AN OPEN LETTER TO MIDGES

Dear Midges,

I apologise for encroaching on your mangrove breeding space whilst fishing the other day. The gravity of my offence is staring back at me in the form of red domes, majestically bulging in areas you should have not encroached as well. It’s all good though – the itch is driving me crazy, but I look at it as an exercise for my self-discipline.

You see, I have not yet been desensitized to your salivary secretions as some Territorians have. In fact, there are heaps of things about the Territory that I am not yet fully sensitized with – the long dry season, the relatively brief wet season, and the uncomfortable build-up in between. Warmth here extends from the 36-degree days to the bus drivers, shop keepers, and everyday Territorians who are willing to stop for a “quick yarn” or say “g’day!”. I still marvel at the glassy waters of the estuaries during sunsets when the wind is low and the sky is within reach, rippling with the subtlest movements. The same deceptively peaceful waters that are home to crocodiles large enough to drag you home like a T-bone steak, minus the nice wrapping paper.

And the fishing – have I told you about the fishing? Whether you’re chasing bust-ups for tunas, or waiting for the perfect conditions to land a barra, there’s plenty to go around, but people in general only take what is legal and necessary.

This brings me to this letter of apology. I learned from my in-depth search of relief for the itch, that you need blood meals for your eggs to mature and that your presence means the water is healthy with normal oxygen levels. You are also food for some species that ultimately make life in estuaries abundant. In the long run, you do play a role in creating the Territory as I have come to know it. In a manner of thinking, a tiny blood donation goes a long way – if only it doesn’t itch as much.

Let it be known I do not look forward to our next encounter, but should the time come, I will be armed with the knowledge of your ecological significance, and a good repellent to keep you at bay.

Sincerely, Your Unwitting Donor

Jonasyl Aubrey Auxtero recently moved to Darwin and is often out fishing with the Mangrove Ninja on the Grey Nomad. After her unforgettable encounter with midges and Nightcliff's oyster rocks (which resulted in a good amount of bleeding), she now wears protective gear and clothing whenever near saltwater.