A Bit Of Bug News
Studies in Croatia have led researchers to believe that Honeybees may have the ability to help detect unexploded landmines.
Key Points
The stripy winged insects are currently being trained to identify their food using the scents of powerful explosive mixes.
If the tests are successful, then it is hoped that the bees will be able to assist in finding some of the unexploded landmines placed in Croatia during the Balkan Wars.
During the four year conflict, over 90,000 landmines were randomly placed across the country. Since the beginning of the war in 1991, over 2,500 people have died from landmine explosions.
Dogs are more commonly used to detect explosives, but they often set off blasts on the minefields because they are too heavy.
Spring time butterflies arrive late
The UK’s spring butterflies are arriving late due to the weather.
This March has been the second coldest on record. Experts are saying that this is one of the reasons that many rare species of butterflies have arrived in our wildlife spots and gardens months later than last year.
The sightings of butterflies are charted by the charity Butterfly Conservation, and they have noticed that compared to an average year, the beautiful creatures are several weeks late.
The grizzled skipper, a rare species, has emerged a whole month later than last year.
Last year during the spring, the butterflies were spotted emerging earlier than normal due to the unusually mild February and March. However, the extreme wet weather that followed resulted in a bad year for most species.
This year, the delayed emergence of the grizzled skipper is just one example of how changing weather patterns are impacting butterfly populations. The late arrival of these delicate creatures raises concerns about their ability to adapt and survive in the face of climate change. Butterfly Conservation is now closely monitoring the situation and working to understand the long-term implications for these species.
