How essential are fly screens in UK & Europe?

Last year we found them invaluable.  Apart from the normal bugs, including aggressive mozzies, there was a surfeit of Shield Bugs (a.k.a Stink Bugs).  Despite taking great care we still managed to bring some back.  

It’s clear you’ve never been to Scotland (or anywhere) in midge season, Dilby. Yes, fly screens are an essential.

Never found them essential lately but I have not been to Scotalnd in midge season for some time. There are times when they are useful, much depends where you stay. In my experince Spain has delt with the mozzie problem in many places but if you are staying on a site close to a farm or on a farm CL with cattle or horses, flies can be a problem. On balance I wouold fit them.

peedee

They have come factory fitted to my 5 caravans and I would not be without them, for UK on the Continent.

Colin

Yes we also find ours essential to allow us to open both windows and the sliding door. Can have them open without bugs getting inside. They will hall with mozzies to some extent, although they get in via the smallest gaps and annoy especially at night. But also stop bigger insects like wasps. We were on a CL last year where we think there was a wasps nest somewhere near. Without the fly screens we would not have been able to sit in the van with the door open.

I agree, they are pretty essential.  Having stayed in France and encountered many an area with mosquitoes, flies - some enormous ones, wasps, hornets and on one occasion huge swarms of ladybirds!  

Although we don’t have nets here at home with doors and windows open in summer, nor for sitting in the garden, and I never remember them at holiday houses, hostels or hotels in France. 

There’s a very good reason why these head nets sell well in Scotland.

It’s not just Scotland but in Northern England midges can be an issue. The worst we have know wasn’t in Scotland, and we’ve been on lots of tours there, some in height of midge season, it was Kielder and River Breamish. We also encountered the little beasties at Troutbeck. But there are other insects like Clusterflies and Cockchafers that can find their ways through open windows and roof vents. It must be said mind that all these insects mentioned have a season when they cause issues and the rest of the year is fine. Maybe having one window and one roof vent with screens would suffice.