Beasties

This lovely Black Bee didn’t make it through the cold night. It’s a male - the orange on antennae- purple Carpenter Bee - Xylocopa violacea - called a ‘calabrone nero’ or ‘bombo nero’. Apparently the males can produce a mild sting in defence.

Then sorting through compost from the heap in an attempt to mix my own seed compost I found these grubs (extra) and later this fierce looking caterpillar on a decimated early Mullein.

My Mum has worsened and is not taking liquids. Symptoms do not suggest Coronavirus.

Interesting to see the understanding of Coronavirus is changing. Mask wearing is coming as scientists realise the Chinese and others were not wrong. This beast floats on the very air we breathe and slips out on the speech of the innocent and guilty alike, unseen and unheard. Tinier than we can think and superbly adapted to its reproductive mission.

This article by Tom Whipple, Times Science Correspondent is worth reading if you’re tempted by a trip to the park.

How coronavirus affects the body, spreads and kills

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-coronavirus-affects-the-body-spreads-and-kills-zp9w96pxm

Hang tough people! It’s Day27 in Italy and for the first time ICU admissions are down.