What are midges and mosquitoes?
Midges and mosquitoes suck blood from the skin, causing itching and swelling that can last several days. Midges are tiny, only 1.4mm long, and are active from June to October. They dont spread diseases in the UK but can reach very high numbers in many places including the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District. Mosquitoes are much bigger than midges, between 5 and 10mm, and in many parts of the world spread diseases such as malaria.