Midges are gathering for perfect swarm...

A RARE combination of wet weather followed by intense heat means Scots are in for the worst midge season for six years.

As well as large numbers of midges, a rare third wave of the pests could be on the cards, stretching out the torment until the end of September.

The damp spring weather combined with the recent hot temperatures has provided the ideal reproductive conditions for the insects.

Dr Alison Blackwell runs the Scottish Midge Forecast, which gauges the numbers of them at various sites across Scotland.

This summer, she said, could see some of the highest numbers since the summer of 2011.

She added: ‘At the moment, it’s shaping up to be the biggest summer for midges for five or six years. The warm weather is ideal for them and will likely lead to increased numbers.

‘About five years ago it was a

‘Could see a third wave of them’

really good summer for the midges but the data we have collected so far suggests that it could be even bigger this summer across the country.’

There are 48 different types of midge in Scotland but it is the voracious Highland midge that commonly causes problems for Scots in the summer months.

Dr Blackwell said: ‘The recent warm weather has brought more out after the first midges emerged following the wet weather we had a couple of weeks ago.

‘In mid-July we should see a new, second wave of midges because the ones right now are currently mating.

‘We could even see a third wave of midges but it all depends on the weather. We would need the conditions to be perfect all the way up to September.

‘If we do get a third generation, it will stretch the midge season into late September.’