Itch official – parts of the north have suffered from a perfect swarm this summer due to record numbers of midges.
Numbers of the bloodsucking beasties are more than three times up on the same time last year in Wester Ross.
The figures are measured by the number of midges caught in three traps set up across Scotland, including one in Argyll and another in the Galloway Hills, as well as in Wester Ross.
The second week in June had the midges out in full force, with the Wester Ross trap recording 915,000 in just seven days.
In total, the north west has been the worst hit with a recorded 3,649, 984 – 334% more midges compared to 2013 figures.
Argyll has also increased by 30% to 4,551,040.
Experts have said that warmer and wetter than average weather in early summer had helped the midges’ breeding season.
Leading midge expert Dr Alison Blackwell, director of APS Biocontrol Ltd, who run the Scottish Midge Forecast, said: “The rain and warmer temperatures came just at the perfect time as the first hatch emerged creating bumper conditions.
“There were so many midges about earlier because of the wet and warm weather they just enjoyed the conditions from then on.
“We already have record figures and the midges will be around for a few weeks yet.”
She added: “The north west is particularly bad at the moment but earlier this year it was the south west.
“Localised conditions also play their part. Around Ullapool is particularly bad currently. But I expect the numbers overall to drop off at the end of the month.”