IT will take some time for life in and around our rivers to recover from the summer drought.

This week it rained in Yorkshire and I went to Aysgarth to look at the waterfalls. Local naturalists told me that last summer there was not only less water but the average temperature went up.

The same thing obviously applied to our local rivers.

This was good news for insects and the birds which feed on them, including the dipper.

Fish, however, did have problems.

I found many minnows and other fish with parasitic lice which were feeding on their blood.

The lice are called argulus and they fasten themselves on to the gills.

They are quite large and when seen under a microscope they look very unpleasant indeed.

Here's a warning.

If you hate spiders then don't read this.

The year 1995 has been a good one for the unpopular insects.

They have been growing larger and more-numerous.

It is very rare for spiders to draw blood from a human being but these super spiders have been causing a few nasty nips.

The frost will no doubt kill them off but until this happens Nature Watch will be including some references to these "super-bugs."

You have been warned!

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