Itch-hiking in Scotland
I learned something on a trip to the Scottish west coast last week. Despite any number of anecdotal claims, Avon-Skin-So-Soft is not an effective deterrent against the Highland midge, Culicoides impunctatus.
The first few lines of the Wikipedia article on the midge sum it up quite well:
As do a few of my ‘war wounds’…
So my advice to travellers is, quite simply:
The midge is an evil wee beast
Whose hunger for blood’s never ceased.
So it’s best to avoid these
Damned Culicoides
And their haematological feast.
Postscript: I was well-bitten by the little horrors, but thanks to my choice of deterrent I now have beautifully soft hands!