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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Midges die off in freezing cold | Midges die off in freezing cold |
| (1 day later) | |
| Freezing temperatures are believed to have killed off a "proportion" of Scotland's midge population. | Freezing temperatures are believed to have killed off a "proportion" of Scotland's midge population. |
| Expert Dr Alison Blackwell said midge larvae that spends winter a few centimetres below ground will have been vulnerable to the prolonged cold spell. | Expert Dr Alison Blackwell said midge larvae that spends winter a few centimetres below ground will have been vulnerable to the prolonged cold spell. |
| But she said most midges, numbered in the trillions, will have survived. | But she said most midges, numbered in the trillions, will have survived. |
| Tourists put off returning to Scotland after being repeatedly bitten by the tiny insect is estimated to cost the tourism industry £286m a year. | Tourists put off returning to Scotland after being repeatedly bitten by the tiny insect is estimated to cost the tourism industry £286m a year. |
| Dr Blackwell said: "The hard winter is going to kill off a proportion of the wintering midge population, but you have to remember there are trillions of midge. | Dr Blackwell said: "The hard winter is going to kill off a proportion of the wintering midge population, but you have to remember there are trillions of midge. |
| "If we have a nice warm, damp spring there will be a big midges emergence as we have seen previously." | |
| Edinburgh-based Dr Blackwell added: "But hopefully there may be a few less." | Edinburgh-based Dr Blackwell added: "But hopefully there may be a few less." |
| Expired insects | Expired insects |
| Last summer, two men cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in their underwear for charity were badly bitten by midges shortly after reaching the Highlands. | Last summer, two men cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in their underwear for charity were badly bitten by midges shortly after reaching the Highlands. |
| Adam Dunn and Gavin Topley, from Branksome, near Bournemouth, had taken no other clothes, money, food or insect repellent for their journey. | Adam Dunn and Gavin Topley, from Branksome, near Bournemouth, had taken no other clothes, money, food or insect repellent for their journey. |
| They relied on offers of free accommodation and meals. | They relied on offers of free accommodation and meals. |
| However, also last summer, a woman on Skye was using midges as a key ingredient in food for wild birds. | However, also last summer, a woman on Skye was using midges as a key ingredient in food for wild birds. |
| Housewife Elaine Bunce added the biting insect to beef dripping and flour to create her Original Highland Midge Bites. | Housewife Elaine Bunce added the biting insect to beef dripping and flour to create her Original Highland Midge Bites. |
| She advertised in a local newspaper for people to send her expired insects collected from midge killing machines, as it takes a thousand for each ball. | She advertised in a local newspaper for people to send her expired insects collected from midge killing machines, as it takes a thousand for each ball. |