This French Life

The city-loving ‘devil bug’ lands in France and continues its march around the world

An adult Halyomorpha.
Romain Garrouste, Author provided

By Romain Garrouste, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle (MNHN) – Sorbonne Universités

OF all places, Paris. In 2012, while writing a book on the Hemiptera order of insects – it includes aphids, cicadas and others – I made a new discovery, and an unwelcome one: a new invasive species in the heart of the French capital, in the Jardin des Plantes.

Halyomorpha halys is a large (up to 1.7 cm) grey Pentatomid – known colloquially as stink bugs. Originally from China, Korea and Japan, they began to invade the world about 20 years ago, travelling thanks to human activities. The standard English-language name for Halyomorpha halys is the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), but in France it has also been called the “punaise diabolique” – the diabolical or devil bug – because of its impressive size, fondness for large-scale gatherings and seriousness as an agricultural pest.

Since September 2016, I have detected its presence in several other Parisian gardens in a larval state, meaning that it is reproducing. This is a silent invasion, despite the insect’s large size and lack of discretion in the fall, when it seeks to enter homes. It is this behaviour that has given the nickname of “evil”: By September 2017, it had become a serious problem in France, with some residents reporting swarms of bugs essentially knocking on windows seeking to enter homes and apartments.

Plans for direct Bordeaux to London rail link discussed

IT is still a few years off yet, but initial talks have taken place on offering a direct train service between Bordeaux and London.

A meeting hosted by Lisea, the operators of the high-speed rail between Tours and Bordeaux, with SNCF Reseau, Eurotunnel and High Speed 1 (the rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel) saw them discuss plans to operate a trial service sometime after 2020.

With a proposed journey time of five hours, the trains could offer seating for up to 900 passengers and fares to Bordeaux could be as low as £90 return.

Warning over the presence of tiger mosquito

THE recent warm weather across France has sparked into life the tiger mosquito, or moustique tigre, which can carry diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika.

The website Vigilance-Moustique warns that 42 départements are currently in the red zone for the presence of the mosquito, with the Dordogne amongst them.

The tiger mosquito was first spotted in the Dordogne in 2015 and homeowners can reduce the risk of its spread by ensuring stagnant water is not left standing as it provides a breeding ground for the insect.

Top image by James Gathany/CDC - This media comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image Library (PHIL), with identification number #4487.

Take a walk around the 47 km du 47 and discover the Lot-et-Garonne

IF you are up for a 47 km walk from Fumel, that takes in some of the sights of the Lot-et-Garonne, then get ready this weekend for a popular walk in the neighbouring département.

The '47 km du 47' is now in its eleventh year and promises some beautiful views and photographic opportunities that starts from the centre culturel in Fumel on Sunday 29 April.

The route then heads out to Cuzorn, Gavaudun, Lacapelle-Biron, Saint-Front-sur-Lémance and passes by the impressive chateau at Bonaguil before heading back to Fumel.

Rest assured, if you are not up for the 47 km walk then a series of other walks are available covering distances of 8, 15, 20, 29 and 38 kms, and if you are struggling a regular bus passes along the route to pick people up and take them back to their departure point.

Far more Britons live in Europe than government statistics suggest

Image by Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock.com

By Karen O’Reilly, Goldsmiths, University of London

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently produced estimates of the number of British citizens living in the European Union (EU). The numbers, apparently, have declined from 1.22m prior to 2017, to “around 900,000” (Jan 2017), and more latterly to 784,900 (April 2018).

Meanwhile, our research has revealed that most informed commentators (academics, local government officials, consular offices, and others who work with the British abroad) understand numbers to have changed little since 2008, and that the correct, conservative, estimate is closer to 1.8m.

So, what is going on? Where do these estimates come from? And why does the drop matter?

According to the ONS, its estimates, which are reproduced widely by campaign and interest groups, academics, politicians and journalists, are published “in response to an increased user need for data about the people who may be most likely to be affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU”. The ONS argues that the heretofore trusted United Nations data (source of the 1.22m estimate) are unreliable “high-level estimates” based on extrapolating out from census data. The ONS said in 2017 that it prefers to use “more detailed census data”, leading to the first, inadequately explained, reduction to 900,000.

Hay fever sufferers warned of record pollen levels in France

HAY fever sufferers across France are being warned of high levels of pollen, with the latest update from Le Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA) website showing record levels of birch tree pollen.

Much of the RNSA map is covered in red, highlighting the birch tree pollen levels and warns sufferers to take precautions and have a supply of their required medications, with forecasts showing little respite in the coming weeks.

The RNSA website is a useful stop for hay fever sufferers as there are guides and regular updates available.

There are historical records for towns and cities across France enabling you to spot when pollen levels are at their highest.

One feature of the RNSA website that could prove particularly useful is a weekly email service that allows you to choose up to three départements and get updates to your inbox about pollen level risks.

Martin Walker, and Bruno Chief of Police, recognised for Dordogne tourism boost

AUTHOR, Martin Walker, the writer behind the popular Bruno Chief of Police novels set in the Dordogne, has been recognised for his contribution to tourism in the region.

Book lovers from around the world have enjoyed reading the escapades of Bruno as he battles the baddies, and enjoys the goodies on offer in the Dordogne, with eleven books now translated into 18 languages.

France Bleu Périgord reports, that Martin Walker was recognised this week for the boost and publicity that his books have brought to the region with a médaille nationale du tourisme échelon or.

Martin Walker said that he loved the Périgord and that he enjoyed sharing his passion for the food, wine and history of the area with his readers.

Classic cars and retro-camping: 5 & 6 May

A WEEKEND of classic cars and retro-camping will be on offer at La Bastide camp site in Villefranche-du-Périgord‎.

Vehicles, their drivers and passengers will be zipping around the village on 5 and 6 May, with trips out and special events at the camp site.

And on 6 May there will be an exhibition of vehicles and second hand parts sale in the place de la halle in Villefranche-du-Périgord.

France's autism problem – and its roots in psychoanalysis

By Richard Bates, University of Nottingham

FRANCE has a problem with autism. The country’s highest administrative court estimates that there are 700,000 autistic people in France. However, only 75,000 are diagnosed. Autistic children have historically been diagnosed later in France than in neighbouring countries. They have often been excluded from mainstream education and lacked access to support services and extracurricular activities.

Many French autists are confined to day hospitals and live-in institutions, isolated from the community and frequently unable to communicate through speech – whereas in the US, for example, public schools are required by law to fully include autistic children in mainstream classroom education. For years, families in northeast France have taken autistic children to Belgium, to access its superior services.

Pine processionary caterpillars out and about

IF you have seen white, candyfloss like webs high in pine trees, keep a watchful eye on the ground for the pine processionary caterpillar.

It is at this time of year that the caterpillars head to woodland floors in search of a place to pupate and it is when you will see the characteristic long lines as they follow each other nose to tail.

And while that is a view of nature to behold, the Pine processionary caterpillar has a horrible 'feature', the small hairs on its back are poisonous and can be a terrible irritant if touched.

But cats and dogs are particularly at risk as the fine hairs can become embedded in the mouth, or stomach, and if not spotted quickly and dealt with by a vet, can prove fatal.

Beyond keeping your pets close to heel, there is little you can do to keep the caterpillars at bay. Professionals will use blow torch apparatus to burn the insects, but the trees in a small area will play host to hundreds of nests.

So just keep an eye out between now and May for the Pine processionary caterpillar, stay clear of pine trees if you are worried, and let the beasties progress on their way.