Harry Lyme

It has been suggested that the incidence of Lyme disease in the UK has been vastly underestimated (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jul/31/uk-lyme-disease-cases-may-be-three-times-higher-than-estimated). The disease is normally transmitted from deer to humans by biting ticks , so where the 2 species congregate is a good place (in the USA, it's under oak trees) for getting the infection. It has been estimated that there are circa 8000 cases of the disease in the UK but many doctors have little experience of the condition (which can be debilitating).

Seeing the Changes 1346

A Tabanus bovinus lurked in Loughor.

Hardly 'Ice Cool in the Arctic'

It's somewhat scary to hear that many wild-fires are blazing in the Arctic in locations from Greenland to Siberia (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/26/unprecedented-more-than-100-wildfires-burning-in-the-arctic-in-worst-ever-season). The smoke can be seen from space and, as well as adding to the greenhouse gases of the atmosphere, the ability of our polar regions to reflect a percentage of the sun's rays back into space seems to be coming impaired. Climate change appears to be progressing much more quickly than even the most pessimistic predictions. It seems like the 'gloomsters' have it!

Seeing the Changes 1345

In Loughor, Canadian golden-rod (Solidago canadensis) was in flower.

Seeing the Changes 1344

A few more spots from Crymlyn burrows with a Holly blue (Celestrina argiolus) and a female Six-spot Burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) being mated as she emerges from the pupa.

Birder's Bonus 191

A late arrival by Swallows (Hirundo rustica) in Bynea.

Environmental Crimes

Some scientists are reportedly advocating adding 'environmental crimes' as a fifth heading of precluded acts of war under the Geneva convention (https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jul/24/make-environmental-damage-a-war-say-scientists-geneva-convention). Rather predictably, their focus is the damage inflicted by warring factions on wild animals and conservation areas. These are very real issues and would include killing elephants to fund particular groups of combatants or the use of Agent Orange to defoliate trees in the Vietnam war. Having said that, it does appear difficult specify what should be included as an environmental crime. Some people would argue that adding to the generation of greenhouse gases by encouraging space tourism for the rich might well constitute behaviour that deserves the label. What about the extraction of hydrocarbons, over-fishing or destruction of the Amazon rainforest?