Midges

[mrselnombre]

We seem to have an over abundance of midges in our garden at the moment. I'm wondering is there any natural deterants out there, or a way to encourage more of the natural predators in?

We live by a river and have plenty of trees around, including a willow in the garden which seems to be the perfect place for them to swarm under.

[triops]

Swarms of midges are usually of males, hoping to attract females. If you listen carefully you may hear the sound they make to lure in the girls. What a wonderful place to live, close by the river, with all the natural phenomena! They are food for birds, bats, dragonflies,etc., and completely harmless, so nothing to be frightened about.

[mrselnombre]

not frightened of them, they are more of a annoyance. We seem to have bats in the evenings too, maybe I can work on bringing more birds in to try and keep their numbers down a bit.

I'll have to try to take a picture of them to identify exactly what they are.

I don't want them gone, as i know how important they are, but I would like a few less when i want to sit in the garden

[Gerel]

Hi mrselnombre,

roughly how large are your critters? Just in case there is a confusion here about common names.

If you mean the tiny (2mm long) black bu*&*rs with striped wings that are such a menace in parts of Scotland then, as far as I know, there are two options.

Deterrents such as DEET, Citronella and Avon "Skin So Soft" (sworn by by forestry workers),

Or Attract and Kill systems such as Midgeater (others are available) which emit CO2 + an attractant chemical which lures the (biting) females into a trap.

Natural predators such as bats will eat thousands but if you have millions to start with they will still be a problem.

Steve

[Dorts]

There are several kinds of 'midges', by far the worst is the Culicoides midge, the one that bites on warm evenings.
It loves damp ground in which it breeds.
There are several 'midge-busting' machines on the market, the best cost around £750, but really do work.
Dorts.

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Gerel

Deterrents such as DEET, Citronella and Avon "Skin So Soft" (sworn by by forestry workers),

Steve

Forgive me for having a wee laugh to myself when I read your post. I'm not being dismissive because I know the skin cream works as I've used it myself. But the picture conjured up by 'forestry workers' slapping the stuff on tickled me. In my youth I worked on a farm at the foot of Glen Clova in Angus and frequented a local pub in Kirriemuir. Two drinking buddies of mine and fellow members of the darts team were forestry workers and went everywhere in an old beat up pick-up truck and it was all the landlord could do to get them to leave their chainsaws outside because they carried them everywhere.These guys were what might be termed social misfits today and were as rough as boars s**t ! One was about seven foot tall and the other was a severely condensed version at five foot nowt.Both had fingers missing and the big one had a chain-saw scar which ran from his temple to his inner thigh (eye-watering to behold) In short the picture of these guys picking up their order from the local Avon lady makes me grin.

But apart from that I endorse fully the aforementioned cosmetic product.

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

Forgive me for having a wee laugh to myself when I read your post. I'm not being dismissive because I know the skin cream works as I've used it myself. But the picture conjured up by 'forestry workers' slapping the stuff on tickled me. In my youth I worked on a farm at the foot of Glen Clova in Angus and frequented a local pub in Kirriemuir. Two drinking buddies of mine and fellow members of the darts team were forestry workers and went everywhere in an old beat up pick-up truck and it was all the landlord could do to get them to leave their chainsaws outside because they carried them everywhere.These guys were what might be termed social misfits today and were as rough as boars s**t ! One was about seven foot tall and the other was a severely condensed version at five foot nowt.Both had fingers missing and the big one had a chain-saw scar which ran from his temple to his inner thigh (eye-watering to behold) In short the picture of these guys picking up their order from the local Avon lady makes me grin.

But apart from that I endorse fully the aforementioned cosmetic product.

That's why it stuck in my head so strongly, I worked for a while on conifer plantations in the Flow Country near Forsinard and it was lads very similar to your description who recommended SSS (I thought they were taking the mick at the time)

Steve

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Gerel

That's why it stuck in my head so strongly, I worked for a while on conifer plantations in the Flow Country near Forsinard and it was lads very similar to your description who recommended SSS (I thought they were taking the mick at the time)

Steve

It's a sad truth that these guys would be more likely to drink it than rub it on

[laetoli]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

One was about seven foot tall and the other was a severely condensed version at five foot nowt.

Sounds like "Of Mice and Men"

Paul

[mrselnombre]

I don't know what kind they are yet, i have selotape on a piece of paper hanging off the line so i can catch a few for a closer look.
they are really small, and they bite too. Wings appear to have no markings, tiny black bodies