If you see this strange 'spittle' or 'froth' on your plants 'don't touch it' - gardeners are warned

 

People are being urged not to touch a peculiar froth found on plants this June - and to report any sightings as it could spread disease.

With the warm weather bringing our gardens to life, many of us are hoping to see our green spaces bustling with everything from ants to wasps and beetles. It's at this time of year that you might spot this strange 'spittle', sometimes referred to as cuckoo's spit, on your garden plants. However, gardeners are being strongly advised NOT to interfere with the bubbles or spittle on plants and to report any sightings immediately.

You may have noticed it clumped on plant stems or in patches of grass and wondered what it is. It appears like a ball of froth, or foam, somewhat like someone has spat on your plants, according to the Express.

So, what exactly is that ball of spit on your plants and is it harmful?, reports Yorkshire Live. The spittle, as it's known, is produced by an insect called a spittlebug, aptly named because it creates the odd frothy substance which then gets left behind on plants and in long grass. The spittlebug envelops itself in a ball of foam for protection while it feeds on the sap from a plant for nutrition. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter

The offspring of the red and black creature, also known as froghoppers, then hatch on a plant which has the leftover ball of foam. The insect is usually active from the end of May to the end of June, so it's peak season for sightings right now. Though the insects feed on the plants, they don't remove enough nutrition to harm it and they don't hurt humans, so you don't need to do anything or get rid of the spittle.

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Heat dome kills people and animals in Mexico and central America.

Heat dome is a killer

Heat domes occur when a high pressure area stays parked over a region, trapping in hot air and preventing precipitation. In the second half of May, a heat dome parked itself over Mexico, Central America and areas of Texas and Florida. The result was baking heat with record high temperatures. The brutal heat hit Mexico especially hard, with nearly 50 people dying of heat stroke and monkeys dropping dead out of trees. The Associated Press reported that an animal park in northern Mexico lost at least 100 parrots, bats and other animals from dehydration. Birds die of dehydration in high temps because they can’t store water. Setting out bowls of water for them could help.

In the U.S., Key West, Florida, tied its highest-ever heat index of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 C) on May 15. Miami had a heat index of 112 F (44 C) on two consecutive days, May 18 and 19. This broke the daily records by more than 11 degrees Fahrenheit. On May 27, Hobby Airport in Houston set a record high temperature of 98 degrees F (37 C). In fact, seven of the 20 hottest days on record in May for Hobby Airport were from this year.

In Central America, Belize had its second hottest temperature ever on record when Chaa Creek hit 108.1 degrees F (42.3 C) on May 17. Other Central American countries are also experiencing record high days.

read more from source - https://earthsky.org/earth/heat-dome-mexico-central-america-us-may-2024/

 

Fires rage overnight across north after Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks

 

nearby Lebanon. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

Firefighters early Tuesday battled blazes across northern Israel, as they continued to rage after being sparked the day before by rockets and drones that Hezbollah launched from Lebanon. Most had been brought under control by the morning.

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services said overnight that over 30 firefighting crews were working to extinguish the fires, which led to the closure of several major roads in the Galilee area.

A statement from the fire department stressed there was no threat to lives or homes at the time, while adding that it was “working hard to protect communities and property.”

read more from source - https://www.timesofisrael.com/fires-rage-overnight-across-north-after-hezbollah-rocket-and-drone-attacks/

Israeli ministers threaten to quit over ceasefire plan

Two far-right Israeli ministers have threatened to quit and collapse the governing coalition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to a Gaza ceasefire proposal unveiled by US President Joe Biden on Friday.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said they were opposed to striking any deal before Hamas was destroyed.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has pledged to back the government if Mr Netanyahu supported the plan.

The prime minister himself insisted there would be no permanent truce until Hamas's military and governing capabilities were destroyed and all hostages released.

READ MORE SOURCE - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz55y6k0p5go

 

Biden unveils Israeli proposal to end Gaza war

 

US President Joe Biden has urged Hamas to accept a new Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, saying that "it's time for this war to end".

The three-part proposal would begin with a six-week ceasefire in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.

There would also be a "surge" of humanitarian aid, as well as an exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The deal would eventually lead to a permanent "cessation of hostilities" and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.

read more from source - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw8860gn1nwo

Philippine president warns China against 'acts of war'

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned China not to cross a red line in the South China Sea, where a standoff between the countries continues to escalate.

If any Filipino died as a result of China’s wilful actions, he said on Friday, the Philippines would consider it as close to “an act of war” and respond accordingly.

Mr Marcos was speaking at a security forum in Singapore attended by defence chiefs from around the world, including the US's Lloyd Austin.

He stressed the region remained a main focus for Washington, and that the US was only secure if Asia was too.

In recent months the longstanding dispute between China and the Philippines over territory in the South China Sea has sharpened into aggressive clashes.

Manila has complained vociferously about Chinese patrol ships firing water cannon at Philippine boats and supply vessels.

Beijing has said that it is defending its sovereignty. At the summit, a Chinese military spokesman accused the Philippines of making “provocations”.

Read more from source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7223knz3ezo