Monday, 7 October 2019
7-10-2019 BAYREN GANDIA, VALENCIA - CONVOLVULUS HAWKMOTH CATERPILLAR (Agrius convolvuli)
Agrius convolvuli, the convolvulus hawk-moth, is a large hawk-moth. It is common throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, partly as a migrant. In New Zealand, it is also known as the kumara moth, and in the Māori language as hīhue.
The wingspan is 80–105 millimetres (3.1–4.1 in). This hawkmoth's basic coloration is in grayish tones, but the abdomen has a broad gray dorsal stripe and pink and black bands edged with white on the sides. The hindwings are light gray with darker broad crosslines.
Its favourite time is around sunset and during the twilight, when it is seen in gardens hovering over the flowers. This moth is very attracted to light, so it is often killed by cars on highways. Its caterpillars eat the leaves of the Convolvulus, hence its Latin name "convolvuli". Other recorded food plants include a wide range of plants in the families Araceae, Convolvulaceae, Leguminosae and Malvaceae. It can be a pest of cultivated Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato or kūmara) in New Zealand and the Pacific. It feeds on the wing and has a very long proboscis (longer than its body) that enables it to feed on long trumpet-like flowers such as Nicotiana sylvestris.
The caterpillars can be in a number of different colours. As well as brown they have been seen in bright green and black.
6-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PINE-TREE LAPPET MOTH (Dendrolimus pini)
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The pine tree lappet moth is a large moth, native to Europe and Asia, that can cause significant defoliation of coniferous trees, including pine, fir, and spruce. Its larvae feed on needles, and outbreaks can occur in cyclical patterns, sometimes leading to tree death. It is considered an economically important pest, and its spread to new areas, such as the United States, is a risk due to factors like climate change and the human movement of firewood.
Description and habitat
Appearance: It is a large moth with a wingspan of 60–84 mm and can be reddish-brown with grey and brown areas. Females are larger and have darker hind wings.
Habitat: Found in coniferous woodlands, plantations, and parklands.
Taxonomy: Its scientific name is Dendrolimus pini.
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Life cycle and feeding
Larvae: The caterpillars feed on various conifers, with a strong preference for pine species, and can strip needles from entire canopies.
Overwintering: Larvae overwinter in the forest litter and continue feeding in the spring.
Adults: Adults fly at night; males are attracted to light, but females are not.
Seasonal activity: Moths are active from July, and eggs are laid in August. Caterpillars are active from September through the spring and into the summer before pupating.
Impact and pest status
Defoliation: Larvae can defoliate trees, weakening them and making them more vulnerable to other pests and diseases.
Outbreaks: The moth appears in cyclical outbreaks, particularly in areas with large monocultures of trees.
Spread: Its spread to new regions is a concern due to the risk it poses to forest ecosystems and trade.
Pest control: Measures to control it include monitoring populations and avoiding the movement of firewood, which can spread the insect to new areas.
Sunday, 6 October 2019
6-10-2019 CULLERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)
The Cattle Egret, a member of the heron family Ardeidae, is a small white bird recognized for its association with grazing animals. It exhibits a stout build, with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 cm, and a body length between 46 to 56 cm. The species is relatively light, weighing between 270 to 512 grams. It is characterized by a short, thick neck, a robust bill, and a somewhat hunched posture.
Outside the breeding season, the adult Cattle Egret has predominantly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. Come breeding time, the western variety develops striking orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, while the bill, legs, and irises turn a vivid red. The eastern variety differs slightly with buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat during breeding, and the plumes taking on a more golden hue. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger with longer breeding plumes.
Cattle Egrets are adaptable birds that exploit a variety of drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.
Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Cattle Egret has seen a significant expansion in its distribution, colonizing much of the rest of the world over the last century. It is now found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones globally.
Cattle Egrets are often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, benefiting from the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. They are known for their migratory behavior, with some populations moving seasonally, while others disperse post-breeding.
At breeding colonies, the Cattle Egret emits a soft, guttural "rick-rack" call but is generally quiet outside this setting.
Breeding occurs in colonies, often near water and in the company of other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Both parents are involved in nest construction and incubation, which lasts about 23 days. Chicks are born with some down and are dependent on their parents for warmth and food.
The diet is varied, primarily consisting of insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and flies. They also consume spiders, frogs, small reptiles, and occasionally bird eggs and chicks. They are known to forage in fields, often near grazing animals, and have been observed following farm machinery to catch disturbed prey.
6-10-2019 CULLERA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
The Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, is a dainty heron adorned in pure white plumage. It is characterized by a slender black beak, long black legs, and, notably in the western race, yellow feet. This elegant bird is a sight to behold with its graceful neck and poised stance.
Adult Little Egrets measure between 55–65 cm in length with a wingspan of 88–106 cm, and weigh 350–550 g. Their plumage is predominantly white, though some may exhibit bluish-grey coloration. Breeding adults boast ornate nape plumes reaching about 150 mm, along with distinctive feathers on the breast and elongated scapulars.
The bill and lores are black, with greenish-grey skin at the base of the lower mandible and around the eye, which houses a yellow iris. Legs are black with contrasting yellow feet, though juveniles may have greenish-black legs and duller feet. The subspecies E. g. nigripes is distinguished by yellow skin between the bill and eye, and blackish feet.
6-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)
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1.4 to 2.2 cm wingspan. Straw-coloured, with yellowish wings with scattered dark, brown or greyish scales. On each wing it has a wavy line with small pointed spots, pointing backwards. Sometimes these details are barely noticeable. Between these lines and the rear edge, it has dark spots that may have a light wavy stripe. It has a spot on each wing but those on the front wings may go unnoticed.
There are other similar species that are impossible to distinguish externally, so for a correct and safe identification, genital analysis must be used. Several of them have been found in the province of Malaga, although I. cervantaria is currently the most common and the only one that has been observed in urban environments.
The caterpillars feed on dry leaves of herbaceous plants and in captivity on petals of different Asteraceae and sea alder (Lobularia maritima), the latter common in our province, especially in sunny areas of the limestone mountains, and occasionally used in gardening for the showiness of its inflorescences.
Saturday, 5 October 2019
Friday, 4 October 2019
3-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Onychora agaritharia)
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The Onychora agaritharia is a species of geometer moth (family Geometridae) found in parts of Europe, particularly the Iberian Peninsula and France.
Key Facts
Common Name: It is known in French as "La Fidonie tardive".
Classification: It belongs to the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), family Geometridae, and genus Onychora. Its placement within the subfamily Ennominae, specifically the Gnophini, is considered uncertain by some researchers.
Distribution: The species has been recorded in Cantabria, the western and central parts of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Portugal, and Andalusia. The original description of the species came from France. It is not a UK species.
Habitat: It is recognized as a group of localized populations that prefer isolated colonies and specific natural habitats.
Host Plants: The larvae of Onychora agaritharia feed on various plants in the Fabaceae family (legumes), including:
Cytisus scoparius (Common Broom)
Genista cinerea
Genista scorpius
Spartium
Ulex (Gorse)
Life Cycle: Details on the complete life cycle, including pre-imaginal instars and cocoon characteristics, have been a subject of research, with new information being revealed through recent field observations and rearings. The species name etymology refers to the strong streaming or banded pattern on its forewings.
Thursday, 3 October 2019
2-10-2019 BONAIRE, VALENCIA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
The red-veined darter or nomad (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum.
Sympetrum fonscolombii was named under the protonym Libellula fonscolombii by the Belgian entomologist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps, in 1840, in honor of the French entomologist Étienne of Fonscolombe (hence the species name). Its name is sometimes spelt fonscolombei instead of fonscolombii but Askew (2004) gives the latter as the correct spelling.
Sympetrum fonscolombii can reach a body length of 38–40 millimetres (1.5–1.6 in). This species is similar to other Sympetrum species but a good view with binoculars should give a positive identification, especially with a male.
Males have a red abdomen, redder than many other Sympetrum species. The frons and the thorax are red-brown. The eyes are brown above and blue/grey below. The wings have red veins and the wing bases of the hind-wings are yellow. The pterostigma is pale yellow with a border of black veins.
Female are similar but the abdomen is ochre yellow, not red, with two black lines along each side. The wings have yellow veins at the costa, leading edge and base, not red veins as found in the males. The legs of both sexes are mostly black with some yellow.
1-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (JUVENILE) (Tarentola mauritanica)
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Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as osga (in Portuguese), salamanquesa (in Spanish) and dragó (in Catalan).
1-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - YELLOW BELLE MOTH (Aspitates ochrearia)
Aspitates ochrearia, the yellow belle, is a moth in the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Pietro Rossi in 1794. It is found in western and southern Europe, as well as North America.
The wingspan is 25–34 mm. Adults are on wing from April to June and again from August to September in two generations per year. It is very similar to Aspitates gilvaria.
The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, including Daucus carota and Plantago coronopus. The larvae can be found from April to June. The species overwinters in the larval stage. Pupation takes place in spring.
Similar species
Aspitates gilvaria
2-10-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)
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Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan.
V. cardui is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. In Australia, V. cardui has a limited range around Bunbury, Fremantle, and Rottnest Island. However, its close relative, the Australian painted lady (V. kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American painted lady (V. virginiensis) and the West Coast lady (V. annabella).
Larvae feed on Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Carduus, Centaurea, Arctium, Onopordum, Helianthus, and Artemisia.
The painted lady uses over 300 recorded host plants according to the HOSTS database.
Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar and aphid honeydew.
2-10-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a statuesque wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. It is a familiar sight in both rural and urban settings, often seen standing stoically along the water's edge. An adult Grey Heron is a large bird, reaching up to 100 cm in height, with a wingspan between 155 to 195 cm. It weighs between 1 to 2 kg. The plumage is predominantly ashy-grey above, with a greyish-white underbelly and some black on the flanks. A striking feature is the white head and neck adorned with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The beak is pinkish-yellow, long, and sharply pointed, while the legs are a brown hue.
When identifying the Grey Heron, look for the white head with the black supercilium and crest, the long grey neck, and the ashy-grey wings and back. The underparts are lighter, and the legs are long and brown. Juveniles can be distinguished by their duller grey neck and smaller crest. The beak is a useful indicator of age, being brighter in breeding adults.
Grey Herons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of watery habitats including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and coastal environments. They require shallow waters for foraging or areas with shelving margins where they can wade.
Native to temperate Europe and Asia, as well as parts of Africa, the Grey Heron has a broad range. Northern populations may migrate southwards in autumn, while others remain resident year-round. Vagrant sightings have occurred in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and parts of North America.
The Grey Heron exhibits a slow, deliberate flight with its neck retracted in an S-shape. It is known for its solitary foraging habits, often standing motionless or stalking prey through shallow waters. It is also a communal rooster, often found in trees or cliffs at night.
The primary call of the Grey Heron is a loud croaking "fraaank." At breeding colonies, a variety of guttural and raucous noises can be heard, including greeting calls between mates and alarm calls when predators are nearby.
Breeding takes place in colonies, or heronries, typically in high trees near water. Nests are reused and added to each year. The breeding season sees a clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs laid, which both parents incubate. Chicks fledge at 7-8 weeks old.
The Grey Heron can be confused with the larger North American Great Blue Heron or the South American Cocoi Heron. However, it can be distinguished by its size and the coloration of its flanks and thighs.
Grey Herons are apex predators within their ecosystem, feeding on a variety of aquatic creatures such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects. They have also been known to consume small mammals and juvenile birds.
The Grey Heron is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable and widespread population.
Wednesday, 2 October 2019
Tuesday, 1 October 2019
29-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN LACE BORDER MOTH (Scopula submutata)
Scopula submutata, the Mediterranean lace border, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in southern Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The habitat consists of open, dry grassland and rocky slopes.
The wingspan is 20–25 millimetres (0.79–0.98 in). There are two generations per year, with adults on wing from May to October.
The larvae feed on Thymus species and Origanum vulgare.
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