Latest news with #goodluck
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Times
Calling all ladybird spotters: help fill in the picture on these charismatic little bugs
Seen a ladybird lately? They're considered to be a sign of good luck. If you spot one, your wish will be granted, or if you are hoping for a proposal, a ladybird landing on your hand means you'll be married within the year. These are charismatic little bugs. With their striking bright red wing cases and symmetrical black dots, it's no wonder they are held in more affection than most others on the planet. In many languages, the ladybird is called 'little cow', and in Irish the insect is called 'Bóín Dé', or God's little cow. This could be because their spots resemble the patterns on some cows, or because they were traditionally seen as a blessing from God for pest control. READ MORE You see, ladybirds are not just gorgeous to look at, they perform some vital and beneficial work too. Most ladybirds are predators, with both adults and larvae feeding on aphids and other pests that damage plants and crops. Harmless to humans, the ladybird is a voracious garden predator, munching through about 5,000 aphids in its year-long life. Aphids and such other pests damage plants and crops. It's no wonder farmers and gardeners love ladybirds as they do such important work. If your dahlias are being devoured by aphids right now and you see a ladybird, make a wish for more ladybirds. A ladybird investigating a buttercup flower. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw By far the most well known of the species in Ireland is the seven-spot ladybird. However, there are 38 species that occur here, according to Ireland's National Biodiversity Data Centre . Some of these are small and unspotted – so perhaps a bit less flamboyant than the ones we readily identify. Quite a bit of data exists on the distribution and status of ladybirds in Northern Ireland thanks to research there, but our knowledge in the Republic is still a bit, well, spotty. That's about to change. The compilation of the national Ladybird Atlas 2025 is under way and with your help, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, in conjunction with the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) is aiming to map all the species here. [ How to make the best of light and shade in your garden Opens in new window ] [ A magical Burren garden that is at one with the wider, wilder world around it Opens in new window ] By doing so, scientists hope to understand where all the ladybirds are, and where they are not. The map will provide a picture of the habitat different species of ladybird prefer too. It's really easy to help – if you see a ladybird, submit your sighting through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal . Here you'll be asked to identify where you saw it – right down to the village or townland, whether it's an adult or a larva, and how many you saw. You can upload a picture too – of the ladybird that is. From Tralee to Thurles, Tallaght to New Twopothouse, citizen scientists have been busy sending in their sightings. People in Athenry, Athy and Ardee have been at it too. Some 1,040 seven-spotted ladybirds have been spotted so far this year. Their reported sightings ramped up from about 95 in May to over 200 of them in June. You might consider going a step farther by developing your ladybird identification skills and becoming a ladybird recorder for your area. Right now, it is an important time for ladybirds – having mated in May, between June to July, females lay their fertilised eggs in bundles on leaves. When the larvae hatch, they feed on aphids until they emerge as fully grown ladybirds. A black ladybird takes off from a flower on the banks of the river Camac in Kilmainham. Photograph: Marc O'Sullivan A ladybird can live in hedgerows, trees and grasslands, so you'll do them a favour by mowing less or allowing a small section of your garden to stay wild. If you must weed, do it manually and don't use pesticides and insecticides. These chemicals can kill, harm, and disorientate insects or poison their food. If you buy plants at a garden centre, ask if they have been treated with chemicals. Even bee-friendly labelled plants may have been treated, harming ladybirds and other insects. It would be a shame not to spot any more of them.
South China Morning Post
15-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Bobtail cats inspire shrine, attract tourists in southern Japan
Content provided by British Council [1] In Japan, bobtail cats are considered good luck, and Nagasaki is the place to find them. They are known as omagari neko (bent-tail cats) or kagi neko (hook cats). They have their own society of admirers and even a dedicated Shinto shrine. [2] Their tails come in different varieties. These include hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun, explained Kazuya Hideshima, a worker at Omagari Neko Shrine and member of the Nagasaki Cat Society. Studies have shown that almost 80 per cent of cats in Nagasaki were bobtails. This number is twice as high as in any other part of Japan. [3] Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks. They served as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships. Meanwhile, Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies. The city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era, from the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials. [4] Soshin Yamamoto is a veterinarian and cat specialist. He said the large population of bobtails in Nagasaki is likely the result of a genetic mutation. The trait reproduced in a relatively isolated environment. 'Having bobtails is no problem for most cats living a normal life, as long as they live near humans and aren't jumping and running around like wildcats in a forest,' he said. [5] Nagasaki residents hope the cats can attract tourists and help businesses. Natsuno Kani is a 50-year-old tourist from Tokyo who recently visited the bobtail shrine. She said she knew Nagasaki was famous for bent-tail cats. [6] Abigail Tarraso is an artist from Spain. She is based in Takeo City in the neighbouring Saga prefecture. Tarraso was unfamiliar with the species, which is not as popular in Spain. 'Today is the first time in Nagasaki that I have ever heard of this,' said Cindy Bi, an American who is also an artist. 'I am excited to look for them. Maybe we will see a few.' Source: Associated Press, May 29 Questions 1. Omagari most likely means … according to paragraph 1. A. shrine B. cat C. bent-tail D. Nagasaki 2. What are three varieties of cat tails mentioned in paragraph 2? (3 marks) 3. In paragraph 3, the Buddhist monks brought cats on ships to ... A. keep them company. B. protect them from evil spirits. C. bring them good luck. D. get rid of rats. 4. What can't bobtail cats do as well as other cats, according to paragraph 4? 5. Based on paragraph 6, … Tarraso … Bi is familiar with bent-tail cats. A. neither; nor B. neither; or C. either; nor D. either; or 6. Arrange the words below to form a grammatically correct sentence. Begin the sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop. believe / fortune / the / that / Japanese / cats / good / bobtail / bring Veterinary surgeon Soshin Yamamoto holds his bobtail cat, Katsuo, at his practice in Tokyo. Photo: AP Answers 1. C 2. hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun 3. D 4. jump and run 5. A 6. The Japanese believe that bobtail cats bring good fortune.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Cats with hooked and bent tails fill Nagasaki, Japan, where they are thought to bring good luck
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) — In Japan, bobtail cats are considered good luck and Nagasaki is the place to find them. They are known as 'omagari neko (bent-tail cats)' or 'kagi neko (hook cats)' and have their own society of admirers and even a dedicated Shinto shrine. Their tails come in varieties including hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun, explained Kazuya Hideshima, a worker at Omagari Neko Shrine and member of the Nagasaki Cat Society. Past findings have indicated bobtails accounted for nearly 80% of the cats in Nagasaki, twice the occurrence of anywhere else in Japan. Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks, serving as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships. Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies when the city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era in the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials. Soshin Yamamoto, a veterinarian and cat specialist, said the large population of bobtails in Nagasaki is likely the result of a genetic mutation that reproduced in a relatively isolated environment when the nation was shut up tight. 'Having bobtails is no problem for most cats living a normal life, as long as they live near humans and aren't jumping and running around like wild cats in a forest,' he said. Nagasaki residents hope the cats bring in tourists and help business. Natsuno Kani, a 50-year-old tourist from Tokyo who recently visited the bobtail shrine, said she knew Nagasaki was famous for bent-tail cats. But Abigail Tarraso, an artist from Spain based in Takeo City in neighboring Saga prefecture, was unfamiliar with the species, which is not as popular in Spain. 'Today is the first time in Nagasaki that I have ever heard of this,' said Cindy Bi, an American who is also an artist. 'I am excited to look around for them. Maybe we will see a few.'
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
The ‘lucky' Japanese cats with their own fan club and shrine
In Nagasaki, Japan, the bobtail cat is more than just a pet; it's a symbol of good luck. Known locally as "omagari neko" (bent-tail cats) or "kagi neko" (hook cats), these felines are celebrated by a dedicated society and even have their own Shinto shrine. Kazuya Hideshima, who works at the Omagari Neko Shrine and is a member of the Nagasaki Cat Society, explains that their tails come in various shapes, including a hook, curve, or bun. Nagasaki is a haven for bobtails; past studies suggest that nearly 80 per cent of the city's cat population have bobtails. This is double the occurrence of anywhere else in Japan. Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks, serving as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships. Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies when the city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era in the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials. Soshin Yamamoto, a veterinarian and cat specialist, said the large population of bobtails in Nagasaki is likely the result of a genetic mutation that reproduced in a relatively isolated environment when the nation was shut up tight. 'Having bobtails is no problem for most cats living a normal life, as long as they live near humans and aren't jumping and running around like wild cats in a forest,' he said. Nagasaki residents hope the cats bring in tourists and help business. Natsuno Kani, a 50-year-old tourist from Tokyo who recently visited the bobtail shrine, said she knew Nagasaki was famous for bent-tail cats. But Abigail Tarraso, an artist from Spain based in Takeo City in neighboring Saga prefecture, was unfamiliar with the species, which is not as popular in Spain. 'Today is the first time in Nagasaki that I have ever heard of this,' said Cindy Bi, an American who is also an artist. 'I am excited to look around for them. Maybe we will see a few."
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Bobtail cats in Japan bring good luck, especially for Nagasaki city
In Japan , bobtail cats are considered good luck and Nagasaki is the place to find them. They are known as omagari neko (bent-tail cats) or kagi neko and have their own society of admirers and even a dedicated Shinto shrine. Their tails come in varieties including hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun, explained Kazuya Hideshima, a worker at Omagari Neko Shrine and member of the Nagasaki Cat Society. Past findings have indicated bobtails accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the cats in Nagasaki, twice the occurrence of anywhere else in Japan. Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks, serving as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships. Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies when the city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era in the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials.
