Where have all the midges gone?

See the no see 'ums

ANDALUCÍA We write about them just the other day, and said that they would be gone by San Pablo and San Pedro's Day, June 29. What we didn't say was that the Levante (Eastern) wind would get rid of them, too. And it has. The only inconvenience is the Levante wind, which, according to our Weather Widget (it's there on the sidebar) is going to last for a good few days yet. At this time of year, the Levante tends to be fresh, which makes the hot days less so, and the evenings cool enough to wear a mantón, but as the summer progresses, can get hot and heavy and hardly refreshing. Thing is, we are at a lower latitude than Algiers and Tunis, and about the sam as the Sahara... Just thought you should know.

No see 'ums, but you feels 'em - when are the midges going away??

SPAIN As though we were the source of all possible information, over the last few days we have been asked many, many times about the midges, or no see 'ums as they same X%="@ insects are called in the US. Most of those who asked when they would be 'going away' were under the impression that they will have gone by now, that is St. John's Day (San Juan). But no, the experts (who gather mostly at the pensioners' day centre) say that the saint involved is none other than Saint Peter (San Pedro) and his mate Saint Paul (San Pablo). But all the answers are here: What is it about St Peter and St Paul?, More about those d****d midges, and All you wanted to know and more, about Ceratopogonidae, and when they go away. By the way, someone told us that they had been watching some golf in Germany on TV, and they were having as much trouble there with the damned things as we are here... cold comfort, but we're not alone.)

What is it about St. Peter and St. Paul?

Bet you haven't even noticed. Check it out: any midges around? Probably not, as San Pedro (Peter to his mates) had his Day on the 29th, last Wednesday. We told you about it here. His friend San Pablo had his Day that day, too. Indeed the Day in Spain is known as San Pedro y San Pablo - very together, they are. Between them, they manage to get rid of the midges year after year. We should be grateful, and probably are once we stop itching a couple of days later. We're not very up on our Saints here, admittedly, but we'd love to hear from you, Dear Reader, if you know why their Day is the same. There must be some biblical connection, we're guessing. (And, of course, this is why San Pablo de Buceite has its feria this weekend - anyone know why San Pedro de Alcántara doesn't?)

More about those d****d little midges - it's a matter of Saints

Yesterday we published an item titled All you wanted to know, and more, about Ceratopogonidae, and when they go away. We got the last part wrong - and when we're wrong we promptly admit it. We said that Spanish folklore has the bleeding little bleeders disappearing on or about San Juan's Day, which is the day after tomorrow. Actually, we got the saints wrong. Here's the full story, which we got over coffee this morning: They, those wretched minuscule wretches, go away on or about San Pedro y San Pablo (St. Peter and St. Paul), which is on the 29th of June, so we have another week to go. But, you ask, when do they arrive? On San Antonio, of course! That's on June 13th. Now you know. Well, we think you do.

All you wanted to know, and more, about Ceratopogonidae, and when they go away

SPAIN You don't know their name but you know them well. They bite, leave a welt, often at the back of the neck, just above the hairline. They attack day and night, They're a right pain. According to Wikipedia. Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges (including what are called, in the United States and Canada, no-see-ums, midgies, sand flies, punkies, and others), are a family of small flies (1–4 mm long) in the order Diptera. They are closely related to the Chironomidae, Simuliidae (or black flies), and Thaumaleidae. They are found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat throughout the world. Females of most species are adapted to suck blood from some kind of host animal. Culicoides, Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea), and Leptoconops suck vertebrate blood. Some Atrichopogon and Forcipomyia are ectoparasites on larger insects. Dasyhelea feed exclusively on nectar. Species in other genera are predatory on other small insects. Larvae are always found in some damp location, such as under bark, in rotten wood, compost, mud, stream margins, tree holes, or water-holding plants (i.e., phytotelmata). (FIND OUT WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR>>>)