AN anti-midge machine launched yesterday will help control the insect population and could also generate millions of pounds for the Scottish economy.

Tourists have long been dissuaded from visiting the Scottish countryside by huge swarms of the biting summer pests, but a device called the Midgeater promises to banish the scourge of the Highlands.

The (pounds) 1000 machines are powered by propane and use the latest technology to mimic human breath, attracting midges and sucking them into large bags.

Dr Alison Blackwell, of Edinburgh University, a world-renowned scientist in the field, claims the problem will be ''greatly reduced'' by the introduction of the Midgeater.

She said: ''The Midgeater is designed to run continuously throughout the midge season.

''Every midge caught not only reduces the current midge population but also means there are fewer available to breed which should result in a smaller population the following year.''

Research carried out by Dr Blackwell's team discovered that over half the tourists visiting Scotland for the first time are discouraged from returning because of the midges.

Their findings also revealed that 86% of tourists would warn friends against visiting Scotland in the key summer months of July and August.

The unit has been researched and developed by Dr Blackwell and Calor Scotland, together with the Scottish-owned engineering company, Texol, at a cost of about (pounds) 500,000.

Gavin Tomlinson, Calor Scotland communications manager, said: ''More than 14 million tourists trips are made to Scotland each year worth (pounds) 2.5bn. The height of the tourist season of June to August coincides with the height of the midge season. Midges cause sweet itch, a debilitating condition which affects up to 5% of the UK's horses and ponies.

''The midge is a little horror which costs the Scottish economy millions. If visitors stay just one more day, an extra (pounds) 286m is generated for the country's economy, so the launch of this device clearly has major positive implications.''

Dr Blackwell said that the machine would not upset the country's eco-system.

The Midgeater, which is aimed mainly at commercial establishments, runs off a Calor gas supply housed within the device.