26-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HAIRY ROSE BEETLE (Tropinota squalida)

26-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PINE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

25-2-2019 LES FOIES BARX, VALENCIA - COMMON THYME (Thymus vulgaris)

Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, German thyme, garden thyme or just thyme) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Growing to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall by 40 cm (16 in) wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer.

It is useful in the garden as groundcover, where it can be short-lived, but is easily propagated from cuttings. It is also the main source of thyme as an ingredient in cooking and as a herbal medicine. It is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage.

The Latin specific epithet vulgaris means “common” in the sense of “widespread”.

Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed for ornamental purposes. Nomenclature can be very confusing. French, German and English varieties vary by leaf shape and colour and essential oils. The many cultivars include 'Argenteus' (silver thyme).

The cultivar 'Silver Queen', with white-margined leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

25-2-2019 LES FOIES BARX, VALENCIA - SHRUBBY GLOBULARIA (Globularia alypum)

Globularia alypum, the Alypo globe daisy or shrubby globularia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, with a Mediterranean distribution. A shrub that is often co-dominant in the calcareous shrublands in which it occurs, it is a purgative.

25-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLAIR'S MOCHA MOTH (Cyclophora puppillaria)

25-2-2019 LES FOIES BARX, VALENCIA - SPANISH FESTOON BUTTERFLY (Zerynthia rumina)

24-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SEED BUG (Spilostethus furculus)

Spilostethus furcula is a seed bug (Lygaeidae family) from Africa, spreading in the Mediterranean, feeding on Solanaceae (like tomatoes), known for its distinct black & grey markings, oval shape (9-11mm), and red nymphs, often noted as an introduced species in Europe, appearing in Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Malta, extending its range. 

Identification & Biology

Appearance: Adults are oval, greyish-black with a unique black central triangular mark on the back (exocorio), dark wings, 9-11 mm long.

Nymphs: Start dark red, becoming darker with age, with distinct patterns.

Diet: Feeds on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), including cultivated tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). 

Distribution & Movement

Origin: Afrotropical (African) species, but now widely found in the Mediterranean Region.

Range: Includes North Africa (Algeria, Morocco), Middle East, and recently recorded across Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Malta).

Spread: Appears to be actively expanding its range within the Mediterranean, possibly via accidental import. 

Significance

Pest Potential: Feeds on cultivated plants like tomatoes, making it a potential agricultural pest as it spreads.

Research Interest: Noteworthy for its expanding European presence, with recent records in Greece, Italy, and the Balearic Islands. 

24-2-2019 PALMA DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - OCEAN BLUE MORNING GLORY (Ipomoea indica)

24-2-2019 PALMA DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - MUSK STORK'S BILL (Erodium moschatum)

24-2-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - SILVER WATTLE (Acacia retinodes)

Acacia retinodes is an evergreen shrub that is native to South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Short racemes of yellow flowers are produced periodically throughout the year. Some common names are retinodes water wattle, swamp wattle, wirilda, ever-blooming wattle and silver wattle.

The tree typically grows to a height of 6 to 10 m (20 to 33 ft) and is able to form suckers. It has furrowed bark with a rough texture that is dark brown to black in colour. It has glabrous branchlets that are sometimes pendulous or angular or flattened at extremities. Like most species of Acacia it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The green to grey-green, glabrous and variable phyllodes are quite crowded on stems and have a narrowly oblanceolate to linear shape. The phyllodes are 5 to 16 cm (2.0 to 6.3 in) in length and 3 to 16 mm (0.12 to 0.63 in) wide with one main nerve per face. It mostly blooms in summer between December and February.

The species was first formally described by the botanist Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal in 1847 as part of the work Sudaustralische Pflanzen. II. Bestimmung und Beschreibung der von Dr Behr in Sudaustralien gesammelten Pflanzen as published in the journal Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde. It was reclassified as Racosperma retinodes by Leslie Pedley in 2003 then transferred back to genus Acacia in 2007.

In South Australia it is native to the Mount Lofty Ranges from around Mount Clare to Mount Bryan extending down the Fleurieu Peninsula to around Delamere and Normanville in the south and is regarded as a weed further to the southeast. It is commonly situated on low ranges and hills as a part of Eucalyptus woodland communities.

It is used for environmental management and for ornamental purposes. It produces good quantities of gum and its bark is good for tanning. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. In temperate regions it requires a frost-free sheltered spot with full sun. Indigenous Australians ate the gum, after softening it in water, to relieve chest pains.

The plant is grown as a house plant in temperate climates, where it is resistant to most diseases and pests. It can be grown in almost any well-drained potting soil, but requires ample light and water from spring to summer. Watering should be reduced in the fall and winter. Repotting is generally necessary at the start of each growth season. The plant is usually propagated from seed, but can be propagated from cuttings, though these may take several months to root.

22-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA -MEDITERRANEAN SPOTTED CHAFER (Oxythyrea funesta)

Oxythyrea funesta is a phytophagous beetle species belonging to the family Cetoniidae, subfamily Cetoniinae.

Common name “White spotted rose beetle”.

This beetle is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic realm, and in the Near East.

Larvae are up to 30 mm long, they feed on plant roots and can remain until next spring in the soil.

The adults appear early in the spring, they grow up to 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in) and can mostly be encountered from May through July. They are considered an insect pest that do not just feed on pollen, but rode the floral organs, especially damaging light in color buds and flowers.

Their colour is black, more or less bronzed. Most of the specimens show six white spots in two longitudinal rows on the pronotum and many others on the elytra. They are completely covered with white pubescence (easily visible in profile). Older specimens usually have no hairs, as they are rubbed off with time.

22-2-2019 MARXUQUERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

The European serin, or simply the serin (Serinus serinus), is a diminutive member of the finch family, Fringillidae. This sprightly bird is the smallest within its family, closely related to the Atlantic canary. It is characterized by its short tail and a length that spans a mere 11 to 12 centimeters. The serin's plumage is a tapestry of nature's palette, with upper parts dappled in dark-streaked greyish green and a conspicuous yellow rump. The underparts are a canvas of yellow breast and white belly, both adorned with heavy streaks.

When attempting to identify the European serin, look for the male's radiant yellow face and breast, which stand out against the greenish backdrop of its feathers. The male also boasts yellow wing bars and yellow tail sides, which can be quite helpful in distinguishing it from similar species. Both sexes share a buzzing trill of a song that resonates through their Mediterranean habitats.

The European serin is partial to open woodland and cultivated areas, often with a sprinkling of conifers. These environments provide the perfect backdrop for breeding and foraging.

21-2-2019 ALBUFERIA, VALENCIA - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)

Mid-sized wader (approx 47 cm or 18.5 in). Pink or orange brown upperparts, head and breast. Whitish underparts. Crest like a mane of brown feathers on the head. Bluish bill with a black tip. Long and orange legs. White wings and tail. Outside the breeding season, all the plumage is more brown and shows clearer longitudinal stretch marks.

Its principal habitat is near water or wetlands.

Species are linked to freshwater wetlands with dense marsh vegetation on the border, such as lagoons, channels or ends of reservoirs. It prefers shallow water.

It is a Summer visitor to Spain. It migrates in the winter. This heron breeds from April onwards. Colonial or lonely. It makes one annual laying of 4 to 6 eggs. Nest on platforms at a certain height of the water between the border of vegetation of the wetland. Squacco herons feed on small fish, larvae and adults of amphibians or insects. 

Like other herons, to go unnoticed it adopts the posture of the stake, that consists of keeping the neck vertical, the bill pointing to the sky, and being completely still. In this way, and helped by its plumage, the Squacco Heron is confused with the environment and marsh vegetation. It is usually very quiet, but at dusk the hunger seems to make this wader lose its discretion because it emits cries that announce that the search for food begins.

10-10-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Family Geometridae)

The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek geo γεω (derivative form of γῆ or γαῖα "the earth"), and metron μέτρον "measure" in reference to the way their larvae, or inchworms, appear to measure the earth as they move along in a looping fashion. Geometridae is a very large family, containing around 23,000 described species; over 1400 species from six subfamilies are indigenous to North America alone. A well-known member is the peppered moth, Biston betularia, which has been the subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are notorious pests.

10-10-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SHIELD BACKED KATYDID (Thyreonotus corsicus)

Thyreonotus corsicus is a species belonging to the family Tettigoniidae subfamily Tettigoniinae. It is found in the western Mediterranean from the Iberian Peninsula over the south of France to the southwestern Alps. Isolated populations are found in Corsica and Sardinia.

Size 29 mm

Habitat is Grasslands, bushes, above vegetation, up to 1,800 metres above sea level

Its diet is omnivorous and it is considered important for the control of the processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa.

We can see it between July and November.

Distribution in the Western Mediterranean.

10-11-2015 MONTE CORONA - SOUTHERN FIELD CRICKET (Gryllus bimaculatus)

Gryllus bimaculatus is a species of cricket in the subfamily Gryllinae. Most commonly known as the two-spotted cricket, it has also been called the "African" or "Mediterranean field cricket", although its recorded distribution also includes much of Asia, including China and Indochina through to Borneo. It can be discriminated from other Gryllus species by the two dot-like marks on the base of its wings.

The species is popular for use as a food source for insectivorous animals like spiders and reptiles kept as pets or in zoos. They are easy to raise and do not require prolonged exposure to cold in order to complete their life cycle.

In the wild, male crickets do not tolerate one another and will fight until there is a winner. The loser usually retreats without serious injury. The fighting method involves opening the mandibles as wide as possible, gripping the opponent's mandibles and pushing with the hind legs.

Male crickets of this species produce several distinctive chirps, though each sound is made by rubbing the two outer wings together. Loud and steady chirps made throughout the night are to attract females and to warn off other males. Loud fast-frequency chirps are emitted when males encounter one another and are preparing to fight. They are intended to frighten off the rival male. There are two other chirp patterns that can be observed in their mating behaviors. A soft clipping sound, 'calling' song, is made when a female is known to be nearby but in a certain distance, and more rigorous sound, 'courtship' song, is made when a female is close enough to mate (mounting on the male's back). These two songs can be easily distinguished by human ears based on its chirp patterns and frequency components.

Whether cricket song pattern (e.g. frequency spectrum) reflect song-emitter's body size is controversial. A recent study failed to detect body-size effect on both calling and courtship songs of G. bimaculatus.

28-10-2016 BEIJING, CHINA - ORIENTAL MAGPIE (Pica serica)

The Oriental magpie (Pica serica ) is a species of magpie found from south-eastern Russia and Myanmar to eastern China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and northern Indochina. It is also a common symbol of the Korean identity, and has been adopted as the "official bird" of numerous South Korean cities, counties and provinces. Other names for the Oriental magpie include Korean magpie and Asian magpie.

Compared to the Eurasian magpie, it is somewhat stockier, with a proportionally shorter tail and longer wings. The back, tail, and particularly the remiges show strong purplish-blue iridescence with few if any green hues. They are the largest magpies. They have a rump plumage that is mostly black, with but a few and often hidden traces of the white band which connects the white shoulder patches in their relatives.The Oriental magpie has the same call as the Eurasian magpie, albeit much softer.

In Korea, the magpie (까치, "kkachi") is celebrated as "a bird of great good fortune, of sturdy spirit and a provider of prosperity and development". In the same vein of bringing fortune and luck, Korean children were also taught that when you lose a tooth, to throw it on the roof singing a song for the magpie; 까치야 까치야 헌이 줄게. The bird will hear your song and bring you a new tooth.

Similarly, in China, magpies are seen as an omen of good fortune. This is reflected in the Chinese word for magpie, simplified Chinese: 喜鹊; traditional Chinese: 喜鵲; pinyin: xǐquè, in which the first character means "happiness". It was the official ‘bird of joy’ for the Manchu dynasty.

In Japan, it is found in all the main islands except Shikoku. It is called Kasasagi 鵲, the same name as is used for the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica ).

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - GREY LEAVED CISTUS (Cistus albidus)

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - ALMOND BLOSSOM (Prunus dulcis)

The almond (Prunus amygdalus, syn. Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb, nom. illeg. non Prunus dulcis Rouchy) is a species of tree from the genus Prunus. Along with the peach, it is classified in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by corrugations on the shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed.

The fruit of the almond is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed, which is not a true nut. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the seed. Almonds are sold shelled or unshelled. Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo. Once almonds are cleaned and processed, they can be stored for around a year if kept refrigerated; at higher temperatures they will become rancid more quickly. Almonds are used in many cuisines, often featuring prominently in desserts, such as marzipan.

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - FALSE SOW THISTLE (Reichardia tingitana)

Reichardia tingitana is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae that is distributed primarily throughout Mediterranean and West Asia. It is known by the common name false sowthistle.

The leaves have an alternate arrangement and are entire with serrated margins. No stipule is present on the petiole.

An annual plant, its flowering period is from March to May. Like most angiosperms, its flowers are hermaphroditic. The petals are of a yellow color.

As a glycophyte, it is accustomed to growing in saline soils. Arid deserts and shrub-steppes are its most common habitats. It also grows well in sandy depressions in the Middle East.

In France, it is a naturalized species. Another country it has been introduced to is Australia, where it is commonly recognized as a minor weed. There its main habitats are urban sites, coastal dunes and alluvial plains.

It has been recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and eastern Saudi Arabia. Common names for it in Arabia are huzan, mureer, and murar. Uses in folk medicine have been recorded in the Middle East, its leaves being used to treat ailments such as constipation, colic and inflamed eyes.

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - HEATHER (Erica multiflora)

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - BLACK REDSTART (MALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small, charismatic passerine bird, exhibiting a blend of dark and vibrant plumage. Males are distinguished by their dark grey to black upperparts and breast, with a striking orange-red rump and tail. Females and juveniles are more subdued in color, with grey to grey-brown feathers and the same vivid tail coloration that is the hallmark of the species.

Adult males are easily identified by their dark upperparts and black breast, contrasting with the orange-red lower rump and tail. The belly and undertail may vary from blackish-grey to orange-red, depending on the subspecies. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with overall greyer tones and a distinctive orange-red rump and tail. The presence of pale fringes on the secondaries forms a whitish wing panel in some subspecies.

The Black Redstart has adapted remarkably to urban environments, often found nesting in crevices or holes within buildings. Originally a dweller of stony mountainous regions, it now thrives in industrial areas with similar structural features.

 

This species is widely distributed across south and central Europe, Asia, and north-west Africa. It is a resident in milder regions, while populations in the northeast migrate to warmer areas during winter.

18-2-2019 JAVEA PORT, ALICANTE - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

16-2-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline. The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

The average wingspan of both males and females is 5.1 cm (2 in), although males tend to be slightly smaller than females. Furthermore, males possess a row of grayish-brown scent scales on their forewings that is absent in the females. Females have brighter and more distinct markings than males. The subspecies P. a. tircis is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing eyespots. The subspecies P. a. aegeria has a more orange background and the hindwing underside eyespots are reddish brown rather than black or dark gray. The two forms gradually intergrade into each other. Subspecies P. a. oblita is a darker brown, often approaching black with white rather than cream spots. The underside of its hindwings has a marginal pale purple band and a row of conspicuous white spots. The spots of subspecies P. a. insula are a tawny orange rather than a cream color. The underside of the forewings has patches of pale orange, and the underside of the hindwing has a purple-tinged band. Although there is considerable variation with each subspecies, identification of the different subspecies is manageable.

The morphology of this butterfly varies as a gradient down its geographic cline from north to south. The northern butterflies in this species have a bigger size, adult body mass, and wing area. These measurements decrease as one moves in a southerly direction in the speckled wood's range. Forewing length on the other hand increases moving in a northerly direction. This is due to the fact that in the cooler temperatures of the northern part of this butterfly's range, the butterflies need larger forewings for thermoregulation. Finally, the northern butterflies are darker than their southern counterpart, and there is a coloration gradient, down their geographical cline.

The speckled wood occupies a diversity of grassy, flowery habitats in forest, meadow steppe, woods, and glades. It can also be found in urban areas alongside hedges, in wooded urban parks, and occasionally in gardens. Within its range the speckled wood typically prefers damp areas. It is generally found in woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. P. a. tircis is found in northern and central Europe, Asia Minor, Syria, Russia, and central Asia, and the P. a. aegeria is found in southwestern Europe and North Africa. Two additional subspecies are found within the British Isles: the Scottish speckled wood (P. a. oblita) is restricted to Scotland and its surrounding isles, and the Isles of Scilly speckled wood (P. a. insula) is found only on the Isles of Scilly. P. a. tricis and P. a. aegeria gradually intergrade into each other.

16-2-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SOLDIER BUG (Spilostethus pandurus)