Latest news with #path
The Guardian
02-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: A single garden plant – and an explosion of life
A sultry, windless afternoon and the air above the garden path is shimmering. It's too hot to do anything much during this heat, other than stand here and watch the carnage unfolding on this 7ft-tall cardoon plant. It was early June when we first noticed the small clusters of black aphids. Looking closer, we watched a long column of ants, from the nest under the paving stone, climbing the stems, tending the aphids, stroking them with their antennae and legs, encouraging them to produce drops of sweet honeydew. Aphid 'farming' by ants has been documented for centuries and was meticulously observed in 1882 by Sir John Lubbock, MP, polymath and friend of Darwin, in his book Ants, Bees and Wasps. He watched aphid colonies grow, noting that their ant herders moved some to new locations on the host plant, founding new colonies. And that seems to have happened on our cardoon. By early July new aphid colonies had proliferated and flower stems were soon covered with thousands of sap suckers, so many that the plant's great armoured inflorescences bowed their heads for want of sustenance. Then came flying ant day. The herders' colony rapidly declined – but the aphid population explosion continued, raining droplets of uncollected honeydew, coating leaves in sucrose. Now it was the turn of hordes of hoverflies, arriving to lap up the sticky sweetness and lay their deadly eggs among the aphids. When the predatory, slug-like larvae hatched they wreaked havoc. Today the ants have gone, and the stems and leaves have the melancholy post-apocalyptic air of a battlefield, strewn with withered aphid corpses. Seven-spot, 14-spot and harlequin ladybirds roam the leaves, mopping up huddles of survivors. More opportunists arrive: neon purple and metallic blue jewel wasps; agitated, hyperactive ichneumon wasps; scurrying spider mites and a host of small flies. The aphid infestation is almost over. Wilted flower buds are reviving and some, a little smaller than usual, have opened their spectacular crowns of blue florets, beloved by bumblebees. Over the last month we've witnessed a great pyramid of interconnected life assemble here, an unfolding drama with an ever-changing cast. One puff of insecticide, six weeks ago, and this enthralling pulse of biodiversity would never have happened. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
UAE Moments
27-06-2025
- General
- UAE Moments
Your Daily Career Tarot Card Reading for June 28th, 2025
28.6.25 The Moon: If you've come up against a stumbling block or find that your path is dogged with unexpected and unwanted obstacles and challenges, then back down for now. The Moon card can spotlight trying times when continuing to affirm your goal or desired outcome without forcing it in the midst of unforeseen problems can keep you on track. This difficult time will soon pass and you'll be on your way again.
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers learn Champions League draw fate as Russell Martin's first opponent revealed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S a new era at Rangers - and it will all begin for Russell Martin with the white knuckle ride which is the Champions League qualifiers. And for the former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton boss, who was appointed earlier this month, that means a tough opener against Panathinaikos. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Rangers have learned their second qualifying round date Credit: EPA 3 Rangers chief Russell Martin Credit: PA 3 The Champions League trophy Credit: Getty The first leg will be at Ibrox with Gers facing a trip to Greece for the second leg. Greek giants Panathinaikos were perhaps the toughest of the three sides Rangers could have faced. They haven't met since Walter Smith's side squeezed past the Greeks at the last 16 phase as they went on to book their spot in the Uefa Cup final in Manchester. And a tough visit to Athens so early in Martin's tenure will be a major challenge right off the bat. Rangers' sizeable Uefa five-year coefficient gives them seeding at both this stage and the third round if they can make it that far - although they WON'T be protected at the playoff round. Scotland's dropping co-efficient means BOTH halves of the Old Firm have to pre-qualify to make it into the reshaped Champions League this season. Celtic enter at the play-off round stage in the 'Champions path' - as they look to improve on their agonising knockout round playoff defeat to Bayern Munich. Even if they don't make it all the way to the Champions League, victory in their opening tie will be crucial for Rangers. As it stands they have NO guarantee of group stage football in Europe this season. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
