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Why did I find the peak of Mount Etna covered in ladybirds but devoid of other visible flora or fauna?

There are three plausible answers to this one. Take your pick – Ed

What your correspondent is witnessing here is almost certainly a consequence of a migration event. Many species of insect migrate en masse between north Africa and Europe, leaving Europe in the autumn to avoid the winter frosts, with a new generation arriving in spring for the summer months. Mount Etna lies on the migration route between Tunisia and the toe of Italy. This route and the Strait of…

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