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I don't believe it.
|
|
| Dave Hill 2008-02-24, 5:25 pm |
| This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries
| |
| Robert \(Plymouth\) 2008-02-25, 3:25 am |
|
"Dave Hill" <david@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dbd82469-8e94-4924-9c8a-bd8a1ee933b7@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries
We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed
--
Rowdens Reservoir Allotments Association
www.rraa.moonfruit.com
| |
| Jeff Layman 2008-02-25, 9:25 am |
| Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
> "Dave Hill" <david@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:dbd82469-8e94-4924-9c8a-bd8a1ee933b7@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed
Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week hoverfles.
Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.
Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
| |
| Robert \(Plymouth\) 2008-02-25, 9:25 am |
|
"Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:yoSdnU_2WtPsCV_anZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>
> Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week
> hoverfles. Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.
>
> Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
>
> --
> Jeff
> (cut "thetape" to reply)
shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good
| |
| Des Higgins 2008-02-25, 9:25 am |
| On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill <da...@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote:
> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries
I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.
Des
| |
|
| On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
64f068a5-b286-49ac-b1af-63d0ef82bfed@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill <da...@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote:
>
> I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
> at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
> they come out too early.
>
> Des
We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| Jeff Layman 2008-02-25, 5:25 pm |
| Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
> "Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
> shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good
If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
wasps out of the house)
At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.
But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-25, 5:25 pm |
|
"Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:avWdnWJmQ57ki17anZ2dnUVZ_smnnZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>
> If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
> the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
> wasps out of the house)
>
> At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
> kill, to feed their young as well as themselves.
Like Man.
> That includes good invertebrates as well as bad.
Good? Bad?
> If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow the ecosystem wouldn't
> notice - other predators would take up the slack.
Like Man.
>
> But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...
?
Mary
>
> --
> Jeff
> (cut "thetape" to reply)
>
| |
| Robert \(Plymouth\) 2008-02-26, 3:25 am |
|
"Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:avWdnWJmQ57ki17anZ2dnUVZ_smnnZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>
> If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
> the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
> wasps out of the house)
>
> At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
> kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
> invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
> the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.
That is absolute nonsense
| |
| David in Normandy 2008-02-26, 3:25 am |
| Sacha says...
> On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
> 64f068a5-b286-49ac-b1af-63d0ef82bfed@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
> Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
> was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.
>
I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
|
| On 26/2/08 09:20, in article MPG.222df81fa423e9ff9897f7@news.wanadoo.fr,
"David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote:
> Sacha says...
> I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
> trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
> of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
> pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
> between the window and the bee without squishing or
> severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
> removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
> get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
> Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
> love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
> (unlike wasps - shudder).
Wasps are bovver boys while bees give every appearance of being rather
benevolent and not looking for trouble. I am convinced that wasps *like*
annoying people, spoiling their al fresco suppers etc. ;-)
One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. Empty it, slide it open
and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. Slowly slide it shut, take
it outside, open it. Bingo. I hope!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| David in Normandy 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
| Sacha says...
> On 26/2/08 09:20, in article MPG.222df81fa423e9ff9897f7@news.wanadoo.fr,
> "David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote:
>
>
> Wasps are bovver boys while bees give every appearance of being rather
> benevolent and not looking for trouble. I am convinced that wasps *like*
> annoying people, spoiling their al fresco suppers etc. ;-)
> One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. Empty it, slide it open
> and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. Slowly slide it shut, take
> it outside, open it. Bingo. I hope!
>
Bees / bumble bees all seem to be far more interested in
flowers than me, but wasps on the other hand are "hoodie"
bees - just hanging around looking for trouble.
I don't know if there are different varieties of bumble
bees but the one I rescued would have pretty well filled a
standard sized match box, it was huge. The loud hum it was
making was also impressive - like some noisy electrical
equipment.
I have a pathological fear of wasps. As a child playing in
some bushes the ground beneath my feet gave way demolishing
the home of a substantial number of wasps - I didn't know
the nest wast there but the wasps sure made a thing of it -
I was stung head to toe - probably around 50 or more
stings. They were all over me and chased me a good 100
yards while I was trying to beat them off my clothes with a
stick. Since then wasps hold a certain dread for me.
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
| robkingston@yahoo.com 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
| On 26 Feb, 09:47, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. =A0Empty it, slide it o=
pen
> and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. =A0Slowly slide it shut, =
take
> it outside, open it. =A0Bingo. =A0I hope!
Or, leave said matchbox lying around in the vicinity of smokers who
might be after a light ;)
| |
|
| On 26/2/08 10:17, in article MPG.222e0593a5699b8f9897f9@news.wanadoo.fr,
"David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote:
> Sacha says...
>
> Bees / bumble bees all seem to be far more interested in
> flowers than me, but wasps on the other hand are "hoodie"
> bees - just hanging around looking for trouble.
>
> I don't know if there are different varieties of bumble
> bees but the one I rescued would have pretty well filled a
> standard sized match box, it was huge. The loud hum it was
> making was also impressive - like some noisy electrical
> equipment.
>
> I have a pathological fear of wasps. As a child playing in
> some bushes the ground beneath my feet gave way demolishing
> the home of a substantial number of wasps - I didn't know
> the nest wast there but the wasps sure made a thing of it -
> I was stung head to toe - probably around 50 or more
> stings. They were all over me and chased me a good 100
> yards while I was trying to beat them off my clothes with a
> stick. Since then wasps hold a certain dread for me.
That happened to a friend of mine digging in her garden. She ended up in
hospital. My bees attacked me and the stings made me ill but that was my
own fault, really. I suppose from the wasps pov, blundering uninvited into
their home is human fault but they do it to us........ ;-)
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
|
| On 26/2/08 11:03, in article
c82c581e-add3-4ffe-a546-7b444167c381@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com,
"robkingston@yahoo.com" <robkingston@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 26 Feb, 09:47, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> Or, leave said matchbox lying around in the vicinity of smokers who
> might be after a light ;)
Shades of the scorpions episode in My Family and Other Animals. I must have
read that a dozen times and still it never fails to make me laugh.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
|
"David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote in message
news:MPG.222df81fa423e9ff9897f7@news.wanadoo.fr...
> I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
> trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
> of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
> pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
> between the window and the bee without squishing or
> severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
> removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
> get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
> Not the smartest of creatures.
?
> Good deed for the day. I
> love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
> (unlike wasps - shudder).
Wasps are far more intelligent (in our terms) than any kind of bee ...
Usually when bumble bees are what humans call dopey it's because they're
chilled and/or hungry.
The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.
That WILL be a good deed!
Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.
Mary
> --
> David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
> To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
> subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
|
"David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote in message
news:MPG.222e0593a5699b8f9897f9@news.wanadoo.fr...
Not true.
[color=darkred]
And possibly damage the bee.[color=darkred]
>
> Bees / bumble bees all seem to be far more interested in
> flowers than me, but wasps on the other hand are "hoodie"
> bees - just hanging around looking for trouble.
They're not. Until the later part of the year you'll hardly be aware of them
yet there are more around then when you do see them.
>
> I don't know if there are different varieties of bumble
> bees
There are.
> but the one I rescued would have pretty well filled a
> standard sized match box, it was huge.
It will have been a queen.
> The loud hum it was
> making was also impressive - like some noisy electrical
> equipment.
Yes, we say they're teddy bears on motor bikes.
>
> I have a pathological fear of wasps. As a child playing in
> some bushes the ground beneath my feet gave way demolishing
> the home of a substantial number of wasps - I didn't know
> the nest wast there but the wasps sure made a thing of it -
> I was stung head to toe - probably around 50 or more
> stings. They were all over me and chased me a good 100
> yards while I was trying to beat them off my clothes with a
> stick. Since then wasps hold a certain dread for me.
But it's not rational - you know that the worst violence to Man is performed
by other people yet I bet you'll happily walk around in crowded places ...
You were the irrational one, you can't beat off wasps with a stick. And as
for attacking you, well every animal defnds it's home and it's young, you
would too. If you only got about 50 stings you were lucky. And you survived
so ...
<shrug>
I've had far more honey bee stings at one time than that and I had a general
reaction which needed adrenalin to save my life - but I'm not afraid of any
stinging insect.
I don't warm to slugs and they do me no harm at all.
Mary
> --
> David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
> To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
> subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
|
| On 26/2/08 12:32, in article 47c406fd$0$760$4c56ba96@master.news.zetnet.net,
"Mary Fisher" <mary.fisher@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> "David in Normandy" <DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr> wrote in message
> news:MPG.222e0593a5699b8f9897f9@news.wanadoo.fr...
>
> Not true.
It was a jokey observation.
>
>
> And possibly damage the bee.
As I was shown this by a very expert bee-keeper of many years standing, I'm
inclined to trust his knowledge.
<snip>
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| David in Normandy 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
| Mary Fisher says...
>
> Yes, we say they're teddy bears on motor bikes.
I like your description, it seems to sum bumble bees up
nicely :-)
> But it's not rational
I know it is irrational but I can live with it :-) I leave
wasps alone unless they come in the house, then it is
swatter or insect spray at the ready. The Mrs is worse than
me, at least my phobia is limited to wasps, she completely
freaks out if anything looking vaguely like a bee or wasp
goes anywhere near her. God help anyone in the vicinity if
she has a cup of tea in her hand at the time - it can land
anywhere!
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
| David in Normandy 2008-02-26, 9:25 am |
| Mary Fisher says...
> The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
> then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
> to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
> hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
> going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
> no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
> she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
> tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
> she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.
>
> That WILL be a good deed!
>
> Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
> her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.
Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
between my hands.
Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-26, 1:25 pm |
|
>
> Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
> for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
> apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
> between my hands.
I promise. If you're stung by a bumble bee you deserve it - it takes a lot
of pressure to make her use her sting.
>
> Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
> inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
> and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
> they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
A bumble bee won't do that if she's chilled.
Our spiders don't bite, I'm told. I don't know for certain but I've never
been bitten by one and I've handled many.
The first time a bumble bee begins to tremble in your hands it can be a bit
unnerving, you have to resist the temptation to part your hands and drop
her. but you're a man, you can doi it! You're a LOT bigger than she is :-)
Mary
| |
| Des Higgins 2008-02-27, 9:25 am |
| On Feb 26, 12:52 pm, David in Normandy <DavidinNorma...@yahoo.fr>
wrote:
> Mary Fisher says...
>
>
>
>
> Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
> for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
> apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
> between my hands.
>
> Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
> inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
> and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
> they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
> --
The very delicate very very long legged spiders (Pholcus phalagioides)
do not bite
but the big hairy scuttling ones can pierce human skin. These are the
really big ones that you get stuck in bath tubs (Tegenaria species)
that people thought came up the plug hole but didn't. They can bite
and cause a reaction (swelling and pain) so I am wary of them although
I have hardly seen any for 4 or 5 years. It is as if they have been
replaced by Pholcus which used only be found along the south coast of
Ireland and UK in these here parts.
Des
> David in Normandy. DavidinNorma...@yahoo.fr
> To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
> subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.
| |
|
| On 27/2/08 12:03, in article
0724a3f2-2388-40bc-852b-a3274369693a@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com, "Des
Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote:
<snip>
>
> The very delicate very very long legged spiders (Pholcus phalagioides)
> do not bite
> but the big hairy scuttling ones can pierce human skin. These are the
> really big ones that you get stuck in bath tubs (Tegenaria species)
> that people thought came up the plug hole but didn't. They can bite
> and cause a reaction (swelling and pain) so I am wary of them although
> I have hardly seen any for 4 or 5 years. It is as if they have been
> replaced by Pholcus which used only be found along the south coast of
> Ireland and UK in these here parts.
>
The majority of the spiders we get in the house are those tiny pin-bodied,
long legged ones. The hairy monsters do exist but like you, we see fewer of
them. I just know I'm going to regret saying that! When we were having the
house re-wired some years ago, the electrician withdraw his head from the
floorboards looking very white one day and said "they're breeding with
lobsters down there!". We get a lot of Hunter spiders in the garden and on
e.g. Window panes. But a year or two ago, we had some quite tiny spider in
the bed! It gave me a nip which didn't do much more than itch a bit but I
certainly felt it. And most of the neighbourhood probably heard my reaction
to finding it!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| Des Higgins 2008-02-27, 9:25 am |
| On Feb 27, 12:33 pm, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 27/2/08 12:03, in article
> 0724a3f2-2388-40bc-852b-a32743696...@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com, "DesHiggins" <dazzhigg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>
>
> The majority of the spiders we get in the house are those tiny pin-bodied,
> long legged ones. The hairy monsters do exist but like you, we see fewer of
> them. I just know I'm going to regret saying that! When we were having the
> house re-wired some years ago, the electrician withdraw his head from the
> floorboards looking very white one day and said "they're breeding with
> lobsters down there!".
Some days, I am glad not to be a plumber or electrician.
> We get a lot of Hunter spiders in the garden and on
> e.g. Window panes. But a year or two ago, we had some quite tiny spider in
> the bed! It gave me a nip which didn't do much more than itch a bit but I
> certainly felt it. And most of the neighbourhood probably heard my reaction
> to finding it!
> --
> Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
> South Devon
> 'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
> children.'
| |
|
| On 27/2/08 13:31, in article
c70ccbe1-ebab-413c-8015-86646e7d0198@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 27, 12:33 pm, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
<snip>
>
> Some days, I am glad not to be a plumber or electrician.
>
That was certainly his day for wishing he wasn't!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-27, 9:25 am |
|
"Des Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:0724a3f2-2388-40bc-
....
>
> The very delicate very very long legged spiders (Pholcus phalagioides)
> do not bite
> but the big hairy scuttling ones can pierce human skin. These are the
> really big ones that you get stuck in bath tubs (Tegenaria species)
> that people thought came up the plug hole but didn't. They can bite
> and cause a reaction (swelling and pain) so I am wary of them although
> I have hardly seen any for 4 or 5 years. It is as if they have been
> replaced by Pholcus which used only be found along the south coast of
> Ireland and UK in these here parts.
Where is 'these here parts'?
I'd like to know more about spiders but it's such a huge subject, I doubt
I've enough time left :-)
Mary
| |
| Dave Hill 2008-02-27, 9:25 am |
| On 27 Feb, 14:00, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 27/2/08 13:31, in article
> c70ccbe1-ebab-413c-8015-86646e7d0...@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
>
>
>
> Higgins" <dazzhigg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> <snip>
>
>
> That was certainly his day for wishing he wasn't!
>
> --
> Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
> South Devon
> 'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
> children.'
Many years ago now I was done over by bees,
I was rotovating with a treactor mounted rotovator and went about 3 ft
from 4 hives, they didn't like it one bit.
The Drt took around 40 stings from my head, and next day I was back at
work, feeling a little battered, For some reason they went for my head
but not my face,
My own fault.
A few weeks later I was rotovating outside the estate wall when a
swarm came over the wall and went passed me only aboyt 6 ft away. I
didn't stop shaking for almost half an hour.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-27, 9:25 am |
|
"Dave Hill" <david@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5be211ed-ba87-4793-8550-0128c37312f1@60g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
[color=darkred]
> Many years ago now I was done over by bees,
> I was rotovating with a treactor mounted rotovator and went about 3 ft
> from 4 hives, they didn't like it one bit.
They are threatened by vibration.
> The Drt took around 40 stings from my head, and next day I was back at
> work, feeling a little battered, For some reason they went for my head
> but not my face,
> My own fault.
> A few weeks later I was rotovating outside the estate wall when a
> swarm came over the wall and went passed me only aboyt 6 ft away. I
> didn't stop shaking for almost half an hour.
Swarming bees aren't in defensive mode, they have no brood or 'home' to
defend and are so full of honey that it's difficult for them to curl their
tails round to sting. If you see a swarm just stand still and marvel at the
sight and noise.
The pictures of 'bee beards' which abound use bees in swarming mode.
Mary
| |
| Des Higgins 2008-02-27, 1:25 pm |
| On Feb 27, 2:19 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
> "Des Higgins" <dazzhigg...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:0724a3f2-2388-40bc-
> ...
>
>
>
> Where is 'these here parts'?
Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and smaller bits.
>
> I'd like to know more about spiders but it's such a huge subject, I doubt
> I've enough time left :-)
>
> Mary
| |
| Des Higgins 2008-02-27, 1:25 pm |
| On Feb 27, 2:19 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
> "Des Higgins" <dazzhigg...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:0724a3f2-2388-40bc-
> ...
>
>
>
> Where is 'these here parts'?
>
> I'd like to know more about spiders but it's such a huge subject, I doubt
> I've enough time left :-)
>
> Mary
This is from a spider web site:
"The World of Spiders. by W.M. Bristow.
Published by Collins in their New Naturalist series this book is now
sadly out of print, but can be obtained from most public libraries.
This is the best general account of British spiders written to date.
Each of its chapters looks at a particular family of spiders dealing
with their biology and natural history plus much anecdotal
information. "
It is a fantastic introduction to general spiders in UK and what they
do. I read it when I was about 15, in the 70s.
| |
|
| On 27/2/08 14:32, in article
5be211ed-ba87-4793-8550-0128c37312f1@60g2000hsy.googlegroups.com, "Dave
Hill" <david@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote:
> On 27 Feb, 14:00, Sacha <sa...@nowhere.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Many years ago now I was done over by bees,
> I was rotovating with a treactor mounted rotovator and went about 3 ft
> from 4 hives, they didn't like it one bit.
They don't like to feel people or things bouncing around near the hive and
they don't like their flight path to be blocked, either.
> The Drt took around 40 stings from my head, and next day I was back at
> work, feeling a little battered, For some reason they went for my head
> but not my face,
You're very lucky. I had somewhere between 12 and 16 stings, mainly in my
head, woke in the night feeling as if I had a serious case of flu and next
morning could open one eye only and then just a slit. I was very swollen
and couldn't go out of the house for about 4 days. The doc gave me an
injection and told me not to get stung ever again! Now, in summer I carry
one of those pen things with me.
> My own fault.
> A few weeks later I was rotovating outside the estate wall when a
> swarm came over the wall and went passed me only aboyt 6 ft away. I
> didn't stop shaking for almost half an hour.
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries
When they're in swarm mode they're not interested in much else!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-27, 1:25 pm |
|
"Des Higgins" <dazzhiggins@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6efa7a81-35e6-4352-83ab-bb3c4bbb8b7d@28g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
> On Feb 27, 2:19 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> This is from a spider web site:
>
> "The World of Spiders. by W.M. Bristow.
> Published by Collins in their New Naturalist series this book is now
> sadly out of print, but can be obtained from most public libraries.
> This is the best general account of British spiders written to date.
> Each of its chapters looks at a particular family of spiders dealing
> with their biology and natural history plus much anecdotal
> information. "
>
> It is a fantastic introduction to general spiders in UK and what they
> do. I read it when I was about 15, in the 70s.
Get thee behind me!
There are stacks of books in every room which I haven't yet read :-(
Mary
>
>
| |
| Jeff Layman 2008-02-27, 1:25 pm |
| Mary Fisher wrote:
> "Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
>
>
> Good? Bad?
Good/bad in terms of their effects on food crops.
Good: pollinators such as honey bees. Predators which eat "bad"
invertebrates such as ladybirds and hoverflies (eat aphids); ground beetles
(eat slugs). No doubt there are others.
Bad: see above. Aphids, slugs, snails, wireworms, cutworms, weevils. Sadly
the list is endless. Perhaps it would be possible to include those
flatworms which eat earthworms (but I haven't seen anything about them
recently - weren't they supposed to have killed off the UK earthworm
population by now?).
>
>
> Like Man.
? If Man disappeared tomorrow it would probably be a good thing for the
ecosystem. At least for the current ecosystem - it has changed several
times over the hundreds of millions of years since life developed.
>
> ?
Other than plants pollinated by the wind and some other specific pollinators
(humming birds, butterflies, moths, bats), all the bee-pollinated plants
would eventually die off. Most certainly, all our fruit would go, and so
would a lot of the other plants which feed us. I guess that cereals (which
are wind-pollinated) would keep us going for a while.
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
| |
| Jeff Layman 2008-02-27, 1:25 pm |
| Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
> "Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:avWdnWJmQ57ki17anZ2dnUVZ_smnnZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
>
> That is absolute nonsense
I would be happy to retract if you show me evidence why I'm wrong. In
Africa wild dogs are nearing extinction, but do you think hyenas and the
numerous feline predators would sit back and not eat the extra prey?
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-27, 5:25 pm |
|
"Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:zuadndWPppCDBVjanZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
> Mary Fisher wrote:
>
> Good/bad in terms of their effects on food crops.
> Good: pollinators such as honey bees. Predators which eat "bad"
> invertebrates such as ladybirds and hoverflies (eat aphids); ground
> beetles (eat slugs). No doubt there are others.
>
> Bad: see above. Aphids, slugs, snails, wireworms, cutworms, weevils.
> Sadly the list is endless.
No list is endless.
> Perhaps it would be possible to include those flatworms which eat
> earthworms (but I haven't seen anything about them recently - weren't they
> supposed to have killed off the UK earthworm population by now?).
>
>
> ? If Man disappeared tomorrow it would probably be a good thing for the
> ecosystem.
For some values of 'good'. From your point of view?
We do see the world as we are, not as it is.
>
> Other than plants pollinated by the wind and some other specific
> pollinators (humming birds, butterflies, moths, bats), all the
> bee-pollinated plants would eventually die off.
And so?
> Most certainly, all our fruit would go, and so would a lot of the other
> plants which feed us.
Ah, so Man is still the centre of your universe.
Mary
| |
| Jeff Layman 2008-02-27, 5:25 pm |
| Mary Fisher wrote:
> "Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> And so?
You'd probably have a lot less trouble with perennial weeds in the lawn, if
you really want to hear a flippant reply.
>
> Ah, so Man is still the centre of your universe.
Well, I wouldn't agree with that, but I don't subscribe to alt.misanthropy
either.
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
| |
| Mary Fisher 2008-02-27, 5:25 pm |
|
"Jeff Layman" <jmlayman@thetapetcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:L6SdncpbMJbFXVjanZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@tcp.co.uk...
> Mary Fisher wrote:
>
> You'd probably have a lot less trouble with perennial weeds in the lawn,
> if you really want to hear a flippant reply.
We don't have a lawn. The hens eat all the grass :-)
>
Not all but you're still mentioning foods which are central to Man's
existence.[color=darkred]
>
> Well, I wouldn't agree with that,
That's just what you ARE saying.
>
> --
> Jeff
> (cut "thetape" to reply)
>
| |
| Trevor 2008-02-28, 1:25 pm |
|
"Dave Hill" <david@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dbd82469-8e94-4924-9c8a-bd8a1ee933b7@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries
A few years back we had an average of 2 per week in the house Feb to May,
last year not one.
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