tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9640161663398282652024-02-19T08:59:04.900+01:00French wildlife and beekeepingA blog about French wildlife with a wide focus on French species, conservation, habitat management including keeping honey bees and honey production managed organically in a sustainable manner.Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-14829454533723769442022-09-16T12:41:00.009+02:002022-09-16T12:44:24.303+02:00The Roller in France experiences an exceptional expansion in range in 2022.<p><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: -webkit-center;">(Roller </span><i style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Coracias garrulus </i><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Le Rollier d’Europe)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: -webkit-center;">The European Roller is a migratory species spending the winter months south of the Sahara. The first ones to arrive in France are noted at the end of April, but the majority of the birds arrive in May when breeding starts immediately, some years from mid-May, but the peak of egg-laying takes place at the beginning of June, late pairs often lay eggs until June 25.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">They
are a cavity-dwelling species that often uses the cavities dug by
Green Woodpeckers and any others cavities it can find in various
trees (plane trees, willows, poplar, pine, oak, almond), at a height
that varies between 5 and 10 meters. They sometimes will use holes in
walls, sandy banks or can even use old European bee-eater galleries
(Tron et al., 2008). They do not bring any nesting material into the
chosen cavity. The female lays 4 to 7 eggs there, the incubation of
which lasts 18 or 19 days. Breeding success is 73%, i.e. 3.6
fledglings per breeding attempt.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">After
their emancipation, the young Rollers will disperse outside of the
immediate nesting zone in the Mediterranean region where they
originated. This dispersion classically takes place in the Rhone
Valley and in Occitania.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
However in 2022 this phenomenon has taken on a quite remarkable
magnitude with a dispersal covering a large part of the southern two
thirds of France, albeit sporadic and localised a situation that is
unparalleled in recent decades. Obviously at this stage the reason
for this is speculative but one way or another the heat waves that we
experienced this summer in France will have been a significant factor
with reduced available water and insects.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkUegaFCqNW7gLuQyJNhxD3tI9UHU2HVMUNh0iPbV-kp6w9jZx4ObN_XHFCo2XGa0qfv6Vg34lARO-8HgOYkJNgeOeKbRxqFgFkBTmzkIv_Sj59tphyKnABXyFN9fVyrNqRfm8LRDKfXeInf_3FyyYZtD-MjPSn5Zw_9deEWBW2benYTi2NQ4r1T2CA/s481/Map-Roller-2021-France.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="481" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkUegaFCqNW7gLuQyJNhxD3tI9UHU2HVMUNh0iPbV-kp6w9jZx4ObN_XHFCo2XGa0qfv6Vg34lARO-8HgOYkJNgeOeKbRxqFgFkBTmzkIv_Sj59tphyKnABXyFN9fVyrNqRfm8LRDKfXeInf_3FyyYZtD-MjPSn5Zw_9deEWBW2benYTi2NQ4r1T2CA/s320/Map-Roller-2021-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above 2021 </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below 2022</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAEyuVElaVx7bIe70k3kCUIfzfMQuB83Xd5-6GwEvWS73IRt_Qzqzek44PsZDmP9JVKrUw2E-kHLKnrHlua2yDne30szBlX6yNSNzDDpqqvCb_XaLiPvBeixy9H_kciyygIivNbsjTQoRxPFn3D4ZQTlV8J758WnnBwUmxWPJ1uLBo9JekmQrt-PkrQ/s722/European-roller-2022-France.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="722" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAEyuVElaVx7bIe70k3kCUIfzfMQuB83Xd5-6GwEvWS73IRt_Qzqzek44PsZDmP9JVKrUw2E-kHLKnrHlua2yDne30szBlX6yNSNzDDpqqvCb_XaLiPvBeixy9H_kciyygIivNbsjTQoRxPFn3D4ZQTlV8J758WnnBwUmxWPJ1uLBo9JekmQrt-PkrQ/s320/European-roller-2022-France.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p><p>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">NOTE.
A single Roller was seen in Lincolnshire, UK, at the end of August
this year, (2022)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">It's
also worth noting that France is one of the few countries witnessing
a population increase for this species that is declining elsewhere in
Europe.</span></span></span></p><p>
<br /><br />
</p><p>
</p><p>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Chris</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-40980494499801742772022-09-01T21:21:00.025+02:002022-09-02T12:56:41.021+02:00White tailed sea eagles reintroduced in France<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">White tailed eagles effectively disappeared from France as breeding birds some 130 years ago. They have not nested since 1959, having been subjected to hunting, poisoning, pesticides, water pollution, egg collections and theft of chicks along with the disappearance of wetlands and other human disturbance and since then we have only a few young birds that visit in winter from the east and north east. </span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Earlier
this year in summer four young white-tailed eagles were successfully
released from a zoological park in Haute-Savoie in an already
successful method of reintroduction.</span></span></span> </span>
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #232323;"><span>After
disappearing for more than a century, the white-tailed eagle is once
again taking its place in the skies of the Alps. This is the case of
“Haute-Savoie”. This young fishing eagle - named after the
Departement that sponsored the reintroduction program - measures 2.5
meters in wingspan and weighs about 6 kg. According to
Jacques-Olivier Travers, the founder of the animal park and
reintroduction center of the Eagles of Lake Geneva she </span></span><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;">likes
to perch on the big trees on the edge of the park.</span></span></span></em></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span></span></span></em></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit71XLKL4Pdfkgdx8dlRNVbZn4KE0ZqE2QZHgKbd_-r1Un9iUHupPcSbWuSVXhnH-qOFHNChWh4lJy_b23zZumGUPV0lBlovtGQ6-lhBCaAy9h7j4j_bknAcWh5M8d59JHv6e3AjIpA6R-A9BCmZGFNv2xCkJv-HWD-6wwiGKDiq7iz9t2Fy-uN66xsw/s1285/Short%20toed%20eagle%20France%20reintroduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1285" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit71XLKL4Pdfkgdx8dlRNVbZn4KE0ZqE2QZHgKbd_-r1Un9iUHupPcSbWuSVXhnH-qOFHNChWh4lJy_b23zZumGUPV0lBlovtGQ6-lhBCaAy9h7j4j_bknAcWh5M8d59JHv6e3AjIpA6R-A9BCmZGFNv2xCkJv-HWD-6wwiGKDiq7iz9t2Fy-uN66xsw/s320/Short%20toed%20eagle%20France%20reintroduction.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></em></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></em></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span></span></span></em></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmGGIveO8NKD88hE59a39iSAMTGTC6IeVF8f_Ij1uvuq_Ws6RF6faPhhYX9k3DiJ2FfqZ6uiXc7CgQIE0-3lQqAyzH2F-bO74_T15uwayRonbDFYrR4heaNLrcGk40pnjS2F4fxBFUqZfgihXQU0a1bFxuxjYrlmTDtY_GWFtDZ3JtB6JSCPs8qGCg/s1292/Short%20toed%20eagle%20France.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1292" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmGGIveO8NKD88hE59a39iSAMTGTC6IeVF8f_Ij1uvuq_Ws6RF6faPhhYX9k3DiJ2FfqZ6uiXc7CgQIE0-3lQqAyzH2F-bO74_T15uwayRonbDFYrR4heaNLrcGk40pnjS2F4fxBFUqZfgihXQU0a1bFxuxjYrlmTDtY_GWFtDZ3JtB6JSCPs8qGCg/s320/Short%20toed%20eagle%20France.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></em></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></em></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #232323;"><span>For
15 years, he fought to reintroduce the eagle, now he is rewarded with
the first flights of his eaglets.</span></span><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;">"For
me, it's the most beautiful bird in the world, but I'm not objective.
To see them fly here, in Sciez, where they flew 130 years ago before
disappearing for so many years, I think it has enriched biodiversity
in an incredible way. It makes me forget all the hardships and 15
years of fighting. Every day, they give us incredible gifts,"</span></span></span></em><span style="color: #232323;"><span>says
the falconer.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Like
three other eaglets, “Haute-Savoie” was born in Sciez, in the
aviaries of Jacques-Olivier Travers' reintroduction centre. All of
them were opened a few days ago in August to let the eagles take
their freedom. Its reintroduction program, totally unprecedented, is
now crowned with success.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The
young white-tailed eagle reintroduced on August 12 made a flight of
350 kilometers in two days, from Haute-Savoie to Ain via Jura,
Oyonnax and Geneva, before returning to its starting point. This
whole journey was reconstructed thanks to the GPS beacons installed
on the back of the bird.</span></span></p><p>
</p><p style="border: none; line-height: 0.74cm; margin-bottom: 0.64cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"It's
impossible that he visually memorized the place where he was born. It
means that there is something in his head, or maybe magnetic fields,
that allow them to leave and know how to find their way back",
</span></span></em><span style="color: #232323;">Jacques-Olivier
Travers.</span></span></p><p style="border: none; line-height: 0.74cm; margin-bottom: 0.64cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">After
taking a break for a day, it headed to Switzerland. A spectacular
flight, carried by thermals, up to 3,000 meters above sea level.
Within ten years, 85 young eagles will be reintroduced to the shores
of Lake Geneva.</span></span></p><p style="border: none; line-height: 0.74cm; margin-bottom: 0.64cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The long story in French which is well worth looking at is <a href="https://natureetzoo.fr/la-reintroduction-du-pygargue-a-queue-blanche-aux-aigles-du-leman/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></p><p style="border: none; line-height: 0.74cm; margin-bottom: 0.64cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Chris</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></div>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-84469548828277706922021-05-04T10:30:00.007+02:002021-05-04T10:34:48.611+02:00Pesticides in France for members of the public and in public spaces.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">From </span><st1:date day="1" month="1" year="2019"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">January 1, 2019</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">, only plant protection and other gardening products
of natural origin have been available to home gardeners in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16pt;">. This was originally to have been from Jan 2022 but
was brought forward as part of the French move towards reducing the use of products
that are harmful to both humans and the wider environment. This follows the
banning in 2017 of the use of Glyphosate, (Roundup), and other synthetic
pesticides in public spaces including public roads, parks and cemeteries. (The
term Pesticides is used generically these days to cover all “cides”, herbicide,
fungicide, insecticide etc. to avoid laborious </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">repetition</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">).</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBovQgsrV5Yim1pFOmW9mv1X5qp6lGjigyrnGeqMqQLMnUcfoieovHWbJ_u11v3mAGXZkbgdcW7hB-H0J6UFLQ8SLHRXGPbuGfTHbGbxosbFJv8FpZoV8oPuHd-glsOAqr1p_D66SZ44q/s800/Roundup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBovQgsrV5Yim1pFOmW9mv1X5qp6lGjigyrnGeqMqQLMnUcfoieovHWbJ_u11v3mAGXZkbgdcW7hB-H0J6UFLQ8SLHRXGPbuGfTHbGbxosbFJv8FpZoV8oPuHd-glsOAqr1p_D66SZ44q/w320-h253/Roundup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The use of synthetic
pesticides continues to be permitted for farmers and professionals registered
to work in the gardening business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Synthetic pesticides are “a
substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a
process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring
plant, animal, or mineral sources.” Synthetic pesticides are often referred to
as conventional pesticides.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Of course natural products
can be equally as harmful if used excessively or in concentrated form. For
example salt, vinegar, detergents and even Jeyes fluid are often promoted as
being natural but all can and will cause serious environmental harm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Natural products that have
been approved can be found on this PDF list.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://agriculture.gouv.fr/telecharger/107938?token=05114b30f4d7c166288d72c1a15d4127da868bf56deb89544941882be8241c2f" style="font-size: 16pt;">https://agriculture.gouv.fr/telecharger/107938?token=05114b30f4d7c166288d72c1a15d4127da868bf56deb89544941882be8241c2f</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></p>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-20542342857941942642021-04-04T15:51:00.004+02:002021-04-04T15:51:55.245+02:00Voles and holes in France<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Gardeners and householders in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> are forever complaining about the presence of voles
in their gardens, either because of the holes they make or the harm they can cause
to plants and vegetables. Any harm they may cause depends on the species, some
preferring roots and others seeds, grains, leafy plants and even insects.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Although there are eleven
species of vole in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> only a few are of concern to gardeners or farmers. As
a general rule these are the Field vole, the Common vole and the Bank vole. The
Water vole in its land based form, (known as rat taupier), can have a major
impact but they are only present in some regions of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSA26lM5L2ld8KoHa6ixxlTfh4gu1KV2JXviheEoWiXh1tKi0u220uCT2FoOtlertQSMahujSpdtneex6b3-fjh_L_Sdbr6BHnCaudB1BFbmhaM3BhgKXXepb67aFpwft6eFSO0C4GmV4/s868/vole+hole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="868" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSA26lM5L2ld8KoHa6ixxlTfh4gu1KV2JXviheEoWiXh1tKi0u220uCT2FoOtlertQSMahujSpdtneex6b3-fjh_L_Sdbr6BHnCaudB1BFbmhaM3BhgKXXepb67aFpwft6eFSO0C4GmV4/s320/vole+hole.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Occasionally some vole
species have a population explosion that reaches a peak and then equally as
rapidly the populations collapse back to normal or less than normal for a year
or more.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">What needs to be considered,
as always, is the greater good and voles along with wood mice provide the main
food source for a large range of creatures and in some cases what amounts to the
only food source.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I would think that birds of
prey will immediately spring to mind for most people; owls, buzzards, kites and
hawks. All will catch and eat voles to some extent and for some they will make
up almost 100% of their diet. They are of particular importance for Little
owls, Barn owls, Kestrels, Hen and Montagu’s Harriers, all of whom will either not
produce eggs or will experience high chick mortality numbers if there aren’t sufficient
numbers of voles available.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Most of the snakes that are
found in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> regularly eat voles.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">On the mammal front they will
be eaten by Foxes, Stoats, Weasels, Badgers, Polecats, Genets, Stone Marten,
Pine Marten and European Mink.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Although it may seem a bit
callous, the more voles that are available for mammals and snakes to eat the
less pressure there will be for them to eat other creatures that are either less
able to produce large numbers of offspring or that are already suffering
population declines due to other causes.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Due to the harm being caused
to other non target species the use of poisons, (rodenticides), in the outside
environment was prohibited by law in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> in 2012. Poisoning to other creatures was being
caused either directly with them coming into direct contact with the products
or indirectly by the consumption of creatures that had been poisoned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Farmers in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> can apply to their Prefecture for derogations to
enable them to continue with poisoning fields to protect their crops and sadly
this has become normal. It’s also not unusual to see dead small birds around
animal sheds where poison grain is being used but that’s a different issue.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">These vicious cycles reduce
the number of predators for the voles and other rodents and increases the need
for poisoning, exactly the opposite of that which is required.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></p>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-67725570014669892642021-02-13T13:32:00.007+01:002021-02-14T12:42:57.115+01:00Protected Reptiles and Amphibians in France<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The new list of protected reptiles and amphibians in France has for the first time included the four species of Viper, (</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Vipéridés).</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><span face="sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Vipera aspis - Vipère aspic - Asp Viper</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Vipera berus - Vipère péliade - Common Adder</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Vipera seoanei - Vipère de Seoane - </span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Seoane's viper.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="sourcesanspro, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Vipera ursinii - Vipère d'Orsini - Orsini's viper</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For far too long these species have been </span>persecuted<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and killed. This combined with the destruction of their </span>natural<span style="font-family: inherit;"> habitat has resulted in a serious decline in numbers.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Needless to say this will not in itself prevent the continued harming of these valuable species but will send a signal to those with ears to hear and to those in </span>authority<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000043113964?fbclid=IwAR1716kZ6xGw6ACIrC8hfvzeZKf0hYbnlXlVEnbZdVS7RvMxNe2kMnY6XsE" target="_blank">LINK TO LEGISLATIVE TEXT</a></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chris</span></span></span></p>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-78728584144954414312020-10-05T15:01:00.002+02:002020-10-05T15:03:57.428+02:00Sexton or Burying beetles in France<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Our house is full of places
where animals live and overall we are happy with that and it rarely causes any
actual harm although occasionally something dies which needless to say can
smell a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Fortunately, as always, the
natural world is well equipped to deal with any small corpses that are
inaccessible, (as they invariably are), and Burying or Carrion beetles are one
of the insects that make their living from such things. There are some 20 odd
species in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> with a total of 30 species in </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Europe</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
although not all are true burying beetles; some of them eat fungi or rotting
vegetation. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This year in September we
were finding <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nicrophorus vespillo</i> in
one part of our house and I would speculate that they had been on a dead </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Loir</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">,
(Edible Dormouse), probably behind the bath or false wall in the downstairs
bathroom, one of the places where they frequently live. These amazing beetles
can smell a corpse from a vast distance using the highly sensitive hairs on the
ends of their club ended antennae. Having found a corpse, usually that of a
small mammal, both male and female set about preparing it for use, sometimes
excavating below it to bury it or even moving it if it’s small enough. Hairs or
feathers are removed as are any eggs or larvae of other species, (flies etc),
and the body is shaped into a ball where the beetles eggs are laid around it.
Both parents feed and care for the young larvae when they hatch and this can
last for up to 10 days before the young can consume the corpse directly. This
feeding of the young larvae by adults is very rare in the insect world and is
normally associated with social or colony forming species such as honey bees,
wasps and ants. In addition to this unusual behaviour the parents are known to regulate
the number of larvae in relationship to the quantity of food available on the
carcass by removing and killing some larvae if there is a shortage of food or
laying more eggs if there is plenty, thus having larvae of different ages on
the same corpse. Larvae pupate in the soil or debris under the corpse before
emerging between 20 and 30 days later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-y2CyblFCIxPpMQQTWIigB1Z0zlQ440E6gLFw97g5YkIYe7ATKeXEnh0GWG5k2URV04e2w0opj90cuLCSpMmDUb5DyN2uENBbJsoPm1zqT4FgK-COJ7i1J4Gl52QP3GxDAmDK5eh5Zvz/s1400/Nicrophorus-vespillo-burying-beetle-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nicrophorus vespillo, burying beetle with mites in France" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1400" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-y2CyblFCIxPpMQQTWIigB1Z0zlQ440E6gLFw97g5YkIYe7ATKeXEnh0GWG5k2URV04e2w0opj90cuLCSpMmDUb5DyN2uENBbJsoPm1zqT4FgK-COJ7i1J4Gl52QP3GxDAmDK5eh5Zvz/w320-h234/Nicrophorus-vespillo-burying-beetle-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nicrophorus vespillo </i>with mites</div></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">As with some other insects,
notably some Bumble bee species, these Burying beetles carry with them several
species of phoretic mites that use the beetle as transport from one corpse to
another. The relationship between these mites and the beetles has generally
been thought to be benign but there is extensive research continuing on what
the actual relationships and effects are. Needless to say it’s too complicated a
subject for me and to go into here but I’ve put a link below and to a great
video.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">LINK <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-14201-6 " target="_blank">Phoretic mites and beetles</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">LINK <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2PJ_-f77dE" target="_blank">Video burying beetle at work and larvae</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-60326623659326103322020-09-08T15:26:00.000+02:002020-09-08T15:26:22.777+02:00Bees killing hornets in France<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I know it is stating the
obvious but every year is different in the natural world and no two years can
be the same, however this is becoming increasingly exaggerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Habitat loss, agricultural
methods and climate change along with other factors are causing rapid major
changes for our native species requiring them to adapt or perhaps in some cases
disappear completely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">For some species this is
creating opportunities and they have expanding populations that are sometimes
associated with an expansion in their range. However for most species there are
accelerating declines and this in turn leads to changes of behaviour as species
attempt to adapt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Where I live most insect
species have been in overall decline for the last 25 years and this year has
been abysmal for them but I want to talk specifically about hornets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Following
the usual slow start as nests were established and populations grew I started
to see a gradual increase in both Asian and European hornets in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
half of July and there are presently sizeable numbers of both around the hives
and where the bees take water. Of course it’s to be expected that the Asian
hornets would be behaving like this but it’s the native European hornets that
are behaving differently in so much as they are concentrating their activity on
taking honey bees. They always do take some but this is different and I can
only speculate that it’s the shortage of all the usual insects they take to
feed their larvae. This in turn is putting them more in harms way than would
otherwise be the case and I have been finding several dead European hornets in
front of hives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Unlike the Asian hornets that
keep their distance I have noticed that our native hornets tend to get very
close to the hive entrance, even briefly landing on it, so it was no surprise that
when putting the mouse guards back on the hives for winter the other day I saw
a European hornet mobbed by a mass of guard bees when it got too close to the
hive entrance. The hornet didn't stand a chance but it was 45 minutes before
the bees were finally satisfied that they had dealt with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUN_LvN_0SI78QLCF3hefjOghaupxUULHJnrxpQMj2bEkOm9x4_2qX0ZIVtQNq1_WXrT2UHMsx4bU1Rjzu4DrLaTD0X8rujRlFH5AhIoF9zVOFGjbiwU1bCTYGTeZMbas-yUyrRWZDY3T/s1600/1.Honeybee-cluster-on-hornet-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUN_LvN_0SI78QLCF3hefjOghaupxUULHJnrxpQMj2bEkOm9x4_2qX0ZIVtQNq1_WXrT2UHMsx4bU1Rjzu4DrLaTD0X8rujRlFH5AhIoF9zVOFGjbiwU1bCTYGTeZMbas-yUyrRWZDY3T/s320/1.Honeybee-cluster-on-hornet-France.jpg" title="Honey bees cluster on hornet in France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuL3i4zMWsG0kDjeP0-DMFREOIEmk6m0VaxtuSU2lgC0cXhNOhtcomWXAx0zPhrUv4U1cqe-_kdUDd3LDQngKDhefh0IkbfgZNIBBftoWGFOCFVaxvOgAPdEUHaszSV2StpK4Px9cPSEK/s1600/Honeybee-cluster-on-hornet-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuL3i4zMWsG0kDjeP0-DMFREOIEmk6m0VaxtuSU2lgC0cXhNOhtcomWXAx0zPhrUv4U1cqe-_kdUDd3LDQngKDhefh0IkbfgZNIBBftoWGFOCFVaxvOgAPdEUHaszSV2StpK4Px9cPSEK/s320/Honeybee-cluster-on-hornet-France.jpg" title="Hornet is mobbed by honey bees in France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrKVMdHlWon2pSgnjV_hntwgHB7sPAB1URU7qxAgaYkw-2eOwuHtw0CNWUdwnuZ8FXUf2WykE8sQaJxcJeKRJfGNIc00ze8T7fJfAnVl5Tvm7UnDmZP2F0NXSN8wDQz61N6mmcLpyQpv6/s1600/Hornet-attacked-by-bees-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrKVMdHlWon2pSgnjV_hntwgHB7sPAB1URU7qxAgaYkw-2eOwuHtw0CNWUdwnuZ8FXUf2WykE8sQaJxcJeKRJfGNIc00ze8T7fJfAnVl5Tvm7UnDmZP2F0NXSN8wDQz61N6mmcLpyQpv6/s320/Hornet-attacked-by-bees-France.jpg" title="Hornet being killed by honey bees in France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFYZ43DHwVpyjkLm6ZCXMYuB4TbUdsnpGEEO9SyEl4XnMaO1P7Z_3Z6GpEs-Y0Jx2FOrFcTAm-1gx78GfLkGJJ43kb3zYjL8Og7g23KmfSExN_EsAgnf2cLUHVUneua07Py8vMLbuIKzW/s1600/Hornet-killed-by-bees-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFYZ43DHwVpyjkLm6ZCXMYuB4TbUdsnpGEEO9SyEl4XnMaO1P7Z_3Z6GpEs-Y0Jx2FOrFcTAm-1gx78GfLkGJJ43kb3zYjL8Og7g23KmfSExN_EsAgnf2cLUHVUneua07Py8vMLbuIKzW/s320/Hornet-killed-by-bees-France.jpg" title="Bees have killed the hornet in France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeskTG1Y4pFpfv9ZXxxm9D0jmwanflnGhPveMmaQPiMw8Is7F_tpTRo6fWvsdh_VRrKm8Hd1K_blrXOUWZWddOrIK4E0greB0Pwv647vfGrhmi-j_eRqyczOHSLMo3vxepkqwb1LBiNEU/s1600/Dead-hornet-killed-by-bees-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1500" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeskTG1Y4pFpfv9ZXxxm9D0jmwanflnGhPveMmaQPiMw8Is7F_tpTRo6fWvsdh_VRrKm8Hd1K_blrXOUWZWddOrIK4E0greB0Pwv647vfGrhmi-j_eRqyczOHSLMo3vxepkqwb1LBiNEU/s320/Dead-hornet-killed-by-bees-France.jpg" title="Dead hornet killed by honey bees in France" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Amazingly no bees died in the
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-3237765236095141982020-08-28T12:05:00.003+02:002020-08-28T12:11:49.887+02:00Ferrets and hunting with ferrets in France<span style="font-size: 16pt;">In </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> the ferret has the status of domestic animal which is
guaranteed to it by the order of </span><st1:date day="11" month="8" year="2006"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">August 11, 2006</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 16pt;">, issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable
Development, and as such anyone can own a ferret as a pet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa1mBOJoHLKIW4x9aF5-hviwpGJVU5AFyNcOPWjuVoBToqy4nAXyYwG8DQr0HeohDOF-_9fuSkFpjt9bcupUq1hMNIUOWCuSc0NN2BIBOWgfHTi6HBM0w-xll388Q9xmBNTK8EjDhdjtM/s1600/Ferret+France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa1mBOJoHLKIW4x9aF5-hviwpGJVU5AFyNcOPWjuVoBToqy4nAXyYwG8DQr0HeohDOF-_9fuSkFpjt9bcupUq1hMNIUOWCuSc0NN2BIBOWgfHTi6HBM0w-xll388Q9xmBNTK8EjDhdjtM/s320/Ferret+France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">However the use of ferrets
for hunting creature such as rabbits is regulated in law and can only be
practiced during the periods specified by the Prefecture each year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The followings departements
also require an individual permit to be issued by the Prefecture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="FR" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Ariège, Ardèche,
Aude, Aveyron, Bouches-du-Rhône, Cantal, Charente, Corrèze, South Corsica,
Côtes d'Armor, Creuse, Dordogne, Finistère, Gard, Haute Garonne, Haute-Corse,
Hérault, Haute-Loire, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Savoie, Haute-Vienne, Gers,
Gironde, Landes, Lot, Lot et Garonne, Lozère, Morbihan, Puy de Dôme,
Pyrénées-Atlantiques,, Pyrénées-Orientales, Tarn et Garonne, Var, Vaucluse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="FR" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It can be required to state
the exact locality(s) where this is to take place and requires the permission
of the landowner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-91089436220497719102020-07-25T17:01:00.003+02:002020-07-25T17:09:05.212+02:00Chafers and Honeybees in France<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The other day a chap on a French Beekeeping Face book group
posted a photo of a beetle trying to get into one of his hives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His initial reaction having “Googled” was
that it may have been a Large hive beetle, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oplostomus
fuligineus</i>, a species that is found in <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> and although this has not yet been recorded in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region> we can’t be sure where anything is going to turn up these days. New non native species
seem to arrive on almost a weekly basis in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the Small hive beetle, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aethina tumida</i>,
another non native, has been found in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>
but as of this moment hasn’t reached <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway it was clearly a Chafer, that much was indisputable
but not a Large hive beetle. I was sure, (ha,ha,ha), at first that it was dark
Rose Chafer beetle due to its general appearance and size, (close to 2cm).
However I couldn’t find any evidence of Rose Chafers trying to enter hives and
although they are plentiful at our place, (Rose chafers and hives), I have
never seen them on my hives so I started to deepen my search for any examples
of this. After much searching and changing search terms I finally came up with
some examples of where peoples hives had been invaded by chafers, but not Rose
Chafers but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Protaetia morio</i> known as la
Cétoine noire. In many ways they look like dark Rose chafers, they are 1.3 to 2
cm long, the dorsal surface is dull, blackish to brownish with small ochre
spots more or less marked, or even absent, on the pronotum and aligned
transversely on the elytra. Although the greatest populations are to be found
in the Mediterranean zone they are present to some extent in almost all other
regions of <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Other than the fact that they are attracted to honey their behaviour and life
cycle is much the same as the Rose chafer, feeding on thistles, knapweeds etc
with larval development in rotting wood and fibrous soil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000; mso-spacerun: yes;">Click on images to enlarge</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLpbLWokkyeeZMOFK32XcuO0IOSAd1yTs40s0AE8X8IEYK087kuHHpr6CUMqXLEUVnh_-7hnirYnfGs-vBuajD-XACF1eiV6BUIxehSw91ADIJRFlnF6sXGR1nVIiol-GzGeqQmL_xguz/s1600/C%25C3%25A9toine-noire-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLpbLWokkyeeZMOFK32XcuO0IOSAd1yTs40s0AE8X8IEYK087kuHHpr6CUMqXLEUVnh_-7hnirYnfGs-vBuajD-XACF1eiV6BUIxehSw91ADIJRFlnF6sXGR1nVIiol-GzGeqQmL_xguz/s320/C%25C3%25A9toine-noire-France.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It seems that the observations of them entering honey bee
colonies take place in July and August and if the beetles are numerous they can cause severe
disruption for the bees which can’t eject them as the beetles bodies and wing cases
are too hard for a bee sting to penetrate. In the case of a hive it should be a
simple case of using a hornet guard to keep them out but we can assume that
they have developed this behaviour over thousands of years by entering natural
colonies in trees. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74Oc_y4woYPV4gsxdOKAgc4zXEc2SWsvgRXTJdv_JnoDc25S0ECqUb55H6LZIpnAAVLGqN6X1uPENsySHdMRFTelNbouILdUY3qoM2G9qo5-vw6iWCOSal3h9HxcGhmooLANwDuP8ShE5/s1600/Chafer-C%25C3%25A9toine-noire-and-hive-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="640" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74Oc_y4woYPV4gsxdOKAgc4zXEc2SWsvgRXTJdv_JnoDc25S0ECqUb55H6LZIpnAAVLGqN6X1uPENsySHdMRFTelNbouILdUY3qoM2G9qo5-vw6iWCOSal3h9HxcGhmooLANwDuP8ShE5/s320/Chafer-C%25C3%25A9toine-noire-and-hive-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://wildlifeinfrance.com/insects-france/cockchafer-chafers-hanneton-in-france" target="_blank">Chafers in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENYftyGf37w" target="_blank">Video with Cétoine noire and a hive.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-17161970275085337952020-05-20T10:22:00.001+02:002020-08-28T12:07:19.122+02:00May bug – Cockchafers - Hanneton commune and Hanneton forestier in France.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #990000;">Hardly extraordinary I can
hear people thinking but the other day I saw a May bug here, first one in
several years. In fact in the 25 years we have been here there have only been a
couple of years when I have seen them.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">A May bug or Cockchafer generally refers to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Melolontha melolontha</i> or the Common Cockchafer but there is an
almost identical species in France with which they could be confused which is
the Forest cockchafer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Melolontha
hippocastani, </i>which is a species found in woodlands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Generally<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Melolontha melolontha </i>is<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>considered
an to be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an agricultural pest and they were
brought almost to the point of extinction in the arable areas of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> following the use of chemical insecticides such as
DDT and Lindane. Both of these caused massive environmental harm before being
banned from use. In the 19<sup>th</sup> century prior to insecticides being
available the beetles were collected by hand to be killed, a process called
“hannetonnages” that had some effectiveness even if a little laborious.
Schoolchildren would sometimes be enlisted to perform this task where they
would place sheets under the hedgerows in the morning and shake them out,
collecting them in containers. Back at school the chafers would be weighed and
some payment made by the kilo, a kilo roughly equalling 1,200 chafers. We can
only dream of such numbers these days.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Since the 1970’s their
numbers have slowly recovered on pasture land. However where intensive arable
farming is practiced they are few and far between as almost every available
piece of land is cultivated and constantly ploughed. This practice makes it
close to impossible for them to complete their life cycle as any larvae, in the
unlikely event that there should be any, are constantly bought to the surface
and exposed to the birds that follow the tractors. This only leaves the
roadside verges and any small uncultivated parcels of land. The situation has
been made worse by the removal by the EU some 15 years or so ago of the
requirement for farmers to leave a percentage of land fallow. This resulted
from the misconceived idea that bio fuels are more important than habitat, a
decision that has caused and is causing untold harm to a vast range of species.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://wildlifeinfrance.com/insects-france/cockchafer-chafers-hanneton-in-france" target="_blank">CHAFERS IN FRANCE</a></span></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-4318193723121923462020-01-24T12:02:00.002+01:002020-01-24T13:12:17.075+01:00Beaver in Nord pas de Calais for the first time in 150 years<span style="font-size: large;">The presence of Beavers has
been confirmed in the area around Val-Joly, in the Avesnois, Nord-Pas-de-Calais
after 150 years of absence. More than 20 trees have been found with the distinctive
pencil cutting and fur traps have provided <st1:stockticker>DNA</st1:stockticker> evidence.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ3NACp9ASXG3b_sC4wliR4BqjqJqvA2yqTzoH-uxQxHKgvEKJg4HKDty2NGrqwgOMVjDfZs2-nFmSbclH5NTjd1LAKJTBorY9b9zc2c675i3lXCJ9l9_Ih1GLpci1BMAEtrrOYkiQPbC/s1600/Beaver-cut-trees-Nord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ3NACp9ASXG3b_sC4wliR4BqjqJqvA2yqTzoH-uxQxHKgvEKJg4HKDty2NGrqwgOMVjDfZs2-nFmSbclH5NTjd1LAKJTBorY9b9zc2c675i3lXCJ9l9_Ih1GLpci1BMAEtrrOYkiQPbC/s320/Beaver-cut-trees-Nord.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The beavers will have crossed
the border from Wallonie, (<st1:country-region><st1:place>Belgium</st1:place></st1:country-region>), where they were released in the early 2000’s by
activists where they have apparently expanded at an extraordinary rate both in
numbers and territory covered in the canals and rivers that crisscross the
region. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the recent discovery
in Pyrénées-Atlantiques which is likely to have been a clandestine release this
will be a natural progression and should provide a basis for continued
expansion throughout the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Chris</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://wildlifeinfrance.com/mammals-france/beaver-in-france" target="_blank">Beaver in France Link</a></span></div>
</div>
</span>
</h4>
</div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-84794963332064336652019-11-11T12:56:00.000+01:002019-11-11T12:56:35.822+01:00Freshwater jellyfish in France.<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">This summer we experienced a very long period of
drought and two scorching heat waves which are probably the reason for an
unusual and little known phenomenon to occur in the </span><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Vienne</span></st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">
departement along with other parts of west and southwest </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">! These
were exactly the right conditions when the water warms sufficiently for the
emergence of a tiny freshwater jellyfish, <em><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">craspedacusta
sowerbii. </span></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">They are normally only seen when they take the
form of a small bell-shaped jellyfish known as a hydromedusa and float near the
surface of the water but this requires a water temperature of at least 25°C and
forms only one part of their interesting lifecycle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">As a jellyfish they are 20–25 mm in diameter,
somewhat flatter than a hemisphere, and very delicate. They have a whorl of up
to 400 tentacles tightly packed around the bell margin. Hanging down from the
center of the inside of the bell is a large stomach structure called a
manubrium, with a mouth-opening and four frilly lips. Food is taken in and
waste<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expelled through the mouth
opening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #990000;">Click photo to enlarge</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2SIauOv2tJY615Aj9LmJr3pfLhwSwztrLBbN885EuhSfSZG4dr6KCqUJWxXp1V-WQzBTx2fOOC_gpg-6oYl3_E3H4vV0-htHfFdEDTMjjdl2xceufe-IDLNrGW03lHwZ02zxrFlTa4rx/s1600/Craspedacusta+sowerbii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1020" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2SIauOv2tJY615Aj9LmJr3pfLhwSwztrLBbN885EuhSfSZG4dr6KCqUJWxXp1V-WQzBTx2fOOC_gpg-6oYl3_E3H4vV0-htHfFdEDTMjjdl2xceufe-IDLNrGW03lHwZ02zxrFlTa4rx/s320/Craspedacusta+sowerbii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Craspedacusta
sowerbyi</span></i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;"> more often exist as microscopic podocysts
(dormant "resting bodies"), frustules (larvae produced asexually by
budding), planulae (larvae produced sexually by the hydromedusae), or as
sessile polyps, which attach to stable surfaces and can form colonies
consisting of two to four individuals and measuring 5 to 8 mm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">This species, originally from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">China</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;"> (</span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Yangtze</span></st1:placename><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">River
Basin</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">), probably originally
arrived in </span><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Europe</span></st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;"> with aquatic plants
imported for botanical gardens. In the ponds of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Kew</span></st1:placename><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Gardens</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">,
near </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">London</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">,
it was discovered in 1880 by the naturalist William Sowerby. Since then,
it has conquered every continent thanks to the trade in aquarium plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">In </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">
they can be found in slow moving rivers, lakes and ponds, maybe even your
garden pond if they have been transported there with pond plants or stuck to
birds’ feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should you come across them
you need not worry, they present no danger to humans or other mammals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-71172462062170076172019-11-03T12:05:00.000+01:002019-11-03T12:13:06.257+01:00Man stung 30 times by Asian Hornets in France<br />
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">It’s not that Asian Hornets
venom is anymore toxic than our native hornet and wasps, or even that they are more
aggressive away from their nest. It’s more about where Asian Hornets are
increasingly choosing to make their nest.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I’ve chosen a few recent
cases to illustrate this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In Montmorillon,
</span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Vienne</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">, a</span><span style="font-size: 24px;"> 76 year old man </span><span style="font-size: 18pt;">was stung more than 30 times by Asian Hornets in his
garden when cutting a small hedge outside his house on </span><st1:date day="30" month="10" year="2019"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">the 30th of
October 2019</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 18pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">When his wife came to his
assistance he was covered in hornets and she was stung 5 times before
neighbours arrived with thick clothing and managed with the use of wasp sprays
to get him away from them. He was transported to the hospital by the Pompiers
to receive treatment. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uq9xVuZYeCv-_Z4rka2Em6_QsIepHDPq2UQTG4QWOooGcLqfTH5ahaXMoBJj93mP-swvTvd3yH94QtQCuCLcCm9IvH3ZEXhkqylDS55hlXK575VFz1M__qMoNixTjv07iVGDHP2_B5cE/s1600/Asian+hornet+nest+in+hedge+France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1020" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uq9xVuZYeCv-_Z4rka2Em6_QsIepHDPq2UQTG4QWOooGcLqfTH5ahaXMoBJj93mP-swvTvd3yH94QtQCuCLcCm9IvH3ZEXhkqylDS55hlXK575VFz1M__qMoNixTjv07iVGDHP2_B5cE/s320/Asian+hornet+nest+in+hedge+France.jpg" title="Asian Hornet nest in small hedge, France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">The couple had never noticed the
presence of the hornets in the hedge which is about 50cm high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Earlier in the year on 1st
August, in the Nantes area another man was stung more than 10 times when he
disturbed an Asian Hornet nest in the water meter box and fortunately suffered no serious
effects, however the day before at Grayan-et-l'Hôpital, Gironde, a woman died
following multiple stings when she disturbed an Asian Hornet nest at about 1.5
metres from the ground when going to her post box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In these and most other cases
attacks occur when nests are disturbed, whether that is Wasps, Bees or Hornets.
I have myself suffered the consequences of putting a brush cutter into a wasp
nest at ground level and know how easy it is to hack away without first looking
for any obvious nest activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">What’s becoming increasingly
clear for anyone that has been following the evolving situation with Asian
Hornets year on year is that they are increasingly making their nests close to
the ground. This inevitably leads to an increase in attacks. (European Hornet
nests are always under cover in buildings or hollow trees making accidental
disturbance less likely).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Other than in a handful of
cases a year in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> very few people actually die from stings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">More about stings </span><st1:stockticker><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.planetepassion.eu/INSECTS%20FRANCE/Stings-wasps-hornets-bees-in-France.html" target="_blank">LINK</a></span></st1:stockticker><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.planetepassion.eu/INSECTS%20FRANCE/Stings-wasps-hornets-bees-in-France.html" target="_blank"> HERE</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-31346931575068819212019-07-23T17:35:00.002+02:002019-07-23T17:35:54.836+02:00Bees in a bird box and swarm in a house<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have come across plenty of honeybee colonies that have set
up home in the roofs of houses, and when necessary, have even been known to
remove them when the roof was about to be renovated and it would have been too
dangerous for the roofers to work. Otherwise
I always encourage people to leave them alone as they present no problems for
the homeowners and should be seen as a privilege in the same way as we do when
swallows, house martins, wrens and other birds choose to share our property. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have also seen honeybees nest in all manner of other
places, old milk churns, compost bins, in windows and so on, but yesterday, one
way or another, was a bonus day, (I’m easily pleased). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An acquaintance called and asked if I would mind taking a
look at what was happening at their house where, for a few days, they had seen
activity under the eaves on one corner of their house and weren’t sure if it
was bees or wasps. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I arrived there at around <st1:time hour="10" minute="0">10am</st1:time>
and really there wasn’t much to see, just a very small number of honeybees
floating around showing no particular interest in any one spot. While we were
talking another man came up the road who was introduced to me as Andy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andy lives just down the road and in the
general course of conversation he said that he had bees living in an owl box he
had installed. Needless to say I asked if I could see them and my first thought
was that they would be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bombus hypnorum</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the tree Bumblebee, (or New Garden Bumblebee
as they are sometimes known). He said they were smaller than a bumblebee and
when we got there it was abundantly clear that it was a very active honeybee
colony. The box, that had been made for Little Owls that are also present in
this small hamlet, was placed in a stone wall in the aperture that had once
been a small square window. As we moved away from there to return we saw a
cloud of insects over a nearby field and as I walked towards them I realised it
was a swarm of bees and soon they were everywhere in an expanding cloud. As they moved off at a
moderate speed we followed them up the road, over the roofs and straight to the
corner of the house where the original activity had been observed. There we were in the
middle of perhaps 15 or 20 thousand bees as they made their way into the roof, and, although I have seen plenty of bees swarming into a hive this is the first time
I have actually seen them moving into a roof.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Click on photos to enlarge</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF52HUyQZdjCsyyjJP34yqkw2_n2phD_PQToiIdfPDoAi9V4x0vWLtEHZnaoooEhLWsFlwEzhqtJ6vgwuULbyb-oHH-FEuyhPSGodC0RbvB6prDDQg7sCxxSJQ9QbHmqhCz6bgPm2muyb/s1600/Airborne-bee-swarm-france.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF52HUyQZdjCsyyjJP34yqkw2_n2phD_PQToiIdfPDoAi9V4x0vWLtEHZnaoooEhLWsFlwEzhqtJ6vgwuULbyb-oHH-FEuyhPSGodC0RbvB6prDDQg7sCxxSJQ9QbHmqhCz6bgPm2muyb/s320/Airborne-bee-swarm-france.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF57P8h9V5rtVXBWpCN2zdmUNvO-YcMaw0lk0eZC8d30i1JuCFljtRBGFI92Teruj6G2Dhk7zyvFK8432GNcw6ES-6w1pBcww_xy_LQnvLMtt3zwmxg9npoHMdqBafGvr25HDSnj1TbjHK/s1600/Swarm-arriving-in-roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF57P8h9V5rtVXBWpCN2zdmUNvO-YcMaw0lk0eZC8d30i1JuCFljtRBGFI92Teruj6G2Dhk7zyvFK8432GNcw6ES-6w1pBcww_xy_LQnvLMtt3zwmxg9npoHMdqBafGvr25HDSnj1TbjHK/s320/Swarm-arriving-in-roof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The owners of the house say they can stay there and I hope
that is the case. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-4524556194121205372019-06-27T16:43:00.001+02:002019-06-27T17:30:06.489+02:00France and the banning of neonicotinoid insecticides <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Becomes The First Country To Ban All Five Pesticides Linked To Bee Deaths.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of us will have seen this or similarly worded headlines
on a myriad of mainstream media sites, blogs, alternative information sites and
sites that are simply click bait for advertising revenue. Many of these so
called articles are full of sensational erroneous statements and speculations
that have no factual or scientific foundation what so ever. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Large numbers of people will have liked, shared and
commented on these pages without any idea of what the reality is or giving it
any real thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us do this at
some time or another on social media because to do otherwise would be too time
consuming.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So what actually is the reality? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
has banned the use of five types of neonicotinoid insecticides that by
definition have been shown to cause harm to insects. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is two more than the EU have banned,
although countries frequently derogate from the ban in certain circumstances,
most recently, (Dec 2018), Belgium and some other countries are allowing sugar
beet growers to use Imidacloprid as a seed treatment for 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seed treatments have been by far the main
method of delivery used here in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
principally on Oil Seed Rape, Maize and Sunflowers. They were also used as
foliar sprays on fruit crops of most types after flowering. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, that is not the end of the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neonicotinoids are still used in flea
treatments for domestic creatures and in the house plant industry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is little point discussing just how much, if at all,
the neonicotinoids that were used in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
affected honeybees, which are, after all, generally a commercially managed
species here in the same way that chickens and pigs are. Overall there has been
no decline in honey bee colonies.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is however highly likely that they have contributed in no
small manner to the decline of many other insect and bee species by virtue of
sub lethal doses adding one more stress factor. Having said that, it’s
impossible to quantify exactly what role they played against the backdrop of
massive habitat loss and the large scale use of other pesticides, (some 2,500
authorised in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here comes the rub. Without meaning to sound churlish,
banning the five neonicotinoids in itself isn’t that big a deal when it comes
to protecting the environment and saving our wildlife populations as a whole. What
the ban has brought about is a return to open spraying of other pesticides,
(although fungicides have always been open sprayed).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is particularly bad when it comes
to OSR* where the crops are sprayed when in full flower. This not only impacts
all the different insects that are foraging or living there but also all the
birds that nest in or along the margins of this crop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular Linnet, Stone Chat, Yellow
Wagtail, Corn bunting, Yellowhammer, Hen Harrier and Montague’s Harrier.
Hedgehogs may also be present and foraging although not during actual spraying.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Click on image to expand</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWqUp_MQluKovpNDcjp2ekbAZAOcdfAKxDlzre4WXZx9SBTHO4mdfdX4gTYerKZ10yIhPpqlRg11M4mSxAbB-1TDfB-hNcDRzOTchqK3f2Z33dR7-H-SCJDpMTnXP8nHu3ty9TOel3NBP/s1600/Spraying-Rape-22-April-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWqUp_MQluKovpNDcjp2ekbAZAOcdfAKxDlzre4WXZx9SBTHO4mdfdX4gTYerKZ10yIhPpqlRg11M4mSxAbB-1TDfB-hNcDRzOTchqK3f2Z33dR7-H-SCJDpMTnXP8nHu3ty9TOel3NBP/s320/Spraying-Rape-22-April-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In conclusion, although this ban may be beneficial it is
nowhere near enough given France is one of the greatest users of pesticides in
Europe, something that is increasing at a substantial rate year on year. Huge changes have to be made if we are “to save everything” and not simply
shuffle the cards using the same deck and still be killing as many species. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OSR – Oil Seed Rape.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pesticides – an overall generic term now used for all
“cides”. Insecticides, Herbicides, Fungicides,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rodenticides and so on.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-42427681233795375392019-06-19T20:38:00.002+02:002019-06-19T20:43:33.605+02:00Log hive at a French Chateau<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chateau bees.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s not unusual to get called out to bee swarms and
colonies between the windows and shutters of French houses. It is after all an
ideal space if the shutters are closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other day I was called to one in a Chateau, all very straight forward
with a nice sized window for the Ruchette, (small hive box).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Victoria, the woman from the Chateau, wondered if they had
come from the bees in the large section of Lime tree trunk from the tree that
they had cut down in the late autumn. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately she had my attention and so the
story unfolded. It seems the tree had to be cut down as it had become dangerous
having split in a storm. They insisted that the section with the bees in it be
cut out in one large piece and this was later moved to a suitable location in
the grounds with the open ends covered up to provide protection but with enough
gaps for the bees to come and go. Walking down to where it was I was impressed
by the size of it and although it was laid flat on the ground the bees had obviously
made the necessary adjustments and were happily going about their business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Click on images to enlarge.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz2fHFO-v29MImhNY9CRHJoZhkbywAyQ4LiIuSPufCt4O7guwHQZ0GtuiOLYCKWn-zlTDedwB6elWNHLi3SChC2HCxHgyDoQK9JMZdHOy7-m2v4doqPZFeXXT35JOM31StM1kYo0hm_0-/s1600/Log-hive-france-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz2fHFO-v29MImhNY9CRHJoZhkbywAyQ4LiIuSPufCt4O7guwHQZ0GtuiOLYCKWn-zlTDedwB6elWNHLi3SChC2HCxHgyDoQK9JMZdHOy7-m2v4doqPZFeXXT35JOM31StM1kYo0hm_0-/s320/Log-hive-france-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe not the standard idea of a log hive</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then it turns out there is another honeybee colony high up
in one of the chateau towers walls which it seems is always occupied by bees.
Of course this may not be a continuous occupation. More likely that from time
to time the colony fails and the space attracts a future swarm as is usually
the case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWgvrjZ6him7-3jGnZa67HsBcrMKd-_Uxjx5EyZm_3yv3B2z6vxdCJn3UwbU15M0MFnnjKb5t_cRCjxeRHeGr-tYgwrBWgesS-q8UjQiQGR4SAak7u26SM3TIm7Uht5FYI6hxTc-IKH1d/s1600/Bee-colony-in-the-wall-Fran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWgvrjZ6him7-3jGnZa67HsBcrMKd-_Uxjx5EyZm_3yv3B2z6vxdCJn3UwbU15M0MFnnjKb5t_cRCjxeRHeGr-tYgwrBWgesS-q8UjQiQGR4SAak7u26SM3TIm7Uht5FYI6hxTc-IKH1d/s320/Bee-colony-in-the-wall-Fran.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Honeybee colony in the tower wall, entrance circled in red.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The colony that had set up home between the window and
shutters was easy enough. They had been there a couple of weeks or probably a
little more. Strangely there was quite a lot of brood but no honey and only a
little pollen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are now safely in my
apiary where they are very busy on the Sweet Chestnut that has just started to
flower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExa7Y5DEFKykIMsrSvA3GZP9sUxD22P_IWn_Ni6OC5l9wi-ZjbYs81HD7o3VAvKIYUcehzB9AXmpiGgfW-HClVwjxDr3GnF2GyCzFXBciv_ldu40dExcwidaaQi4e2j2mdRIfc680qtXA/s1600/Swarm-in-chateau-tower-Fran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExa7Y5DEFKykIMsrSvA3GZP9sUxD22P_IWn_Ni6OC5l9wi-ZjbYs81HD7o3VAvKIYUcehzB9AXmpiGgfW-HClVwjxDr3GnF2GyCzFXBciv_ldu40dExcwidaaQi4e2j2mdRIfc680qtXA/s320/Swarm-in-chateau-tower-Fran.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ruchette in the widow, bees happily inside and waiting for me to take them away.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I must add that it’s a great joy to meet people that care
about the other creatures we live with and make every effort to accommodate
them. Their buildings and grounds are a little wildlife haven.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-85924734402875426332019-04-04T11:41:00.000+02:002019-04-04T11:41:39.657+02:00Purple emperor and Lesser purple emperor butterflies in France<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Purple emperor and Lesser purple emperor butterflies – a simplified life
cycle and how to see them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These two butterflies spend most of their time in the
woodland canopy where they feed on aphid honeydew, or occasionally when they descend
to feed on sap runs or, in the case of the male, animal droppings, carrion or
moist ground that provide much needed salts and minerals which are generally the
only times we get the chance to see them.</span></div>
<br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Click on images to expand </span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwK7Yf11J2vz5nqMueDhks7FTu3qmsk7gjE_bOrH3woLYOUBmWuVFdidYhbZzcaTCVz3X7dfuP2fZ3mstflDjvMoqB8Ewv6y5PS9bPYmyc6NHtsJH10GJWHXT979lVkYY0D5JfwqRdBLr/s1600/Lesser-purple-emporer-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwK7Yf11J2vz5nqMueDhks7FTu3qmsk7gjE_bOrH3woLYOUBmWuVFdidYhbZzcaTCVz3X7dfuP2fZ3mstflDjvMoqB8Ewv6y5PS9bPYmyc6NHtsJH10GJWHXT979lVkYY0D5JfwqRdBLr/s320/Lesser-purple-emporer-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Above - Male </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8ka8M2Jqbof3ywN0hFweCKKsHLwJQk4aE3vdRt5-5bgEz_9YzU5m9eMXZtlwZ-U_x1cpPcbBR5OafX1dLilrrCIt4gGI3jre0Qr5T1WavipzqgQQ2uO61i9O9BJBxpGAridL6bdWhhGY/s1600/Lesser-purple-emporer-female-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8ka8M2Jqbof3ywN0hFweCKKsHLwJQk4aE3vdRt5-5bgEz_9YzU5m9eMXZtlwZ-U_x1cpPcbBR5OafX1dLilrrCIt4gGI3jre0Qr5T1WavipzqgQQ2uO61i9O9BJBxpGAridL6bdWhhGY/s320/Lesser-purple-emporer-female-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Above - Female </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72bQmHnJSjo31Xc9ZiVrV7xknKA98BcQw1_hhZj44mRnSs-q8KeRXjNUzZz7liA2utzGlSLqmmsV2ARRAYOLbm0ALef4IrCx5T6FvhMLT7wOs3PqgS77rXEG9X9d0eqedptu7ij0dhZX5/s1600/Lesser-Purple-Emperor-male-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72bQmHnJSjo31Xc9ZiVrV7xknKA98BcQw1_hhZj44mRnSs-q8KeRXjNUzZz7liA2utzGlSLqmmsV2ARRAYOLbm0ALef4IrCx5T6FvhMLT7wOs3PqgS77rXEG9X9d0eqedptu7ij0dhZX5/s320/Lesser-Purple-Emperor-male-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Both species use willows, principally Goat willow, and in
the case of the Lesser Purple Emperor poplars as well, especially <i>Populus tremula</i>, for their caterpillars to feed on.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Eggs are placed singly on leaves near the tree canopy and
the caterpillars have an extraordinary life cycle that can last 300 days or
more with various pauses between each instar change, the last before pupation being
a long hibernation through winter in a crevice or branch fork wrapped in a
little spun silk. Pupation takes place
in spring and adults fly from May. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Both species can be observed throughout <st1:country-region>France where there are woodlands or copses</st1:country-region>
but are more numerous in the warmer parts of the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned above they are drawn to animal droppings,
carrion or moist ground where they can access minerals and other salts and many
people make up mixtures to attract them during the summer months. Most of these
mixtures are fairly foul by human standards and frequently contain rotting
shrimp and other seafood or fish such as sardine. Best put in a container for a
week or two somewhere warm before being put out on the ground on a sunny
morning in July or August. Dead animals and mammal excrement are also popular
but maybe not something everyone would want in their garden. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course your success will be dependant on the butterflies
being present which is one more good reason for growing Goat willow and even if
you don’t have either species of Purple Emperor where you are these mixes will
attract some other species of butterfly.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have fun - Chris</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-83480009307674011332019-03-21T21:24:00.000+01:002019-03-23T11:22:03.355+01:00Assassin bug the Masked hunter, Reduvius personatus, in France<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Masked hunter, <i>Reduvius
personatus</i>, Réduve masque</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Found in most regions of France this member of the True bug family is known as an Assassin
bug and due to its secretive nocturnal behaviour it tends to go unnoticed even
when in your home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">They are especially fond of old houses, barns and outbuildings where
they hunt other insects including bedbugs, silverfish, book lice and flies. However
they will eat any number of small insects and can also be found in other
habitats including woodland, scrub and grasslands but always avoiding the
light. Where ever they are they are never in large numbers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNmimFaSuyvpDdfdWHgPmUYUeU9kBWKmaVClJ2OD79d8SXNFD0Iqk28S8RYWZ0UCPuAEnHHVOZ6DPhiRwSXzLps2xYxL8z4rk6jfiYuBmIiPfeLyj1b9yEx1P3YpI7WYaCEkkELq3IHbj/s1600/Masked-hunter-bed-bug-killer-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNmimFaSuyvpDdfdWHgPmUYUeU9kBWKmaVClJ2OD79d8SXNFD0Iqk28S8RYWZ0UCPuAEnHHVOZ6DPhiRwSXzLps2xYxL8z4rk6jfiYuBmIiPfeLyj1b9yEx1P3YpI7WYaCEkkELq3IHbj/s320/Masked-hunter-bed-bug-killer-France.jpg" title="Masked hunter, Reduvius personatus,France" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Although they bite and kill their prey by piercing them with
their robust rostrum they rarely use this against humans unless handled roughly
but if they do it isn't dangerous but can be extremely painful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">They spend the winter as juveniles and then breed in May or
June having reached the adult stage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During their development stages, (instars),
they exude a sticky substance and coat themselves in dust and debris presumably
to camouflage themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO0aI1nUuiVdO-mOThArufaS6Z0ONwzCqst78YvtuHxG2zqXHQeciH6ara5sAJN_0pevJKIwDwlBOX66NALrQ2xvECAfhv8zUhsFZHIkmxNmZ5UaVt0CEOA90zhFmWkOdjKD6OkSrTQ_b/s1600/Masked-hunter-covered-in-dust.France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="500" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO0aI1nUuiVdO-mOThArufaS6Z0ONwzCqst78YvtuHxG2zqXHQeciH6ara5sAJN_0pevJKIwDwlBOX66NALrQ2xvECAfhv8zUhsFZHIkmxNmZ5UaVt0CEOA90zhFmWkOdjKD6OkSrTQ_b/s320/Masked-hunter-covered-in-dust.France.jpg" title="Masked hunter in France, juvenile " width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Rather like the House Centipede they help maintain a balance
in the home by predating on other insects even though you may not even be aware of
their presence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.planetepassion.eu/INSECTS%20FRANCE/Stink-bugs-and-shield-bugs-in-france.html" target="_blank">Stink bugs and Shield bugs in France</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wild-life-in-france.blogspot.com/2018/10/house-centipede-la-scutigere-scutigera.html" target="_blank">House Centipede in France</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://wild-life-in-france.blogspot.com/2017/10/gendarmes-are-also-red-and-black-bugs.html" target="_blank">Gendarmes, (Fire Bugs)</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-38615556185516089112019-03-11T18:30:00.000+01:002019-03-11T18:30:36.147+01:00Ladybirds in France including the Asian Harlequin Ladybird<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16pt;">Every
year in autumn and spring there are articles in the media, especially in the
UK, about the Asian Ladybird, <i>Harmonia
axyridis</i>, or Harlequin Ladybird as it is known, one of several thousand different
non native species introduced in both France and the UK although only a few are
ladybirds. This species is generally regarded as the most invasive ladybird on
Earth and although they undoubtedly have an environmental impact due to their
high breeding and survival rate combined with their voracious appetite most
experts are of the opinion that they are now so abundant that there is little
if any point in killing them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgrS2ga8b0Gs4r9rpu1lIi2g4sUN2BtqEqQ1AjejKqI4HjyQENeT90GkMfPyhMoRlv9VRVl5YxxOWXXnpdbbEdShIp8ZdAdJtoapnf2uu3rToQyinv3HvePI0Y3QXe7Z-pcbGtQdaxyNN/s1600/Harlequin-ladybird-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1000" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgrS2ga8b0Gs4r9rpu1lIi2g4sUN2BtqEqQ1AjejKqI4HjyQENeT90GkMfPyhMoRlv9VRVl5YxxOWXXnpdbbEdShIp8ZdAdJtoapnf2uu3rToQyinv3HvePI0Y3QXe7Z-pcbGtQdaxyNN/s320/Harlequin-ladybird-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaFD8OrT417uIb2yIovQrbV4l7c6hbDxKCXGZ8cmJ_URNNnIN6bNTsZB3MW7ANQ9ZFedgJe-wQ7jZj_M8L2iu0iy53pb15tZkfNTD9c3-DeZu-Euy9J8nx0gFioo2saxMVI9Ep1bDSLwF/s1600/Harlequin-ladybird-July-201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1373" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaFD8OrT417uIb2yIovQrbV4l7c6hbDxKCXGZ8cmJ_URNNnIN6bNTsZB3MW7ANQ9ZFedgJe-wQ7jZj_M8L2iu0iy53pb15tZkfNTD9c3-DeZu-Euy9J8nx0gFioo2saxMVI9Ep1bDSLwF/s320/Harlequin-ladybird-July-201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Harlequin
ladybirds, above, are extremely variable but most have a clearly defined
"M" or "W" on the pronotum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Although
they feed most commonly on aphids they have a wide food range that includes
scale insects, adelgids, the eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, many
other small insects including other ladybirds, pollen, nectar, and sugary
fluids, including honeydew and the juice from ripe fruits bringing them into direct competition with native species of Ladybird many of which
are already under pressure resulting from all the usual reasons, habitat loss
and pesticide use being uppermost. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The
risk as always that comes from articles in the media and the consequent sharing
on social media is that some people will unwittingly start killing anything
that they don’t recognise as the stereotypical image of a Ladybird, generally
the most common of which is the Red and Black spotted 7 spot ladybird, and there are too many people already
locked into a “kill everything that isn’t a butterfly” mode of thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">To
move on, there are 90 or more species of native Ladybird in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> most of which
wouldn’t be recognised as such. Some are brown, some black, some yellow and
black, some black and red, some orange and perhaps not surprisingly many are
highly selective about where they live and what they eat with many being
vegetarian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16pt;">It would be difficult here to include that number of native species, so I have listed a few here to give some idea of just how different they are.</span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Kidney-spot
ladybird (<i>Chilocorus renipustulatus</i>) Black body with large red spot on each
wing case, feeds on scale insects on the bark of trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D6VWwS_UPV94s3HvQUOUB72_FgC91BAU2krVhNFLVoH-mkziH-rNyxxz3_E78WMEeYomYP2qkRcXfmxnruk2gIOByyMH02b7VXZfeQcit8_gd3LzTZURU9uGFmtbJgenEPjAFLE1mhPd/s1600/Kidney-spot-ladybird-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D6VWwS_UPV94s3HvQUOUB72_FgC91BAU2krVhNFLVoH-mkziH-rNyxxz3_E78WMEeYomYP2qkRcXfmxnruk2gIOByyMH02b7VXZfeQcit8_gd3LzTZURU9uGFmtbJgenEPjAFLE1mhPd/s320/Kidney-spot-ladybird-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Pine
ladybird (<i>Exochomus 4-pustulatus</i>) Usually elytra are black with two larger red
comma-shaped spots and two smaller red round or oval spots, </span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16pt;">feeds on aphids and scale insects.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIERo8GnlM1xyWUAZ6orcQRcv3pDi2vCAMkHqZh1u970Fet_SIuFMoOJ0AxqyPJxaykDtwZzTmFa4datXWF9E0gUZkVlPyVTe_xCb_LlYZJy52xjA8EPti0mCHxuuZaMlM_GFrAER9nxyh/s1600/Pine+Ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="702" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIERo8GnlM1xyWUAZ6orcQRcv3pDi2vCAMkHqZh1u970Fet_SIuFMoOJ0AxqyPJxaykDtwZzTmFa4datXWF9E0gUZkVlPyVTe_xCb_LlYZJy52xjA8EPti0mCHxuuZaMlM_GFrAER9nxyh/s320/Pine+Ladybird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Heather
ladybird (<i>Chilocorus 2-pustulatus</i>) Black with 2 to 6 red spots feeds on scale
insects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aP5-YYB_uTc72dG_hKUm99rFuRzIpd-AHuCrVY7Nk4Nm9za7RXmpPRlxAuus-AYlj0Z4SV0w0FPLvp2fc4gUDlEEqjPZBb8oX2xedCefPtBABexwPAToWxPF8WBKZnJbBJKj16_JGzff/s1600/Heather+Ladybird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1023" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aP5-YYB_uTc72dG_hKUm99rFuRzIpd-AHuCrVY7Nk4Nm9za7RXmpPRlxAuus-AYlj0Z4SV0w0FPLvp2fc4gUDlEEqjPZBb8oX2xedCefPtBABexwPAToWxPF8WBKZnJbBJKj16_JGzff/s320/Heather+Ladybird.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">16-spot
ladybird (<i>Tytthaspis 16-punctata</i>) Beige with black spots. Feeds on Aphids, Pollen,
nectar and fungi. Can overwinter in large numbers, 50 or more in one cluster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIt0hPbnlRvTtQfQy-zkkSdQCuK73i31CjH9gBMtezB9xqwA1jb7jpZ15NbTL50vPVVBF2sBfe2M89tbEG4LEwvPNEJJ-NooNvHAa9xvTnS21sXxt358Ot4EvctOsyqNVmY9iJxrj3AMN/s1600/16+spot+ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIt0hPbnlRvTtQfQy-zkkSdQCuK73i31CjH9gBMtezB9xqwA1jb7jpZ15NbTL50vPVVBF2sBfe2M89tbEG4LEwvPNEJJ-NooNvHAa9xvTnS21sXxt358Ot4EvctOsyqNVmY9iJxrj3AMN/s320/16+spot+ladybird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Orange
ladybird (<i>Halyzia 16-guttata</i>) </span><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Orange</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Ladybirds can be
bright yellow or orange in colour with 16 creamy spots. Feeds on mildew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOX9w8rHpKq_I6eqZa1cHAuDqYWgtxAQRYJj1Wc5aq1w9dkMSjEHVk09uKgxdWFqEc88BRr5eI-6PEOBaCEX6P_C96tuJYVQTziKSkss73gN8kqedXPpwD0BtBaOBde9eeLddrbNIW2_8/s1600/Orange+Ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOX9w8rHpKq_I6eqZa1cHAuDqYWgtxAQRYJj1Wc5aq1w9dkMSjEHVk09uKgxdWFqEc88BRr5eI-6PEOBaCEX6P_C96tuJYVQTziKSkss73gN8kqedXPpwD0BtBaOBde9eeLddrbNIW2_8/s320/Orange+Ladybird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">22-spot
ladybird (<i>Psyllobora 22-punctata</i>). Bright yellow with 22 black spots. Feeds on Mildews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XMMqERed138LxyXwpMPPEty7NfJde6mwLNi51j4cActq3JYcCxXgwmiEYaz3aEqHSieIrEgUvE3Q0bCiCRh0L3LOPAiu6OA8l8m9c6G-ARApA07OrkwyS5kIpvgASxrXM7-LGj8ZS_Gv/s1600/22+spot+ladybird+-+Psyllobora+22-punctata+-+Coccinelle+%25C3%25A0+22+points.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XMMqERed138LxyXwpMPPEty7NfJde6mwLNi51j4cActq3JYcCxXgwmiEYaz3aEqHSieIrEgUvE3Q0bCiCRh0L3LOPAiu6OA8l8m9c6G-ARApA07OrkwyS5kIpvgASxrXM7-LGj8ZS_Gv/s320/22+spot+ladybird+-+Psyllobora+22-punctata+-+Coccinelle+%25C3%25A0+22+points.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">24
spot ladybird (<i>Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata</i>) Sometimes known as the
Alfalfa Ladybird. </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Orange</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> –red, number of spots
may vary. Feeds on a variety of plants including Campions, vetches, trefoils,
chickweed and plantains among others. They will also take grasses and in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> can be a pest of
lucerne. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Hieroglyphic
ladybird (<i>Coccinella hieroglyphica</i>) brown or black with black stripes, spots
and patches. Feeds on larvae of Heather leaf beetle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4yGYD9ColsLCze1QdN0VU9H8AgMpU5rIsdlQZZctFwV7_5Zs_Crdvd29KT1SnNMPGDjKiAEA-3iEKCuAbQ-Y2ObvyZX6NKINmph3rb3Praa79vZB47i1GJoYHdVNakXi_gKTizTSAJ0m/s1600/Coccinella_hieroglyphica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1024" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4yGYD9ColsLCze1QdN0VU9H8AgMpU5rIsdlQZZctFwV7_5Zs_Crdvd29KT1SnNMPGDjKiAEA-3iEKCuAbQ-Y2ObvyZX6NKINmph3rb3Praa79vZB47i1GJoYHdVNakXi_gKTizTSAJ0m/s320/Coccinella_hieroglyphica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Bryony
ladybird (<i>Henosepilachna argus</i>) </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Orange</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> red with 11 black
spots. Feeds on White bryony and plants of the Melon family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBP7IurIE5XvRkKG_uNefmGMFCS9sfddBc6KznZtqynvuWCNC30L93xPXOy8HUWF4bFaz_zqPQPVI13bxnDKn1BuecR0DqWXhdiG8_dnx3HpC5he0u-ZSfbNGDmZY8p5dNdH2-kYryIOj/s1600/Bryony-ladybird-1.06.2018-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1298" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBP7IurIE5XvRkKG_uNefmGMFCS9sfddBc6KznZtqynvuWCNC30L93xPXOy8HUWF4bFaz_zqPQPVI13bxnDKn1BuecR0DqWXhdiG8_dnx3HpC5he0u-ZSfbNGDmZY8p5dNdH2-kYryIOj/s320/Bryony-ladybird-1.06.2018-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">28-spotted
potato ladybird (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Orange</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> with 28 spots feeds
on the foliage of potatoes and other solanaceous crops.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jr4yDKoJEuKqrht6ZQj8bP0K6lZD8ef79lrdsw10XNz2aqNo0Sg4z4vRlu8sOaOx0bAs0nYffU5AhWzU7CckqOC4boNXf9cMat070o018nY3gViyh9LAVIGa-J_dEYxUO56JVIePsy8y/s1600/28-spotted+potato+ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jr4yDKoJEuKqrht6ZQj8bP0K6lZD8ef79lrdsw10XNz2aqNo0Sg4z4vRlu8sOaOx0bAs0nYffU5AhWzU7CckqOC4boNXf9cMat070o018nY3gViyh9LAVIGa-J_dEYxUO56JVIePsy8y/s320/28-spotted+potato+ladybird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Chris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-9400182201801872632019-03-09T17:24:00.000+01:002019-03-25T19:35:41.430+01:00Pine processionary moth and hairy caterpillars in France<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the aid principally of social media in all its aspects
the Pine processionary moth increasingly strikes fear into the population with
all the stories about how dangerous they can be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is certainly no denying their harmful nature should
someone or their pet animal come into close physical contact with them or breathe
in their harmful hairs but we mustn’t let this lead us into a panic that
results in the destruction of our other native hairy or web forming caterpillars
that need all the protection that they can get.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">The first thing to understand is that Pine processionary
moth nests are always in Pine trees and only rarely in Fir trees. A caterpillar
web anywhere else is a different type of caterpillar.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Secondly, when on the ground they will invariably be found
in the classic processions “nose to tail” and only very rarely as individuals should
they have been blown from the trees by storms.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Thirdly, they will only be found on the ground when Pine or
Fir trees are in very close proximity.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Moving on to a few other web forming species with one that
always causes undue worry and that is the <span style="color: #990000;">Spindle Ermine Moth</span> that form large
webs on Spindle trees often completely covering them and stripping all the
leaves. This usually occurs in early May when the first leaves are produced and
despite it looking like a disaster zone more leaves are produced when the
caterpillars descend to pupate and the tree busts back into life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Click on images to expand</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCYinMdvy0IWHBowE2jwTEfNo_NyzSrgECo9LrZ76IUZBkp7XciWEtJLUDtWJEQMaigRhZ9Sry_8KX7MsL1qL0o1v0R584W8VhgNNfDLpsxPcWQRL-3zQEFasJLUHOc6sgcvnn9JOcX_p/s1600/Spindle-Ermine-Moth-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCYinMdvy0IWHBowE2jwTEfNo_NyzSrgECo9LrZ76IUZBkp7XciWEtJLUDtWJEQMaigRhZ9Sry_8KX7MsL1qL0o1v0R584W8VhgNNfDLpsxPcWQRL-3zQEFasJLUHOc6sgcvnn9JOcX_p/s320/Spindle-Ermine-Moth-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Spindle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Ermine Moth</span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another species that was once very common but now in decline
principally due to hedgerow removal and poor management is the <span style="color: #990000;">Small Eggar Moth</span>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The caterpillars form dense webs on
Hawthorn and Blackthorn. Again the host plant recovers once the caterpillars
have descended to pupate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuQ3JuaY69W9sGY64okJlKxPF0t0R3y3Qe0nr878R3uJxLf7AAelQa3NY338Ce74PHtRCMtg-LmeASO5FqXl61wWaV1EuPbS-hxDPdzQwu7IXZjyC_s7USC7UK8Wiwcn-T3M7GMFS7RoC/s1600/Small-Eggar-Francei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuQ3JuaY69W9sGY64okJlKxPF0t0R3y3Qe0nr878R3uJxLf7AAelQa3NY338Ce74PHtRCMtg-LmeASO5FqXl61wWaV1EuPbS-hxDPdzQwu7IXZjyC_s7USC7UK8Wiwcn-T3M7GMFS7RoC/s320/Small-Eggar-Francei.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">Small Eggar Moth</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Various species of <span style="color: #990000;">Ermine moth</span> can be found on apple trees
and these again are harmless to the overall health of the tree and humans
although they may cause damage to fruits should the web engulf them.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZGnud8lHUVbPUyRqDAHFY1VfJjFIckyTkQNyrTn0AhvRzobXfxoXWDCHwiyRMYsM8nPHSFZoMIT5BlqNdQ6jAQLxRKsww9cmar20S9r1NizRmjXBWPoGU9zwk6dCIGcG2BSiO04hSpag/s1600/Apple-Ermine-on-Quince-fran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZGnud8lHUVbPUyRqDAHFY1VfJjFIckyTkQNyrTn0AhvRzobXfxoXWDCHwiyRMYsM8nPHSFZoMIT5BlqNdQ6jAQLxRKsww9cmar20S9r1NizRmjXBWPoGU9zwk6dCIGcG2BSiO04hSpag/s320/Apple-Ermine-on-Quince-fran.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Ermine moth species on Quince tree</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are of course many hairy caterpillars that don’t form
nesting webs and all hairy caterpillars can cause skin irritation and allergic
reactions but this would normally only be if they came in contact with
sensitive areas of our skin or if someone was unusually sensitive. As children we used to have great fun putting them
down each others shirts to cause itching. However that said they will have no
effect on the harder surfaces of our skin such as our fingers and the palms of
our hands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll provide a small selection here of some of the more
common species that people are likely to come across and I can't emphasise enough the need to care for all our native species that are struggling so much. Without caterpillars and moths a huge number of other species will starve without enough to eat. One Blue Tit chick alone can eat up to 100 caterpillars a day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn3ip8qYhyhxFL8aZGpS8ikAVQdykvWFduVW6sd8acj86_nMFoTMdBlvVjoxfPyRLLhvp15lZmO0gwbsviCHxmOqbc9AQapCm6K6iAeTN6qvFtHX5TEgt_-dKfxKU35X5iYHMsnvJE4tw/s1600/Brown-tail-moth-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn3ip8qYhyhxFL8aZGpS8ikAVQdykvWFduVW6sd8acj86_nMFoTMdBlvVjoxfPyRLLhvp15lZmO0gwbsviCHxmOqbc9AQapCm6K6iAeTN6qvFtHX5TEgt_-dKfxKU35X5iYHMsnvJE4tw/s320/Brown-tail-moth-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Brown Tail Moth</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Fox Moth</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Garden Tiger Moth</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8m9CjJob50DT5FMYS6T12pRJ7Kgg1tLey123XMEbt1XYvYUyhyphenhyphenxnDbbjJxh05Ifojd7kxk-xLfSAwSqSNsmrpf-PneAEqD_9BNolwhqzP5DtZC3WAKSCCFMAqkXY9vNqlYGd23DuK6HYd/s1600/Garden-Tiger-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8m9CjJob50DT5FMYS6T12pRJ7Kgg1tLey123XMEbt1XYvYUyhyphenhyphenxnDbbjJxh05Ifojd7kxk-xLfSAwSqSNsmrpf-PneAEqD_9BNolwhqzP5DtZC3WAKSCCFMAqkXY9vNqlYGd23DuK6HYd/s320/Garden-Tiger-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Garden Tiger Moth</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lcODV_C4xyOraZE9PJUWtbIkm9m5zgfmOHF54sCZ1ijZSl6E3zC3qU4F5-wQeXOyv5a_72jGERIs9fhegqbyh86tmUQbMVpjYMWgwU76CGxnbGQ7yL_6Xwoj82efZn5qnoUsBR8x6fHQ/s1600/Oak-eggar-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lcODV_C4xyOraZE9PJUWtbIkm9m5zgfmOHF54sCZ1ijZSl6E3zC3qU4F5-wQeXOyv5a_72jGERIs9fhegqbyh86tmUQbMVpjYMWgwU76CGxnbGQ7yL_6Xwoj82efZn5qnoUsBR8x6fHQ/s320/Oak-eggar-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Oak Eggar Moth</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptACztViQXEqcRHedKtFurZkME1jfAYRLQTAhF6RCu1aUOmJX-Yd5iYIHZputEfLJRYCpATgrczO-XhWE4QbwLtFT9XkgSaqRI1ucbGOt0l8d05F97OIAXgI2XPU3EtMCUK6S5X0dr4FG/s1600/Pale-Tussock-Moth-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptACztViQXEqcRHedKtFurZkME1jfAYRLQTAhF6RCu1aUOmJX-Yd5iYIHZputEfLJRYCpATgrczO-XhWE4QbwLtFT9XkgSaqRI1ucbGOt0l8d05F97OIAXgI2XPU3EtMCUK6S5X0dr4FG/s320/Pale-Tussock-Moth-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Pale Tussock Moth</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-8jHuuQDZpwN4rrHPlazt6LJieLUb88MsaNRT0_0yFYrfWmb_OVWYFmq0t1jPk24GL5aun8Dwje6aQkW3ylSYND2N_MDQRfv9McxTNq68H8Lt9kHD0xxnATUAzg3maVS1rHVTOEUdxHS/s1600/Ruby-tiger-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-8jHuuQDZpwN4rrHPlazt6LJieLUb88MsaNRT0_0yFYrfWmb_OVWYFmq0t1jPk24GL5aun8Dwje6aQkW3ylSYND2N_MDQRfv9McxTNq68H8Lt9kHD0xxnATUAzg3maVS1rHVTOEUdxHS/s320/Ruby-tiger-France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Ruby Tiger Moth</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWpAbuDFBSPcg4e-joWXTP5oZ_j9g4ODd4Hq4a69vW9eNCVytgUHdJqD3Iu9bBhgTLrGLnsezXWbHkqg27aUzV1DTZnnqJaNLP0bdOGBk1wSiUCiohZVe5mwALYzAYgU9b73xokdpX51K/s1600/Cream-spot-tiger-Arctia-villica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWpAbuDFBSPcg4e-joWXTP5oZ_j9g4ODd4Hq4a69vW9eNCVytgUHdJqD3Iu9bBhgTLrGLnsezXWbHkqg27aUzV1DTZnnqJaNLP0bdOGBk1wSiUCiohZVe5mwALYzAYgU9b73xokdpX51K/s320/Cream-spot-tiger-Arctia-villica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Cream spot Tiger</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-46261657793455101212019-03-08T17:16:00.002+01:002019-03-08T17:18:21.015+01:00New Bat species for France - Myotis crypticus<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><span lang="FR" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal;">Le Murin cryptique</span></em><em><span lang="FR" style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Myotis crypticus <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em><em><span lang="FR" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal;">Feb 2019<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A new species of bat has been discovered in wooded areas of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region><st1:place>Switzerland</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This brings the number of species to be found in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To 35</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is very close to Natterer's bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Myotis nattereri</i>) and positive identification has so far relied on <st1:stockticker>DNA</st1:stockticker>
analysis. Despite their closeness they do not hybridise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reproduction colonies are usually in hollow trees but can be
in artificial man made structures. Hibernation takes place underground in
fissures. Much remains to be known about this species.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chris</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-28396816598703773372019-03-06T21:27:00.001+01:002019-03-06T21:27:45.764+01:00Beetles in the Firewood in France<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every year in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
usually from about February, some people find their houses invaded by small red
or reddish-brown beetles. This is by no means everywhere and many people will
never see one, however where they are present they can sometimes be observed in
relatively large numbers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGjH-ODWmdUYswLWlKv7JD2a2bYvcVP-g-w-dRntCw-olHOdd1vfOIaJdvXdlg5Ps_rZ9bauRZ08lTYWBUqW4k7ahmIpe3p348IsHFx_VFgzoKk9XRyohbBD1Y_oEw5Osr7A1x9ujTv4B/s1600/Pyrrhidium_sanguineum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="652" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGjH-ODWmdUYswLWlKv7JD2a2bYvcVP-g-w-dRntCw-olHOdd1vfOIaJdvXdlg5Ps_rZ9bauRZ08lTYWBUqW4k7ahmIpe3p348IsHFx_VFgzoKk9XRyohbBD1Y_oEw5Osr7A1x9ujTv4B/s320/Pyrrhidium_sanguineum.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The creature concerned is a Longhorn Beetle, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pyrrhidium sanguineum, </i>although being
only 8 to 12 mm it is rarely recognised as being one. Known in English as Welsh
Oak Longhorn Beetle and its common French name is La Callidie Sanguine). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Females lay eggs in crevices in dead or freshly cut wood with
bark that is exposed to the sun from March – June and are polyphagous in nature
using a range of deciduous trees, but with a preference for oak (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quercus</i> spp.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larvae burrow into the timber making
galleries up to 60cm in length where, when fully grown, they pupate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can’t use seasoned timber and usually
have an annual life cycle, occasionally this can be two years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When this wood is stored or kept for a while in the home or
perhaps a garage as firewood the adult beetles tend to emerge earlier due to
the higher ambient temperature. Where firewood is stored outside in proximity
to the home they may be seen a little later in the year when it is warmer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately for us we don’t need to worry as they are
completely harmless in our homes and can be popped outside where they belong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-71160919784525558182019-03-03T11:26:00.000+01:002019-03-03T11:26:17.304+01:00Glanville Fritillary France<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Glanville Fritillary, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Melitaea cinxia</i>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is named
after Lady Eleanor Glanville, a 17th century Lepidopterist who discovered this
species in <st1:city><st1:place>Lincolnshire</st1:place></st1:city>. She first
discovered this species in 1702 when it was first named as the Lincolnshire
Fritillary and only later in 1748 was it was officially re-named the Glanville
Fritillary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These days it is mainly confined
to the south coast of the <st1:place>Isle of Wight</st1:place>, with the
occasional colony, typically short-lived, appearing on the South Hampshire
coast. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Click on images to expand</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKT6p8U1gX5sQWLgPx0DY-kWZgA-mlCuYFBknZFFzeRRKf_sZsn00mYE2ifYKEved9rXg22r42sCICDoF_yephH63laE1Rhp4cezBOJeAhzH0JCgdOdGQne40U_CImuiGRGb696fq0kjF/s1600/Glanville-Fritillary.Melitaea-cinxia.M%25C3%25A9lit%25C3%25A9e-du-Plantain.France+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKT6p8U1gX5sQWLgPx0DY-kWZgA-mlCuYFBknZFFzeRRKf_sZsn00mYE2ifYKEved9rXg22r42sCICDoF_yephH63laE1Rhp4cezBOJeAhzH0JCgdOdGQne40U_CImuiGRGb696fq0kjF/s320/Glanville-Fritillary.Melitaea-cinxia.M%25C3%25A9lit%25C3%25A9e-du-Plantain.France+.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a butterfly that can be found in most regions of <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the <st1:place>Channel Islands</st1:place> where it forms small colonies
where there is suitable habitat. There has been a reduction in numbers
especially in the north and west of its range with habitat loss being the most likely
main cause. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwqDJv0dYcx1y_9ZmjiBfNsWnjIz5-elaBEbwXicJbJ5N2NPkscWKRbcgfj7raAAa9c1D2JYSID-2tek544xjvhNdoHgVF1wU0vSma4kKLhLK9q1UQpxxZ3arFBQPUTf2A5SCwbyMR2fh/s1600/Glanville-fritillary-France-LPC-July-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1159" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwqDJv0dYcx1y_9ZmjiBfNsWnjIz5-elaBEbwXicJbJ5N2NPkscWKRbcgfj7raAAa9c1D2JYSID-2tek544xjvhNdoHgVF1wU0vSma4kKLhLK9q1UQpxxZ3arFBQPUTf2A5SCwbyMR2fh/s320/Glanville-fritillary-France-LPC-July-2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They require low growing sparse grassland, natural flower
meadows, scrub, woodland edges and even roadside verges but due to the increase
in what is called improved pasture and in cereal production in the broad sense
there is increasing isolation of populations. The widespread use of Roundup
(Glyphosate) to keep the ground clear in vineyards is another threat to this
butterfly along with a number of other species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the southern half of the country there are usually two
broods with the first on the wing in April / May and the second generation June
/ September. Regardless of whether there is a single brood or two broods in a
season they over winter as caterpillars in webs that they form on the ground
with their food plant which is principally Plantain hence the French common
name of La Mélitée du Plantain.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMJd6WolI9daB02N8io51HbJiB_AnE9PPzZueaqOobxsEFpJ4iTjdOhVdYQwZmMlJKZsSN-BgXgPy-a83O0FtPP5Unc7H6rR4WtKgEY47DUpJZZROX7SoLluuIDQNtvr-UDlbMY94secy/s1600/Glanville-fritillary-caterpillars-France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMJd6WolI9daB02N8io51HbJiB_AnE9PPzZueaqOobxsEFpJ4iTjdOhVdYQwZmMlJKZsSN-BgXgPy-a83O0FtPP5Unc7H6rR4WtKgEY47DUpJZZROX7SoLluuIDQNtvr-UDlbMY94secy/s320/Glanville-fritillary-caterpillars-France.jpg" width="192" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lady Eleanor’s collection of butterflies still exists and is
housed in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Natural</st1:placename> <st1:placename>history</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chris</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-64711945470897656672019-02-15T17:35:00.000+01:002019-02-15T17:35:38.888+01:00Field beans as a fodder crop for sheep in France<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">In the autumn of 2018 several
large fields where we live were planted predominantly with Field beans with a
few other plants including fodder radish, mustard and phacelia. This has never happened
here before and I was quite excited at the thought that these may be left to
flower in the spring which would have been great for all manner of species
including my bees. However it seems this is not going to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Yesterday when I was out with
my dog I saw that one of the fields was electric fenced and had sheep in it and
that the adjacent field was also electric fenced but had been grazed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOk39kS0uXv4bJujXKIDZS9IYvPTJxVQwlUUzm2eK8ahiDfIUcVIv_HllC9k9VClsKDLzBmf74eGJyizxc_haFgRJl6Vb_tNQ09y6lEha6x1_vmYoge_4_dyjFXFs-HhRkCHWkiy8jvx_/s1600/Field-beans-and-sheep-franc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOk39kS0uXv4bJujXKIDZS9IYvPTJxVQwlUUzm2eK8ahiDfIUcVIv_HllC9k9VClsKDLzBmf74eGJyizxc_haFgRJl6Vb_tNQ09y6lEha6x1_vmYoge_4_dyjFXFs-HhRkCHWkiy8jvx_/s320/Field-beans-and-sheep-franc.jpg" title="Field beans and sheep in France" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">From both an agricultural and
environmental perspective I can see the benefits in this. The crop as a green
manure provides good winter cover, prevents nutrient leaching, adds nitrogen
and other nutrients to the soil and the owner of the sheep has fresh early
season fodder for their animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I should explain that sheep
aren’t pastured where we live as it is more profitable to grow cereal crops and
that the farmer that owns these particular sheep also grows cereals here
including barley for his winter sheep feed. His sheep are kept for the summer
some distance away on land that is unsuitable for cereals and are transported
to his farm here for winter where they are housed in a huge barn where they are
lambed before being returned in spring to their summer grazing pastures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Regardless of your views on
eating meat this would appear to be an improvement for the animals involved and
the land. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20340e; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Chris</span></div>
Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964016166339828265.post-87855308294842864382019-01-31T14:16:00.002+01:002019-01-31T14:17:05.618+01:00Hunt or hunting days in France<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">There are always people
asking what days are the hunting days in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> and the simple answer is that there is no National
law that prohibits hunting on any day of the week during the open hunting
season although various Associations keep </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">petitioning</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> for Sundays to be hunt free.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8vPqXih4k31DJvWfuybWi7_NKB168_82HvCdoskoFF1UqDfaSuwvERcI7ByvYI0Rz_H_mljUfwfmbCX32U2ITXJhMMTbd47cKsnyPax4c3H2EbZ_Snf8tMOhwojBcGsTWefyGMEltocT/s1600/Hunt+free+sunday.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8vPqXih4k31DJvWfuybWi7_NKB168_82HvCdoskoFF1UqDfaSuwvERcI7ByvYI0Rz_H_mljUfwfmbCX32U2ITXJhMMTbd47cKsnyPax4c3H2EbZ_Snf8tMOhwojBcGsTWefyGMEltocT/s320/Hunt+free+sunday.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Part of the confusion where
it exists is that there isn’t simply one type of hunting or la chasse and that
la chasse is often erroneously thought of as being uniquely chasse en battue
that involves a minimum number of participants with some driving or flushing
through an area using dogs pushing any animals, (boar, deer, fox), out into the
open to where one or more hunters wait with guns. Usually this type of
organised hunt takes place on two or three specific days of the week that are
agreed at the commune level, (ours is Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays) and the
people that participate in this like to call themselves La Chasse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However rough shooting for smaller creatures,
birds, rabbits, hares etc. can take place on any day of the week although in
practice Wednesday afternoon is usually avoided due to being a half school day.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To be clear - La Chasse can
be defined as using various means in order to capture and kill creatures either
for eating or for destruction and no single group of hunters can claim this as
belonging to them alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">There was a brief period from
July 2000 and July 2003 when hunting was banned on Wednesdays and this was
instituted throughout France at the request of the Minister of the Environment,
Dominique Voynet, through Article 24 of the hunting law 2000-698 of 26 July
2000, which stipulated: "Article L.224-2 of the Rural Code is worded as
follows: ... The practice of shooting hunting is prohibited from Wednesday </span><st1:time hour="6" minute="0"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">6 am</span></st1:time><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> to Thursday </span><st1:time hour="6" minute="0"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">6 am</span></st1:time><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However in 2003, the repeal of this
"no-hunt Wednesday" was included in the bill on hunting put forward
by Roselyne Bachelot then Minister of Ecology! It was then voted into law by
the majority UMP-UC <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The law of 2003-698 of </span><st1:date day="30" month="7" year="2003"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">July 30, 2003</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">, by Article 27, thus cancelled this provision
altogether (which had in the meantime been transposed to the rural code to that
of the environment): "The last paragraph of the Article L. 424-2 of the
Environmental Code is deleted."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Therefore only the Prefect of
each Departement can order days without hunting in application of the article
R.424-1 of the code of the environment but in practice this rarely occurs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Other limits that are set
each year at the Departemental level each year limiting or restricting the time periods
and numbers of specific species will apply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Chris Luckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00083329602832633096noreply@blogger.com