Scotland’s midge fauna was first scientifically described and investigated in the early 20th Century but it was not until the middle of the century that Scotland’s midges were investigated in more depth. The University of Edinburgh set up their ‘Midge Control Unit’ in 1952.

You could also opt for a more high-octane outdoor activity where the midges won't be able to keep up with you as you are moving at speed: In humans, this does not seem to be a problem in Scotlandyet but could be in the future if temperatures increase. In some parts of the world, midges can spread yellow fever and malaria, but thankfully in Scotland, we do not have the same issue.The wings of a midge beat faster than any other wings in the animal kingdom – 1000 times per second.

The grayness comes from their dark wings and their abdomen’s color changes depending on their last meal.Dr Henry Disney (Department of Zoology) has been fascinated by insects since he was four years old. His career has taken him all over the world. Despite losing 75% of his sight in 2012, Disney walks every day to his lab, where use of the latest imaging and magnifying technology enables him to continue his research. Below, Disney answers questions about the tiny insects that can, during summer months, turn a camping holiday on the beautiful west coast of Scotland into a nightmare. Meniscus midges live at the point where air and water meet – a zone known as the surface film. It’s a habitat that supports a whole community of plants and animals, many of them still unexplored. Some minute organisms spend their lives within the surface film; others, like meniscus midges, spend their larval lives feeding on it.