Butterfly thieves handed $200,000 fine
Two Italian men were arrested at a Sri Lankan wildlife park after they were found with hundreds of protected insects.
Insects
Butterfly thieves handed $200,000 fine
Two Italian men were arrested at a Sri Lankan wildlife park after they were found with hundreds of protected insects.
How a little-known 17th-century female scientist changed our understanding of insects
Maria Sibylla Merian’s beautiful and disturbing illustrations, which shaped how we look at the natural world, will be on show at Amsterdam’s RijksmuseumMore than three centuries after she made a perilous transatlantic voyage to study butterflies, a rar…
Colony of invasive red dwarf honeybee found for first time in Europe
Discovery of Apis florea in Malta raises fears of devastating impact on native bee populationsThe red dwarf honeybee has established a colony in Europe for the first time, scientists have found.The bee, Apis florea, is native to Asia and its discovery …
South Korea uses dog to sniff out bedbugs coming from Paris Olympics
Beagle Ceco and his team will operate until Sept. 8 at the country’s main airport.
Startling genome discovery in butterfly project reveals impact of climate change in Europe
Project to study all 11,000 species of butterflies and moths finds ‘two species in the act of being created from one’The chalkhill blue has some surprising claims to fame. For a start, it is one of the UK’s most beautiful butterflies, as can be seen as…
Hungarian presidency launches offensive against ‘novel’ food to defend EU’s ‘culinary tradition’
At Budapest’s initiative, EU agriculture ministers will discuss on Monday (15 July) whether insects, plant-based foods or lab-grown meat could jeopardise Europe’s culinary traditions.
Spain’s traditional food markets are fading away – and with them, a whole way of life | Stephen Burgen
At my local market in Barcelona, I see how few young people have the time or inclination to join the queues for a friendly chatBarcelona’s famous market, La Boqueria, was voted the best in the world by Food & Wine magazine last month (ahead of Marc…
French rains drench bees and their habitats
Extreme rains in Northern Europe are having an impact on some of the smallest European Union constituents: insects.
Is Macron’s gamble France’s Brexit moment?
This could be the most destructive national election in the 70-year history of the European project.
The end of the great northern forests? The tiny tree-killing beetle wreaking havoc on our ancient giants
Forests across Europe, the US and Canada have been hard hit by drought, fires and bark beetles. Now scientists fear the northern hemisphere’s greatest carbon sink is nearing a tipping pointThe giant sequoia is so enormous that it was once believed to b…
Militant farmers vent fury in Brussels on eve of EU election
But only 1,000 show up to a protest boycotted by mainstream farming organizations.
Mosquito-borne diseases spreading in Europe due to climate crisis, says expert
Illnesses such as dengue and malaria to reach unaffected parts of northern Europe, America, Asia and Australia, conference to hearMosquito-borne diseases are spreading across the globe, and particularly in Europe, due to climate breakdown, an expert ha…
Three Women review – intimate snapshot of rural Ukraine before the invasion
A biologist, a postal worker and a farmer are a charismatic trio at the heart of a documentary that builds an emotional connection between film-maker and subjectBordering Poland and Slovakia, Stuzhytsya is a remote, sleepy village situated near the Car…
The Italian cricket-breeders putting a positive spin on insect-based food
Cianni brothers aim to change minds with Italy’s first company to produce flour from crickets for human consumption“Go on, try it, it is good,” said José Francesco Cianni as he handed over a packet containing a light brown powder with a crispy texture….
From beehive to kitchen table: UK beekeepers call for new law to trace honey’s origin
British producers to back EU’s proposed regulations to stop trade in adulterated honeyBritain’s beekeepers are backing proposed new rules to combat fraud in the supply chain, ensuring a jar of honey can be traced on its journey of up to 5,000 miles fr…
Yes, it is cricket: Italy gives go-ahead to insect flour for human use
Nutrinsect defies Italian food purists with cricket flour that can be incorporated into range of foodsA company that produces flour made from crickets has become the first in Italy to be given the green light to sell food made from insects for human co…
Asian hornets killing off honey bees in Europe, say MEPs
‘Voracious predators’ threaten honey production and pose risk to biodiversity, European Commission toldItalian MEPs are calling on the European Commission to crack down on Asian hornets, which are spreading across some EU countries and killing off bees…
Freaks vs the Reich review – atrocious mash-up of circus fable and the Holocaust
Franz Rogowski plays a Nazi ringmaster in a deluded blend of magical realism, gratuitous violence and sentimentalityWhat better way to start the new year with what will surely be remembered as one of its worst films. This mashup of magical realism, gra…
Police in Greece investigate after tourists targeted in bedbug hoax
Health ministry says posters in English outside apartment buildings in Athens were ‘absolutely false’Greece’s health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of short-term rental apartments in Athens by in…
Romania bans newly approved EU products, like insects, from traditional recipes
On Wednesday, a ban on the use of newly authorised EU foods in the preparation of traditional Romanian products was approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The proponents of the legislation assert that the necessity to regulate insect flour for…
European Parliament kills off landmark pesticide reduction bill
Left-wing groups voted against the bill after it was watered down by conservatives.
Lab-grown meat threatens Italian culture — Meloni minister
Italy’s parliament has passed Europe’s first legislation banning lab-cultured meat.
Restoring nature is possible — but we must work together
Long-lasting partnerships between governments, businesses and NGOs are needed to realize a positive future for climate, nature and communities.
Keep your bedbugs, Putin tells the EU
Russian leader mocks Europe’s insect issues while scoffing at new round of sanctions.
‘Excruciating’ hornet sting leaves Rome dinner party guest on crutches as plague spreads
Increasing infestation in the Italian capital blamed on city’s refuse problem and high temperaturesAndrea Velardi had just settled down to dine on the terrace of his friend’s apartment near Campi de’ Fiori in central Rome when he felt an excruciating p…
Wednesday briefing: Is Britain about to get invaded by bedbugs?
In today’s newsletter: With Paris under siege by these tiny, blood-sucking terrors, many on the other side of the Channel are wondering if they’re next – and what can be done• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Paris is b…
What’s really going on with Paris’s bedbug crisis? – podcast
The Guardian’s Paris correspondent, Angelique Chrisafis, tells Madeleine Finlay about the explosion in bedbug sightings in the city, and how residents and officials have reacted. And Prof Jerome Goddard explains what makes the creatures so difficult to…
France closes seven schools over bedbug infestations
Education minister says ‘cases are piling up’ and that ‘an immediate response is needed’France has been forced to shut seven schools over growing concerns over an infestation of bedbugs, the education minister has said.“Bedbugs were detected at various…
‘Bedbugs don’t discriminate’: Paris ‘scourge’ sparks fears of international infestation
After French capital hosted fashion week and Rugby World Cup there are concerns the problem will spreadParis is burning its luggage and bed linen as it battles a “scourge” of bedbugs, stoking fears of infestation around the world as pest controllers re…
France to deploy sniffer dogs to inspect train seats for bedbugs
Public transport including Paris Métro will be checked despite minister’s denial of bedbug outbreakFrance will dispatch sniffer dogs to inspect trains and the Paris Métro for bedbugs after dozens of reports of infestations, the transport minister has p…
Paris bedbugs: It’s not a big deal, says French transport chief
The tiny insects have been spotted on public transport over the past few weeks, but Clément Beaune says no need to worry.
Paris bedbugs ‘hell’: Don’t panic, health chief urges
Invasive creatures swarm public transport in the French capital, raising alarm among residents and public officials.
Don’t let the bedbugs bite! France tackles insect invasion on public transport
Emmanuel Macron’s government springs into action as Paris deputy mayor warns ‘no one is immune.’
Bedbug crisis sparks political row in Paris as insect ‘scourge’ continues
Disgust spreads across country as travellers post videos apparently showing insects on Paris public transportFrance’s growing bedbug crisis has sparked a political row as Paris city hall said the invasion of bloodsucking insects must be tackled before …
Red fire ant colonies found in Italy and could spread across Europe, says study
Researchers identify 88 nests of destructive invasive non-native species near Syracuse in SicilyAn invasive non-native ant species has become established in Italy and could rapidly spread through Europe to the UK with global heating, a study warns.The …
Europe is under attack — by wolves and deadly insects
Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead. The wolves of Europe are next.
Lax post-Brexit trade rules pave way for invasive species to come to Britain
UK has not reciprocated after EU banned import of pot plant soil, in which some species can travel undetectedInvasive species are increasingly likely to come to Britain because of lax post-Brexit trade rules, experts have warned.The EU has banned the i…