Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature.
When swimming on holidays on Bere Island I saw things that were like baby jellyfish on a string. They were about the size of a pepper grain, really stinging, and there were three or four on each thread.
Conor Heffernan (aged 7), Tullow, Co Carlow
They sound as if each of the threads could be the stem of the colonial "jellyfish" Muggiaea atlantica, which are found off the south-west coast in August and September. These are bell-shaped marine animals about two centimetres long with a trailing stem on which there are little knobs, each of which is an individual with a function in the colony, such as feeding, stinging or reproduction. They break up in the ocean at the end of their season.
We have found an old wasps' nest in the roof space around and between two rafters. Is this unusual and will the wasps come back?
Pat Leaden, Glengormley, Co Antrim
Wasps often nest in roof spaces. They will not return as all wasps die in autumn, apart from the new queens which leave the nest in late August. These hibernate for the winter and wake up in spring to start a new nest.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address.