Seeing the Changes 561

Noted, in Bynea, that the Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) was unfurling. In Loughor, the Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) was finally coming into flower and noted a strange encounter by a hungry snail.

Marching Through the Woodlands of Olde England

There are reports that outbreaks of Oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) larvae are spreading in Southern England (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-74CE39). The caterpillars live together in large groups and have the habit of following each other as they move from location to location. They also have extremely irritating hairs which can damage humans and animals and are major defoliators of oak trees. Their actions can certainly greatly damage infested trees and can even kill them. The loss of oak productivity can endanger birds and mammals that feed on acorns.

Rat-arsed?

The European horse meat scandal pales into relative insignificance with a report from China where it is claimed that rogue meat traders have disguised meat from rats, foxes and mink as mutton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/03/china-meat-offence-rat-mutton?INTCMP=SRCH). They apparently did this by using gelatin and colouring agents. This action, of course, has the same origins as the European scandal namely the ability to make big profits by avoiding any of the normal public safety controls associated with foods. Substitution of one species for another is clearly big business and takes some time to detect. One of the issues that people have not dwelt on to a great extent are the possibilities that the substitutions may well introduce viruses, bacteria and worm parasites into the the human populations that consume them. They may even play a role in generating new pandemic diseases as some of these agents change in their new hosts. And what about the possibility that warfarin could be added to the human diet in this way?

Seeing the Changes 560

Sunny, and noted the arrivals of the Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) and Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) in Swansea.

Not the Bee All and End All?

The EU ban on crop pesticides that can harm bees and other pollinators has been reported in some quarters as a victory for environmentalism (in spite of resistance from the UK government). A study from Utrecht University by Jeroen van der Sluijs (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/01/study-links-insecticide-invertebrate-die-off?INTCMP=SRCH) suggests, however, that the ban will have only a modest impact on imidacloprid levels in the environment as it would still be used to counter ectoparasite (fleas and ticks) infestations in cattle and companion animals (dogs and cats). The insecticide, used in this fashion,  finishes up at high concentrations in ditches, streams and lakes where it can reduce the numbers of invertebrate species (notably snails and dragonflies) to only 30% of those found in pristine surface waters. The author of the study suggests an outright ban.

Seeing the Changes 559

In Bynea, noted Common scurvey-grass (Cochlearia officinalis) in flower on the estuary. There was also lots of Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) on the dandelions.

Seeing the Changes 558

It is still cold but brighter. In Bynea, Red campion (Silene dioica), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Greater celadine (Chelidonium majus), Corn gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis), Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana). Yellow meadow ants (Lasius flavus) were also active in this area. In Loughor, Tawny mining bees (Andrena fulva) were busy digging, a Plume moth (Emmelina monodactyla) visited the light outside and a Large white (Pieris brassicae) patrolled the garden.