Dear Evan, yes midges can draw blood but do not carry any diseases. They are only prevalent on the west coast of Scotland and a few areas in Wales. On the east coast it is too dry and cold for them, and in the south of the UK there is not enough of the wet atmosphere they like to survive. We do not have mosquitoes here as it is too cold for them. Plus we have many very clean and fast running streams and rivers, and mosquitoes do not like them!
Our trout, frogs toads and bats would also eat them, plus our aquatic Dragonfly nymphs.
Although saying that, with global warming and probably some crafty Scotsman out to make a new repellant that might lure them, we may someday get some!
Regards.
Neil.
