetation and hatch into larvae.
- Midge Bites. Feet and legs of a woman with midge bites, bitten by hundreds of midges (or sand flies) in Western Australia. As mentioned above, female culcoides impunctatus need an abdomen full of blood in order to lay their eggs and perpetuate the species.
- Midge Habitat. Macro of a Midge Pollinating a Wildflower on the Pawnee National Grasslands in Colorado. Culcoides impunctatus in Scotland are found in highest numbers in the Western Highlands.
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May 31, 2021 · The highland midge, commonly referred to as a midgie in Scotland, is a species of small flying insect. They are mainly found throughout the UK and Scandinavia, often in areas of bog and marsh. Female highland midges are known for gathering in clouds and they will bite humans, cattle, sheep, and deer for blood. Male midges are non-biting.
Jul 24, 2016 · The highland midge is known as Culicoides impunctatus. The enemy: culicoides impunctatus in the (on the) flesh. Its Scots gaelic name is meanbhchuileag (trans: “tiny fly”). It has a wingspan of around 2mm. When they are at rest these wings are folded flat, one over the other, on their backs. A swarm of them can inflict about 3,000 bites in an hour.
