They may have been slow off the mark with the cold May but midges have emerged in large numbers, experts say.
The last few days have given the biting beastie the perfect swarm.
It could be the ultimate bite-mare for campers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Dr Alison Blackwell said: “The cold May kept numbers down but the last few days of hot weather has seen large numbers emerge.
“In a few days, people in the Highlands will feel the difference. If you haven’t been bitten yet, you soon will be.”
Dr Blackwell, who runs the Scottish Midge Forecast, is also director of Dundee-based APS Biocontrol – makers of anti-midge repellent Smidge.
The firm has already had large orders for repellent from countries including Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Dr Blackwell said: “Iceland is interesting because they had no midges until three years ago and now they are really stocking up because they have become such a pest.
“In Scotland, last October we had the largest third hatch we have recorded. Their season is becoming longer.
“But I think that with climate change, a third hatch may become a regular feature.”
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