Author Topic: 😱 Midges  (Read 1801 times)

ninthace

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #15 on: 17:51:54, 25/08/20 »
One thing that has always troubled me.  Midges are fairly ubiquitous within their range and there can be literally squillions of them.  What to they find to eat when there are no hikers or campers about? I would not like to think of the poor wee things going hungry.
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beefy

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #16 on: 18:16:59, 25/08/20 »
Those midges remind me of the time we were trapped in the tent near Tarras Water  ;D  Never seen anything like it before or since. Millions of them.
Well I'm going to pee in my boots  ;D
I wouldn't care if they all starved to death :P
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Birdman

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #17 on: 18:17:36, 25/08/20 »
One thing that has always troubled me.  Midges are fairly ubiquitous within their range and there can be literally squillions of them.  What to they find to eat when there are no hikers or campers about? I would not like to think of the poor wee things going hungry.


My understanding is that for their first breedingcycle in the season, blood is not necessary, so they can breed without sucking your blood. In the second cycle the do need blood to breed. I guess they look for other warm-blooded animals, but it seems impossible to me that they will all get their fill.
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Bigfoot_Mike

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #18 on: 18:19:58, 25/08/20 »
They can be pretty horrendous around Torridon. Most of the time it is too windy or raining too hard for the midges to fly, but given a still, damp day, early morning or late evening and they will be looking for blood. Generally they are not as bad in the Cairngorms, but I have had to make a dash for the car at Linn of Dee (with wife, S-I-L and B-I-L trailing in my wake) due to the number and ferocity of midges.

Bigfoot_Mike

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #19 on: 18:21:11, 25/08/20 »

My understanding is that for their first breedingcycle in the season, blood is not necessary, so they can breed without sucking your blood. In the second cycle the do need blood to breed. I guess they look for other warm-blooded animals, but it seems impossible to me that they will all get their fill.
It is not all midges that are after your blood, only the females. There are plenty of cows, sheep and deer to act as donors.

Birdman

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #20 on: 18:23:08, 25/08/20 »
It is not all midges that are after your blood, only the females.


I know. It's typical female behaviour.
My travel and walking reports: https://www.hikingbirdman.com/

Bigfoot_Mike

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #21 on: 18:24:36, 25/08/20 »

I know. It's typical female behaviour.
April and Mel will be a.ong later to deal with you  ;D :D

April

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #22 on: 18:34:14, 25/08/20 »
Well I'm going to pee in my boots  ;D


 ;D


I know. It's typical female behaviour.


April and Mel will be along later to deal with you  ;D :D


I'm too busy planning our bank holiday weekend in Scotland to deal with Birdman  ;D 


I'm looking at AA route finder directions and it says:


94.1 Continue Straight
94.1 Turn Right


 :-\


I hope we had a midge free few days beefy because I'm not peeing in my boots  ;)



Hate will never win

Birdman

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #23 on: 18:38:03, 25/08/20 »
Enjoy!


My travel and walking reports: https://www.hikingbirdman.com/

Birdman

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #24 on: 18:46:51, 25/08/20 »
My travel and walking reports: https://www.hikingbirdman.com/

Bigfoot_Mike

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #25 on: 18:56:14, 25/08/20 »


I'm looking at AA route finder directions and it says:


94.1 Continue Straight
94.1 Turn Right


 :-\

Why do you think the Highlands are so empty? This is a cunning plan from north of the border to keep it so.  ;D

beefy

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #26 on: 18:58:57, 25/08/20 »
Quote
hope we had a midge free few days beefy because I'm not peeing in my boots  ;)
I am  :D
Use ya she wee ;D
Anyway all your usual farting will probably gas the boggers to death  ;D
Leave only footprints, take only photographs, kill only time ...

markkitch

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #27 on: 16:35:34, 29/08/20 »
Ah well, that seals it, was looking for a long distance walk in 2022 but looks like the West Highland Way is going to be crossed off the possibilities.


No way I'm risking those [censored]

Birdman

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #28 on: 17:48:23, 29/08/20 »
Ah well, that seals it, was looking for a long distance walk in 2022 but looks like the West Highland Way is going to be crossed off the possibilities.


No way I'm risking those [censored]


Go in April and you will not see midges
My travel and walking reports: https://www.hikingbirdman.com/

markkitch

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Re: 😱 Midges
« Reply #29 on: 19:29:56, 29/08/20 »
April could work for 2022 actually

 

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