DAM BUGS!!!!

[lee celtic]

Hi all

I'm going up to Scotland in three weeks for a holiday and I am only really dreding one thing ...

The Midges..

Does anybody out there have any ideas on how to avoid , trick or above all KILL the dam things before they get me...

feed back would be good as I am taking the kids and I know they will be more of a pain than the midges if they get bitten.

cheers Lee...

[Manicminer]

AUTAN is pretty good.
Available from you local Chemist.

[the loon]

the only way to be sure.
 

only joking.
Best bet is try something with DEET in like jungle formula.
AVON do a good bug killer so I'm told by friends in the know. Apparently it kills on contact so doesnt actualy repel them but they die on contact with skin.

[Budgie]

Living on the Outer Hebrides and doing a lot of fishing then we come into contact with the things on a regular basis. We use Jungle Formula in liquid or lotion form and it works a treat.

The only other option is to get the family some of these nets, or there are even complete net jackets to cover your complete upper body.  

[Andy the Landy]

Light up a ciggy - they soon disappear

[laser_jock99]

Avoid going to Scotland between May & October! I used to do some climbing up there and this was the prefered tatic.

[Budgie]

Light up a ciggy - they soon disappear

Not up here they don't, they just go for your ears, head, hands and neck instead. Then they sit back and have cigar!!  :D

[Reaper]

I was Fishing up in scotland a few years back and got talking to a couple of old boys who had fished there all their lives one was 88 the other 92.
I asked them what they did to keep the midges away thinking they would say something like "what midges" or "they don't bother us natives" but no, they tell me how both of them had served in the army and had traveled all over the world and to this day they both agree that Scottish midges are the worst!! and what do they now use to keep them away--
AVON  Skin So Soft!
since then I have used this everywhere I go and have never had a problem!   Bizzare I know but it seems to work

[xmob]

Yesterday I was just about eaten alive by midges at LQ thanks to the combination of lots of wet followed by lots of heat.  Today, I found out that copious amounts of petrol in your clothes and a ciggie did a good job of keeping them away.

Just let the petrol evaporate before you light a ciggie.   :D

[the loon]

Yesterday I was just about eaten alive by midges at LQ thanks to the combination of lots of wet followed by lots of heat.  Today, I found out that copious amounts of petrol in your clothes and a ciggie did a good job of keeping them away.

Just let the petrol evaporate before you light a ciggie.   :D

how do you make xmob bark like a dog?

give him his ciggie before petrol has evaporated and....WOOF....

 

[Wingnut]

If you buy anything with the word Jungle in it make sure it's NOT Jungle Juice. We used that several years ago. I've got a picture somewhere of the bottle covered in dead midges. We threw it out of the bivvy after we realised it attracted them and killed them on contact  :(
Most perfumes, lotions etc are pretty good for keeping them away, but use womens products rather than mens. Something to do with the chemical make up. I think I used Body Mist ? last time. Just for keeping the insects away obviously. Its not that I like wearing womens things... :oops:

[Jimbo]

We spent two weeks up in Scotland last Summer - with 40 Scouts and Explorer Scouts - and as has been mentioned already - Jungle formula works well. I react quite badly to bites, so use Piriton tablets to calm the reaction down.......also found that Piriteeze (the over-the-counter version) and a few large Malts makes the whole 'mossie' thing a lot more pleasant -as you're comatose for the night and half the next day..... :oops:

There's a pound shop in Oban that sold 'anti-mossie' joss stick things - cost a quid (surprise, surprise !) for a pack of 100.......we found that they worked really well at keeping the 'skeetos away from the table at dinner time.

Jim

[muddyweb]

Last time out in Malaysia I used Jungle Formula... seemed to keep the nasties away...  but to be honest, I've never suffered too much from bugs.... I must not taste very nice :-)

[Eeyore]

For general midges I found that Mosi-Guard worked well. It's plant based, is in stick form and goes direct on the skin. Unlike DEET based products it doesn't damage certain fabrics and skin (it is possible to become sensitized to DEET). It smells better too.

More recently however, our local aromatherapist (a friend 0f SWMBO's) has made me up a repellent using various essential oils. It works as well as Jungle Formula, Mosi-Guard, Outwoods (all very good, BTW) and several others. I've tested it bashing the jungles of China and photographing wildlife in the wetlands of Florida and Mallorca. And camping in Yorkshire! It won't bother leeches however, unless they get a dab of it...... in which case they become very bothered.

Personally, I'd like a system where you deposit half a pint of blood on the Scots border for the midges and then you get left alone for the duration of your stay!

Cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[Henry Webster]

Having just been eaten alive at a wedding on Arran - I can now reveal several well kept secrets...

Kilts and outdoor weddings on the isle of Arran in June do not mix well!

Avon Skin-so-soft is indeed excellent for keeping the midges away - the hotel were giving it out!

and finally...

and I must admit a new one on me - eating marmite apparently does the job.  A marmite sandwich in the morning and you are protected all day!

I have this on good authority.

H

[lee celtic]

Thanks you lot  8)

The Avon thing was on radio 2 the other morning and now a few of you have confirmed it the bottle has been ordered from the local bing bong lady

The marmite one was also mentioned along with yeast tablets  :-&

they are meant to make you smell bad but the idea of four of us and a dog crammed into a caravan smelling of yeast just makes me want to add my name the the midges lunch menu

Thanks to one and all for the tips with a bit of luck we'll miss the feeding season.



(Who am I kidding :roll: )