 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Midge Ingress.. |
 
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| Matt110 Member Since: 29 Jun 2014 Location: UK Posts: 685  
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I must confess I really want to do some travelling round Scotland but the midges have so far managed to put me off especially with young children. I've also heard stories of them getting through normal gnat netting in roof tents, which would be unamusing given we have canvas roof tents!
I'm surprised they managed to get into a closed up camper though. A defender has no air filter so I could envisage them making their way in through the duct but a camper a bit baffling. |
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9th Sep 2021 5:38pm |
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| bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1956  
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I posed a similar question on here a little while back, after being attacked by them along with gnats and mosquitos.
After a long extensive investigation and lots of home work I can up with the following. I use Thermacells there are 2 types one is a handy but in gas type and the other screws onto a camping gas stove. Both have replacement tabs which last a couple of hours. I use both together one on the table and one on the ground near it. They both work fantastically well, they say it clears an area of 15m and in fairness it’s close to that. The odd midge, gnat or mozzy may break through. But you indoors…….so I found this works a good quality citronella candle and a mix of lavender oil, tea-tree oil and peppermint oil diluted in some warm water in a spray bottle. Spray around the window seals and doors, they tend to get through the roof lights because they are not sealed and the bug nets are only for larger insects like bees and wasps etc Hope this has been some help  2023 Defender L663 V8
2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 (gone) 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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9th Sep 2021 5:57pm |
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| XplusYplusZ Member Since: 16 Aug 2021 Location: UK Posts: 516 |
Scotland is truly world class for big, outdoor scenery. There are so many gorgeous spots to park up. Definitely worth braving it. My strong advice would be to stick to the coast. On the same trip I spent 4-5 days out near Skye before heading to this particular spot and forgot Midges existed - which made my little problem even more of a terrible surprise. Having said that - I have the same apprehension about a summer excursion to Norway.. I know the scenery would be mindblowing, but seeing it through a headnet could tend to take a little away from the experience..
I've heard a lot of pretty serious outdoors people recommend Thermacells - I think i'm going to have to try these things. Great tip on the repellent around vents, I'll be trying that for sure. Does anyone have good window net tips? I've got a new defender for a week and would like a cheap option to crack the windows but keep the bugs out.. I'm thinking quite DIY - maybe tights over the door frame or similar? |
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10th Sep 2021 7:25am |
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| Smyles_ Member Since: 25 Aug 2018 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 518 
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2nd this
My entire time in Barra I never came across any midgets. Stuart 
Cummins 130 Build Thread 58 130 Double Cab HCPU - Cairns Blue 04 110 Double Cab - Black (gone) 07 Audi RS4 Avant - Silver |
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10th Sep 2021 8:10am |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3387
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We spent last week on Harris and were right on the coast.
As soon as the wind dropped the little blighters were straight out. As mentioned above they go straight through normal mosi net type mesh so make sure any mesh you use is small enough to stop them. We were staying in a cottage so didn't have the issue of them getting in the truck. To be fair, most of the week there was enough of a breeze that they weren't a real problem and the scenery is well worth the effort! |
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10th Sep 2021 8:23am |
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| Balvaig Member Since: 19 Feb 2016 Location: Fife Posts: 736  
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Smyles - unlikely to find many midgets on Barra
If the midges don't get you the berry bugs will. These are small mites that burrow under the skin and cause an allergic reaction. Found on all types of vegetation, but particularly fond of blackberry bushes - hence the name. Always have an antihistamine cream with you.! |
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10th Sep 2021 9:07am |
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| Matt110 Member Since: 29 Jun 2014 Location: UK Posts: 685
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...............right now it seems like i'm more likely to survive a loop round Oz!!
Huntsman Spider vs Midge and Berry Mites.......... 
I'm not good at spiders. I better go for the mites. |
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10th Sep 2021 9:19am |
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| Hairy Dan Member Since: 25 Apr 2013 Location: NW Durham Posts: 1427 
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I've ordered some of these as I quite often camp in the car, hopefully I will be able to crack a window open and not worry about the little blighters getting in https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002990...4c4d5ZSSE8 Cheers Ian
-------------------- 22MY Defender 110 D200 SE, Fuji White. Kielder 4x4 Safari Instagram @defender_v8 |
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10th Sep 2021 9:23am |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1852 
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Berry bugs - that's a new one on me. Every day's a school day.
We're on Lewis just now - on the coast and as has been said above, once the wind drops, out they come. I suspect the Hebridean midge must be a stronger and more determined sub-species; it needs to fly in wind that would ground a normal midge and to be active in colder temperatures if it's to have any chance of a meal. I think some tent netting is sold as no-see-um net, and it is small enough, "mosquito net" definitely has a wider mesh. I made the point of checking what type was used when I bought my new roof tent. They are attracted to CO2, so our breath draws them in - their must have been something like that going on to draw them into a van in such numbers. One thing I've seen done is a net panel attached over a window (on the inside) with adhesive velcro or small magnets. I think even IKEA do a similar thing for house windows. I'd also want to take a good look around a van to see where they were getting in. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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10th Sep 2021 9:28am |
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| Smyles_ Member Since: 25 Aug 2018 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 518
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I know... almost as if being on a small island is the same as being surrounded by the coast...🙃 Although it still doesn't stop the wee shops stocking plenty Smidge... Stuart
Cummins 130 Build Thread 58 130 Double Cab HCPU - Cairns Blue 04 110 Double Cab - Black (gone) 07 Audi RS4 Avant - Silver |
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10th Sep 2021 10:01am |
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