The Highland Midge Survival Guide: From Prevention to Protection

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  • Опубліковано 29 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 55

  • @dubstatic
    @dubstatic 6 місяців тому +8

    I found moving to Dorset helped me ;)

  • @thenullco
    @thenullco 6 місяців тому +2

    Blitzed through all your videos over a week or so. Looks like I'm not the only one doing it, which I think is the hallmark of a good channel!
    Really enjoyable. Admire your drive, problem solving, and determination. I take a similar approach.
    Sad to see the hair go!

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      Wow you made it through all of them! Thank you. It was driving me crazy blowing in my face so in a moment of madness I took to the clippers

  • @ashtonwoodturnings225
    @ashtonwoodturnings225 6 місяців тому +2

    This channel is getting better and better, Thank you

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      Thanks for the feedback I am really really pleased you think so.

  • @Mylifeinthehighlands
    @Mylifeinthehighlands 5 місяців тому

    Got to love our midgies haha strong but tiny. I have a homestead in the Scottish Highlands. ❤ Interesting channel- following along

  • @Alixstair
    @Alixstair 6 місяців тому +1

    A superb guide to midge countermeasures thank you!

  • @nim3od
    @nim3od 6 місяців тому +1

    I have been using the icaradin for years, it was developed for use on horses I believe. My hands were black with dead midges when I used deet (jungle formula) fishing Butterstone Loch. I prefer to cover up and a midge net does not cost much at all and you will look normal if fishing as everyone will be wearing one.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      Yea I think you can get away with the hat most of the time.

  • @garrygrant2827
    @garrygrant2827 6 місяців тому +2

    Hi when i was young i lived in argyll oh boy every year late spring till October midges were horrendous so bad some warm still humid nights my bed room window was black as there was billions on these biters first 3 years i was on ghere menu but later on my body seemed to get usgo them nice video very good information

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      I am really pleased you said your body gets used to it as I was hoping that might happen

  • @adrianhart9409
    @adrianhart9409 6 місяців тому

    11th of May
    When I moved to Scotland, my builder told me, Midge season starts on the 11th May.
    Sure enough, I've found that's quite an accurate date.
    I live on a croft and have found you do build a tolerance to them. However maybe I instinctively learn to do my jobs outside peak periods.
    I'll itch for about 30minutes after being bitten, however I no longer react to them.
    I was also told they breed in a 2 week cycle, so every 2 weeks they are really bad.
    At times you just have to hide from them.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      That sounds about right. Glad to hear you build up a tolerance or maybe just get used to them

  • @joobrien
    @joobrien 6 місяців тому

    The best midge info video ever!

  • @shakymedia_UK
    @shakymedia_UK 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for the video, very useful. We live further north in Halkirk and the midges here are the size of a pin head but their bite is quite painful. Like being stabbed by a needle. Used skin so soft but it’s weak. Jungle milk is quite good. I’ll try some of your suggestions. Luckily here in the real high lands the winds blow most of the time and they don’t bother us. Another observation up here is they seem to live in the hedges. So one more thing to add to your preventions is don’t disturb the hedgerows or trees.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      Is it!? I am glad ours seem a little more tame and I will keep in mind about disturbing the undergrowth. I have found when I am doing work in the grass it stirrs them up but haddnt considered it was the grass I thought they just found me in numbers

  • @sowgroweat6987
    @sowgroweat6987 6 місяців тому

    Looking forward to those up-coming videos. The last time in Scotland was ruined by us having a drink then hiding in tents in the evening. Standing in bonfire smoke also helps, but the resultant deterioration in lung quality from the smoke is not fun.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      Yea I agree thats the hardest bit. You want to be outside enjoying it but end up just having to hide

  • @SmithyScotland
    @SmithyScotland 6 місяців тому +2

    Skin so soft - but the original version

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      I diddnt know there was a difference I will have to see if I can get some

  • @markoneil8286
    @markoneil8286 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for the info. I am outside at nite and have have a go at me in spring, summer, early fall

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      That must be tough if you have to be outside in the bad bits

    • @markoneil8286
      @markoneil8286 6 місяців тому

      @@beyondtheworkbench no vaping as doing it in the house the dog coughs all the time

  • @mgmcgahon1
    @mgmcgahon1 6 місяців тому +1

    Pipistrelle bats are your friends. They eat approx 3000 midges a night each.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      We have some of those! I found them when I was fixing the barn. I will have to start a breeding programme

    • @Jonebee7771
      @Jonebee7771 5 місяців тому

      Make some bat boxes 👍​@@beyondtheworkbench

  • @Dibblah1900
    @Dibblah1900 6 місяців тому

    The Smidge headnet works quite well too. Definitely don't assume that a "normal" midge net will work - the Scottish midge just breezes straight through. Nice video!

  • @petershores
    @petershores 6 місяців тому +1

    I wonder why we don’t get them in similar terrain in Wales? Good video thanks as we love Scotland for hols!

  • @dundeerocks
    @dundeerocks 6 місяців тому +1

    I'm one of the lucky people midgies don't go for (large sums of money for scientific research always welcome) . It's perhaps not the superpower I'd hoped for but in Scotland I'll definitely take it!

  • @davidmitchell1029
    @davidmitchell1029 6 місяців тому +2

    Wind kills midgies so use a deskfan or two when you sit outside on bugdays

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      I actually did do that when we had a BBQ as we have some huge fans and it definitely kept them away from the immediate area

    • @davidmitchell1029
      @davidmitchell1029 6 місяців тому

      @@beyondtheworkbench go round with a leaf blower for 5 mins next time...lol or the fan from a bouncy castle...lol tried that before.

  • @EyewitnessAlf
    @EyewitnessAlf 8 днів тому

    I've started to use for bites a plantain salve, broadleaf and narrowleaf plantain dried chop a cup full of dried leaves simmer in coconut oil for 4-6 hours squeeze every last drop out add half a teaspoon I prefer less and pour in jars. I'm going to try a midge repellent using raw neem oil with the same method. Avin skin so soft the ingredients were changed in 2012 it doesn't work now

    • @EyewitnessAlf
      @EyewitnessAlf 8 днів тому

      I should have mentioned I'm a midge attractant and ultra sensitive to there bites. Plantain salve works for bites sting and nettle stings also excema and spyriosis and it lasts years if the leaves were fully dried

  • @happyglampers9053
    @happyglampers9053 6 місяців тому

    Having suffered with mosi bites for years, I’ve found that Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Body Spray with Jojoba works as a repellent. Nothing scientific though. Great vid Rob 👏👌👍 That was a cruel test that you did to yourself 😳😮
    Even though there’s a risk, Deet every time when it’s very humid (SSS washes off with the perspiration) 👍

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      That sounds like a winning solution thanks. Yea I had to grin and bare it

  • @yanik007
    @yanik007 6 місяців тому

    Is there anything you can plant around your house / office to deter / repel the bugs? Or remove any painting that they like?

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      Yea you can get citronella plants which are like grass or reeds so they will fit in nicely where we are. I am not sure if they repel innately or if its the 'juice' inside that does it so we will have to find out.

  • @areyoushaw206
    @areyoushaw206 6 місяців тому

    Have you seen the flextail repellants that use citronnella?

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому

      Nope not yet but now you mention it I am checking it out right now

  • @johnbeattie9561
    @johnbeattie9561 6 місяців тому

    Midges are one thing but wait till the Clegs get you. those buggers drink you blood and even though much bigger than Midges you never feel them land you just feel the bite.

    • @beyondtheworkbench
      @beyondtheworkbench  6 місяців тому +1

      Yea those are monsters! one drew blood the other day

  • @inquisitiveexplorerlee3299
    @inquisitiveexplorerlee3299 5 місяців тому

    👍

  • @CChallinor
    @CChallinor 6 місяців тому

    I heard they could strip a body to the bone in 30 minutes