Latest news with #RoyalSocietyOfBiology
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The truth about flying ant day and the best way to get rid of the pesky insects
Brits have been basking in the sunshine recently, with the UK recording some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far. But as lovely as hot weather can be, the heat tends to herald the arrival of some unwelcome guests: flying ants. You might have heard of Flying Ant Day. But speaking to experts from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) about what and when it is, we discovered it's something of an urban myth. There isn't actually a specific 'Flying Ant Day' (if there was, we'd certainly stay inside). Instead, it's more of a "flying ant season," which usually occurs from late June into September – depending on the weather. "We had thousands of amateur scientists across the UK recording sightings and what we concluded is there isn't one Flying Ant Day," Susie Rabin, RSB's director of communications and public affairs, tells Yahoo UK. "It's really just the weather that triggers them to start flying; when it's warm, not very windy, and a bit humid." You'll generally see flying ants when the queen ants (which are easy to spot as they're the biggest and can grow up to 15mm long) are on the lookout for a new home. Unfortunately for us, they don't leave their pals behind. When the queens decide to up and flee, they bring the male ants with them. "They're basically trying to find a mate and a new place to set up a colony," Rabin explains. "The males die pretty much straight after mating, which is why you'll often see lots of dead ants soon after a swarm." Flying ants need the right mix of heat and humidity to trigger their so-called 'nuptial flight'. "It usually needs to be above about 25 degrees, not too windy, and a bit humid," says Rabin. "If those conditions happen multiple times a year, you'll get more than one flight. Some years you might see them in July, other years in August." Flying ants tend to build nests in dry soil so can be found beneath flower beds, lawns and paving slabs. They're common in almost any dry, open area that is warmed by sunlight – including gardens, pavements, brownfield sites, heathland, grassland and coastal areas. In the few weeks before the swarming event happens, you may see heaps of soil appearing above the nests. Although they're not dangerous, flying ants can prove incredibly irritating. They've been known to bite or sting, but this is fairly uncommon. "They're part of the ecosystem – burrowing, breaking down plant matter, and feeding birds," Rabin continues. "If they're outside, it's best just to leave them alone." If you really need to deal with them, your options include: Pouring boiling water into visible nest entrances can kill ants on contact, but it may take repeated treatments. Use insecticide carefully and follow instructions – Rabin advises considering the impact on other wildlife. "Remember birds could eat dead ants," she notes. Check around doors and windows if you're seeing ants indoors, and seal any gaps where they might be getting in. Rabin adds: "Unless they're in your house, they're really not doing any harm. They'll be gone in a few hours. And if they are inside, then it's really something pest control need to deal with." Read more about pests: Seven common pests and how to keep them out of your home (ECHO, 6-min read) Property DIY: How to get rid of pests in the home (Yahoo Finance UK, 4-min read) The surprising harvesting tip that protects your tomatoes from pests (Country Living UK, 3-min read)
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Breakthrough in gruesome murder of London-based scientist found hacked to pieces in Colombia
Colombian police have made a breakthrough in their investigation into the brutal murder and dismemberment of a UK-based Italian scientist. Molecular biologist Alessandro Coatti was reported missing on April 4 after arriving in the coastal city of Santa Marta for a holiday. Two days later, his body parts were found scattered across several different locations. His torso was discovered miles away from his dismembered legs, head, hands and feet. Cops had wildly varying theories as to how and why the scientist, who previously worked at London 's Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for eight years as a senior policy officer, was murdered. They ranged from a case of mistaken identity between battling cartels to a kidnapping at the hands of organ traffickers. But investigators settled on the theory that Coatti fell victim to a gang that targets foreigners looking for dates, luring them to abandoned buildings before robbing them. Colombian police this weekend swooped in to arrest four people, three men and one woman, they believe were complicit in the scientist's murder. It comes as Coatti's remains arrived in Ravenna, close to his hometown of Longastrino in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, for further examination, the Italian embassy in Bogota announced. Alessandro Coatti's head, hands and feet were found in a black suitcase while other parts were discovered wrapped in a bin bag floating in a river Local news site Seguimiento Santa Marta release images of the four detainees arrested in connection with Coatti's murder Local news site Seguimiento Santa Marta release images of the four detainees arrested in connection with Coatti's murder The detainees were named by Colombian newspaper Hoy-Diario del Magdalena as Oswal Moises Ospino Navarro, arrested in Medellin, Isaac Enrique Màrquez Charris, captured in Arjona (Bolivar), Andrea Camila Berdugo Escorcia, in Bogotà, and Brian Augusto Cantillo Salcedo, arrested in Santa Marta. Colonel Jaime Rios Puerto, commander of the Colombian Metropolitan Police, said investigators had confirmed the location of Coatti's murder and dismemberment and subsequently tracked the alleged perpetrators despite attempts to evade authorities. Coatti's head, hands and feet were found in a suitcase near the Sierra Nevada stadium on April 6, two days after he was last seen leaving his hotel by the coast. His torso and other body parts were then found near the Minuto de Dios bridge a day later, before his legs were found in a coffee sack near the stadium on Tuesday. Investigators are yet to specify exactly how Coatti's murder transpired, but the leading theory is that the gang lured him to an abandoned property in San José del Pando, a neighbourhood of Santa Marta, under the pretence of a date. There, they are thought to have tried to drug him with scopolamine, better known as 'Devil's Breath', an anti-sickness medication that can be used as a tranquiliser in higher doses. Victims of the Devil's Breath can suffer temporary paralysis, confusion and sink into a stupor. Cops believe the gang members may have tried to drug and tie up Coatti in an attempt to make him hand over his bank cards, pin codes and valuables, but attacked and killed him in a robbery-gone-wrong scenario, according to Italian outlet Corriere. Coatti had worked at the Royal Society of Biology since April 2017 - first as a science policy officer and for the past six years as a senior science policy officer. Before joining the professional association, created to advance the interests of biology in academia, industry, education and research, the Italian-born scientist had been a post-graduate neuroscience researcher at University College London. He was among RSB representatives who appeared before Parliament, in June 2022, to discuss the future regulation of UK genetic technologies. The RSB shared a touching tribute to Coatti in the wake of his death. 'We are devastated to announce the death of former colleague Alessandro Coatti who was murdered in Colombia. 'Alessandro, known as Ale... was a passionate and dedicated scientist, leading RSB animal science work, writing numerous submissions, organising events and giving evidence in the House of Commons. 'He will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his friends and family at this truly awful time.' Coatti's LinkedIn profile was subsequently memorialised by the RSB as 'a tribute to his professional legacy'. The molecular biologist last year departed the RSB to travel to South America. He had spent time volunteering in Ecuador and Coatti's family members said he had gone on holiday to Colombia because he was entertaining the idea of moving there. His uncle, Giovanni Coatti, previously said of his nephew: 'He wanted to go and live in South America so he went for a trip to see; he was supposed to be back next week.' They are still working to understand whether or not he ever arrived, scouring CCTV and phone records. According to his uncle, he would not have been an obvious target for thieves. 'He never had much money in his pockets, or a watch or other precious objects,' he said. 'All he had was a new mobile phone to take pictures but even that was a cheap one.'
CBS News
23-06-2025
- CBS News
Reward leads to suspected killers of Italian scientist whose dismembered body was found in Colombia, police say
Colombian police said Monday that a reward had led them to the suspected killers of a noted Italian scientist whose dismembered remains were found scattered around the Caribbean resort city of Santa Marta in April. Alessandro Coatti, 42, worked for Britain's Royal Society of Biology as a science policy officer whose job included giving evidence to parliament, before leaving that post in 2024 to travel in South America. Part of his body was found in a suitcase on a riverbank on April 6. Other remains were later found in other locations. Coatti had arrived in Santa Marta, a city that acts as a gateway to idyllic palm-lined Caribbean beaches and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range, as a tourist. The police said he was lured by a gang that planned to rob him to an abandoned house in the city, through a dating app for the LGBTQ community. Scientist Alessandro Coatti was reported missing in Santa Marta, Colombia, on April 5, 2025. Royal Society of Biology El Tiempo quoted a local hotel worker as saying Coatti was conducting research on local animal species and had asked about visiting the village of Minca, about six miles southeast of Santa Marta. Santa Marta's Mayor Carlos Pinedo said Sunday that four people suspected of his murder and dismemberment had been arrested in raids in the Colombian capital Bogota, the second city of Medellin as well as in Santa Marta and the town of Arjona, near the port city of Cartagena. At a press conference on Monday, Santa Marta police chief Colonel Jaime Rios said that the police had received a tip-off, which led them to a house where traces of blood were found. "Through arduous investigative work, interviews were conducted, biological traces belonging to the victim were collected, and security camera footage was analyzed, which were all key to solving the case," he said. The gruesome killing of Coatti, described by colleagues at the Royal Society of Biology as a respected scientist, caused shock in Colombia. "He was a passionate and dedicated scientist, leading RSB animal science work, writing numerous submissions, organizing events and giving evidence in the House of Commons," the RSB said in a statement after Coatti's death. "Ale was funny, warm, intelligent, loved by everyone he worked with, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him." Pinedo had offered a reward of $12,000 for information leading to the capture of his killers. Rios said the reward had led to the breakthrough in the investigation. The Sierra Nevada mountains are home to a drug-running paramilitary gang known as the "Conquistadors of the Sierra Nevada." It is not known if they had any hand in Coatti's murder, but they have been linked to the murder and dismemberment of others in recent years.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Gangs preying on British tourists in Colombia by befriending them on Tinder or Grindr before drugging them with 'Devil Breath' truth serum to kidnap and rob them
Violent organised crime groups in Colombia are reportedly using a potent drug to kidnap and rob British tourists. Devil's Breath, also known as scopolamine and burundanga, was previously used as a truth serum by the CIA and comes from the seeds of the Borrachero tree in South America. Now, feared mobsters are using it to drug unsuspecting tourists after ensnaring them with honey trap schemes through dating apps like Tinder and Grindr. Hundreds of people in Colombia are thought to have been targeted with the drug. Colombian police reportedly fear London-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 38, may have died after being targeted this way. The molecular biologist was staying at a hostel in the scenic historic centre of the coastal city of Santa Marta while on holiday last month. Victims of the Devil's Breath can be paralysed and go into a 'zombie' stupor if they ingest as little as 10mg of the drug. It also makes them susceptible to following commands - and, after up to an hour of hallucinations and delirium, they could lose control of their body and even die. Colombian detectives fear Mr Coatti may have gone to an abandoned house in the southern San José del Pando area of the city after connecting with someone on Grindr, The Daily Telegraph reported. His remains were reportedly discovered by a group of children and he was said to have been identified by a hotel wristband. Mr Coatti had worked at the Royal Society of Biology since April 2017 - first as a science policy officer and for the past six years as a senior science policy officer. Before joining the professional association, created to advance the interests of biology in academia, industry, education and research, the Italian-born scientist had been a post-graduate neuroscience researcher at University College London. He was among Royal Society of Biology representatives who appeared before Parliament, in June 2022, to discuss the future regulation of UK genetic technologies. The drug is thought to have been used before in honey trap schemes in Colombia. Video showed the man carrying a paper bag and keying in the code for the entrance door's security lock. One of the women, dressed in a black bodysuit, looked forward while her accomplice, wearing a similar pink outfit, turned around and looked towards a group of people that were standing near their motorcycles. The individual then opened the door as the suspects followed him into the home - where the alleged robbery took place. Once inside, the women allegedly drugged the man with powdered scopolamine, otherwise known as the 'Devil's Breath,' which causes a person to become disoriented. The women fled with the victim's money, jewelry and cell phone. According to Medellín authorities, at least 254 people were robbed in 2023 by criminals who exposed them to powdered scopolamine.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
London-based scientist was lured into a honeytrap through dating app Grindr before he was brutally dismembered in Colombia, police fear
A London-based scientist who was found dismembered in Colombia is feared to have been lured to his violent death through the gay dating app Grindr. The body of 38-year-old Alessandro Coatti, an Italian scientist working in London, was found across several different locations in the coastal city of Santa Marta on April 6, two days after he was reported missing. His torso was found miles away from his dismembered legs, head, hands and feet. Cops has wildly varying theories as to how the scientists, who previously worked at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for eight years as a senior policy officer, was murdered, ranging from a case of mistaken identity between battling cartels to a kidnapping at the hands of organ traffickers. But now cops believe that Coatti, who was in the region as a tourist, was the victim of a gang that targeted foreigners looking for dates abroad. Sources told a Colombian newspaper that he may have been lured to an abandoned house in the San José del Pando neighbourhood of Santa Marta after messaging someone over the dating app. Sources added that the gang planned to drug him with scopolamine, better known as Devil's Breath. While the drug can help alleviate motion sickness in small doses, it can disorient and knock people out in larger doses. There is even the risk of paralysis if not administered with the correct dose. Cops have reportedly identified at least four people, including a woman, believed to have been involved in the scheme. Mr Coatti's head, hands and feet were found in a suitcase near the Sierra Nevada stadium on April 6, two days after he was last seen leaving his hotel by the coast. His torso and other body parts were then found near the Minuto de Dios bridge a day later, before his legs were found in a coffee sack near the stadium on Tuesday. Mr Coatti, originally from Longastrino, Ravenna, was visiting the country in the hopes of one day moving there. His uncle, Giovanni Coatti, previously said of his nephew: 'He wanted to go and live in South America so he went for a trip to see; he was supposed to be back next week.' The molecular biologist had left the Royal Society of Biology in 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel to South America. While in Colombia, he had asked about the local area, showing interest in learning about the local fauna and vegetation, Agenzia Nova reports. Investigators believe he had taken the evening of April 4 to go to a local club before vanishing. They are still working to understand whether or not he ever arrived, scouring CCTV and phone records. According to his uncle, he would not have been an obvious target for thieves. 'He never had much money in his pockets, or a watch or other precious objects,' he said. 'All he had was a new mobile phone to take pictures but even that was a cheap one.' A parallel investigation has also been opened in Italy and his parents have handed over devices containing his last messages. Local human rights activist Norma Vera Salazar said there have been 13 similar murders in the region in the last year. This is the first time the victim is a foreign tourist. The country, long riddled with paramilitary violence and cartel feuds, remains dangerous for tourists, and the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Colombia-Venezuela border and northern Colombia. Salazar warned of a 'pattern' in recent murders where people have been found dismembered and 'stuffed into garbage bags or coffee sacks and abandoned'. 'These types of homicides are used by vigilante groups to send warning messages, instill fear, and mark their territory.' 'Usually this is a way to send a message,' Victor Polo, a journalist for Santa Marta's Caracol Radio, echoed.
