In article ,
"BAC" writes:
|
| Even in Cambridge, we have had only one mild frost. The mistake
| here is following the rigid rule-book approach so beloved of most
| gardening writers and almost all bureaucrats. We should judge
| the passing of the seasons from observational cues and not the
| calendar.
|
| That depends on what triggers a particular organism's response to the
| changing seasons. With those that die in winter because they cannot tolerate
| frosts, 'winter' starts with the first frosts. With those that change
| because of length of day, for instance, they will follow the calendar almost
| irrespective of the weather.

More-or-less, except that many of those are also affect by light
levels, which can vary by a factor of 2 in a given month depending
on the weather.

| I don't know for sure what governs the wasp's life cycle, but I wouldn't
| assume a nest 'must' be dead just because it is autumn outside. Assumption
| is the mother of all cock ups :-)

Yes, indeed.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679