Perusing the thread of the 'The Outer Hebrides' there was mention of a problem concerning midges in Northern Scotland, which got me thinking....

Now for about 6 months of the year mosquitoes are a real nuisance where I live.
So I told my wife that we don't have mosquitoes in the UK, that the only real annoyance were gnats and wasps.

Was I right to tell her we don't have mosquitoes in the UK?
To be honest, I don't ever recall being bitten by them whilst living there.

Are midges and gnats the same?

Apart from getting stung by a wasp and stingy nettles (numerous times), I never encountered any unpleasantness thrown up by Mother-Nature in the UK.

Never seen an adder, never mind about being bitten by one.
I have never been stung by a bee either.
I hadn't stepped on a weaver fish, or hooked a stingray (I used to enjoy sea fishing) and suffered a strike by its poisonous barb.

Anyone got any experiences to share (UK only)?