Several species of midge are particularly active from April until October and some start biting seriously around June for about 12 weeks. Midges tend to bite when the light is not bright - when the skies become grey and cloudy, at dawn or at twilight. Other flying bloodsuckers are the mosquito, stable fly, black fly and horse fly.

The only serious insect-borne disease is Lyme disease spread by ticks, most commonly the deer and sheep tick, and it is estimated that between 5%-10% of people who spend a considerable amount of time outdoors in woodland or rough vegetation, may have become infected. Many people who are bitten by ticks may not know that they have developed the infection, which does not necessarily result in disease - it is estimated that around one in four people who work outdoors in the UK carry antibodies to the causative organism. However, where it does, symptoms are a flu-like illness with fever, malaise, muscle and joint pain, and a sore throat.

While highly treatable in its early stages, if undetected, Lyme disease can cause serious long-term disabilities, including arthritis and damage to the nervous system and heart. It's generally accepted that the organism that causes Lyme Disease is only transmitted to humans following prolonged periods of feeding, so it is important to always check for and remove ticks as soon as possible. Ticks should always be carefully removed from the skin by grasping its head with tweezers and pulling off with a twisting motion, or covered with Vaseline to prevent them from breathing so that they drop off. Anyone with a spreading area of redness on the skin around a tick bite, an early symptom of Lyme disease, should visit their GP who may recommend a course of antibiotics to prevent later complications.

Prevention is the preferred method of avoiding all insect bites and their occasional serious consequences. An ounce of prevention is more than worth the effort when it comes to protecting you and your family whilst enjoying the great outdoors.