Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

Tenebrionid beetles. The yellowish hairy beetle with a black head and legs is usually found on flowers in hedges, etc., in June and July and is noted for its sluggish movements. It has occasionally been recorded from Anglesey and Caernarvonshire, mostly in coastal areas. The Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), was common at Llanelltyd, near Dolgellau. in 1974 (Mrs. J. Brown), slowly moving over the grassy banks and heather. This large Chrysomelid beetle is noted for its habit of ejecting a red fluid from its mouth when disturbed. A female Glow worm (Lampyris noctiluca) was found at Llanelltyd in early August (J. B.). At Dale.in Pembrokeshire, a female specimen of the Common Cockroach (Blatta orientalis), was discovered in an empty beehive in a garden under trees in early September (T. A. W. Davis). While this is a domestic species dependent on artificial heating for survival through the winter, it is not uncommon to find occasional specimens in rubbish dumps during the summer months. A beehive is an unexpected habitat, but in this case the bees had all died and the cockroach may well have been feeding on the remains. M.J.M. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir, Lead-poisoning Lead containing shale waste from lead mines in mid-Wales has been transported, at least locally, for the purpose of spreading on garden paths, access roads and, in emergency, for gritting icy roads in winter. It is apparently not widely known how toxic this waste is although agriculturalists, river boards, water authorities have often learnt from bitter experience and lately have benefitted from confirmatory research and investigation into the effects of lead poisoning and, in some cases, how to minimise the risks. Obviously domestic and ornamental poultry readily become victims of chronic lead poisoning when they have access to grit of lead-mine origin. (At least two cases, confirmed by post mortem locally in 1974). It is not perhaps appreciated how easily small particles of lead containing grit can be transported by surface water from one premises to another, often with serious consequences. The nature of the total hazard to the environment from these lead containing spoil heaps has not, to my knowledge, been fully evaluated, but that sufficient scientific evidence already exists in the literature and veterinary records to confirm the undersirability of its disposal by distribution is beyond doubt. It is to be hoped that every encouragement will be given to those seeking an acceptable solution to this problem while, in the meantime, any aggravation of this known hazard by irresponsible action will receive the censure it deserves. Werndeg, Cnwch Coch, Yours sincerely Nr. Aberystwyth, P. M. MILES.