Beetlemania in the Moth Trap

Along with 3 Cockchafers and some Carpet moths, I discovered this handsome black beetle. About 2cm long.

Seeing the Changes 865

Start of the orchid season, with the appearance of a Southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) in Penclacwydd.

Don't Get Your Octopus in a Twist

The octopus is certainly amongst the most intelligent of invertebrates but its 8 arms have an apparently simple way of controlling the suckers. Hochner et al  at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that a substance in the skin prevents the suckers fixing on another part of the animal's own body (including another tentacle). These molluscs will sometimes treat amputed arms (that can be regrown) as food but are less likely to gobble one of their own severed limbs unless the skin is removed. It appears that a chemical (or chemicals?) in the skin prevents activation of the suckers (it must be an individual characteristic).

Snail Wars

With slightly contorted logic, some gardeners apparently hurl snails, threatening their prize blooms, into their neighbour's garden (rather than kill them). New research from Queen Mary University and Exeter (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/16/snails-homing-instinct-overcome-move-20-metres-away) suggests, however, that you need to throw the errant molluscs more than 20 metres if you don't want core members of the local garden population to return (homing snails?). Gardeners will have to tone up those muscles (or use a catapult)!

Seeing the Changes 864

Between Loughor and Penclacwydd, noted a Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) as well as blooming Elder (Sambucus nigra), Rough poppy (Papaver hybridum), Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), Hemlock water dropwort (Oenantha crocata) with insect visitors, Annual nettle (Urtica urens) and Pencilled cranesbill (Geranium versicolor).

Seeing the Changes 863

Thrift (Armeria maritima) was in flower by the Loughor estuary.

A Really Useful Hedgehog?

There are reports of 2 Israeli entrepreneurs developing a $7 device called keepod (Hebrew for 'hedgehog'). The item is essentially a USB flashdrive that essentially provides 'an operating system on a stick' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27346567). This would enable folks in 'poor' parts of the world (the device is being trialled in Kenya) to fruitfully use even 'tired', old computers without having to pay for expensive upgrades. The information for the individual user would be stored on their own keepod device. The $7 price includes about $2 profit that can be ploughed back into development and rolling out the device more widely. The item sounds almost as useful as the original beast (I love 'em because they chomp the slugs).