Holiday photo/ Sulphurous Jewel beetle

http://www.arkive.org/sulphurous-jewel-beetle/julodis-euphratica/

Found this beetle which you can see on this link. In AbuDhabi!  Will try to add my photo!


Here it is!
It is surprising that you would think the UAE is mainly sand and yet it has some amazing insects and butterflies. They have a really impressive botanical park in the centre of the City.  I must research it some more.

Wildlife issues to be put to general election candidates/

I am pleased to see the Wildlife Trusts publishing their concerns and their advice to us as members to allow us to raise these important issues with our candidates before we vote.

An extract from an email from the Somerset Wildlife Trust to its members

I’m sure you also know how unique, beautiful and precious our natural heritage is in Somerset. We have wonderful moors, a stunning coastline, rolling farmland, picturesque towns and villages with the added jewels of the unique wetlands in the Levels and Moors, Exmoor National Park and four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are passionate to secure a positive deal for the UK’s wildlife in the upcoming election, during the BREXIT negotiations and following our departure from the European Union.

The rewards for making the right decisions would also be great: a UK which is a world-leader on the environment with clean air, clear water, a stable climate, healthy seas, beautiful landscapes and thriving wildlife in the places we care about most. All this is fundamental to the well-being and prosperity of our own and future generations.

We know that there is huge popular support for wildlife and the environment from people of all backgrounds. In a recent YouGov poll, 80% of people said they think the UK should have the same or stronger environmental protection after it leaves the EU.

The Wildlife Trusts would therefore like to see all parties commit to:

1. Nature's recovery in a generation. To achieve this will require us to transfer all current EU environmental laws into statute in the UK and ensure they are policed, and in England, to enact an Environment Act that restores the ecology of our rivers, farmland, soils and cities.
2. Protection of our marine wildlife through a well enforced and complete network of marine protected areas in UK seas and sustainable fisheries policies.
3. New sustainable policies for our farmland to allow wildlife to thrive alongside food production. Taxpayer’s money should be invested in creating abundant wildlife, healthy soils, clean water, climate change mitigation and beautiful landscapes for the benefit of everyone.

Take action! You can help give wildlife a safer future. Candidates will be talking to you on your doorsteps and in your streets. You can let them know how much wildlife matters to you, and ask them what they plan to do to help it thrive. We’ve set out a few simple questions you can ask yourself and share with family and friends who share your commitment to the natural world? What will your party do to ensure we our wildlife laws remain strong and that steps are taken to restore the damage we have done to nature? If you've got a bit longer, why not ask: Specifically for England, will you commit to an ambitious new Environment Act? What will your party do to ensure that wildlife thrives in our seas once more? If you want more detail, ask them: Will you make sure that more marine protected areas are designated and policed? What will you party do to ensure we have new farming policies in each part of the UK to provide for nature’s recovery? More specifically: Will you make sure that any payments to farmers are for positive environmental action?