Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature
In my youth I remember a bee which was essentially a smaller version of the bumble bee. It was jet black with a bright red derriere. What has happened to it?
David Lowe, Shankill, Dublin 16.
There are several red-tailed bumble bees, but only one of them, Bombus lapidarius, seems to be present in Ireland.
Every summer in France I see creatures that look like tiny humming birds feeding from the lavender. They are bird-shaped with solid-looking brownish bodies, a stumpy tail, a very long proboscis and tiny eyes on either side of the head. They are about one-and-a-half inches long and have orange wings.
Madeline A Stringer, Dundrum, Dublin, 16.
They are hummingbird hawkmoths and can also be seen here in summer.
I observed a pair of crows in a small ash tree testing the lighter twigs until one broke. With only one twig they both flew back to the nest. They repeated the process, and again flew back together to the nest with the one twig.
Martin Crotty, Dundalk, Co Louth
Crows prefer fresh twigs.
Send observations to Michael Viney, Thallabawn, Carrownisky PO, Westport, Co. Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie (include a postal address).
