Wednesday, 16 October 2019
16-10-2019 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - RUFF (Calidris pugnax)
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The Ruff, Calidris pugnax, is a medium-sized wading bird known for its remarkable breeding plumage and sexual dimorphism. Males, significantly larger than females, boast ornate ruffs and head tufts in a variety of colors during the breeding season. Females, referred to as "reeves," are more subdued in coloration. The species exhibits a pot-bellied profile, with a small head and long neck, and displays a distinctive flight pattern with a slow wingbeat.
In breeding plumage, males are unmistakable with their bright ruffs and head tufts, which can be black, chestnut, or white. Females and non-breeding males are more cryptic, with grey-brown upperparts and mainly white underparts. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have a buff tinge to their plumage. The ruff's long legs vary in color from greenish in juveniles to pink or orange in adults.
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Ruffs breed in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. They prefer hummocky marshes and deltas with shallow water for feeding and dry areas with sedge or low scrub for nesting.
This migratory species breeds from Scandinavia and Great Britain to the Pacific, with the largest numbers in Russia and Scandinavia. In winter, they are found in southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and parts of Australia.
Ruffs are highly gregarious, especially during migration when they form large flocks. Males display at leks, with territorial males occupying small areas and satellite males attempting to mate within these territories. A third, rare male type mimics females to gain mating opportunities.
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The ruff is generally silent, but during display, a soft "gue-gue-gue" may be heard.
Females lay four eggs in a well-hidden ground nest and incubate them alone. Chicks are mobile soon after hatching and are reared solely by the female. Males leave the breeding grounds early in the season.
Juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers and buff-breasted sandpipers can be confused with juvenile ruffs but differ in size, shape, and plumage details.
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Ruffs feed on insects, especially during the breeding season, and consume plant material, including rice and maize, during migration and winter. They forage in wet grassland and soft mud, probing or searching by sight for edible items.
Globally, the ruff is classified as "Least Concern" due to its large breeding numbers in Scandinavia and the Arctic. However, European populations are contracting and are listed as "Near Threatened" due to habitat loss and over-hunting. The species is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
16-10-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
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The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa, is a large harrier known for its impressive size and sexual dimorphism. Males typically exhibit a cryptic reddish-brown plumage with lighter streaks and a pale greyish-yellowish head and shoulders, while females are predominantly chocolate-brown with a lighter yellowish crown, nape, and throat.
Males can be identified by their three-colored brown-grey-black appearance in flight, with grey rectrices and secondary and tertiary remiges contrasting with brown forewings and black primary remiges. Females have a darker eye area, making their light eyes stand out, and lack the grey wing-patch and tail seen in males. Juveniles resemble females but with less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.
The Western Marsh Harrier is strongly associated with wetland areas, especially those rich in common reed (Phragmites australis). It can also be found in open habitats such as farmland and grassland, particularly where these border marshland.
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This species has a wide breeding range from Europe and northwestern Africa to Central Asia and the northern parts of the Middle East. It is migratory or dispersive, with some populations wintering in southern and western Europe, the Sahel, Nile basin, Great Lakes region in Africa, or in Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, and Myanmar.
The Western Marsh Harrier is a territorial bird during the breeding season and less social than other harriers in winter, likely due to habitat preferences. It hunts in typical harrier fashion, gliding low over open ground with wings held in a shallow V-shape.
Breeding season varies, with males often pairing with multiple females. The ground nest is made of sticks, reeds, and grasses, usually in a reedbed. Clutches typically contain three to eight white eggs with a bluish or greenish tinge, incubated for 31–38 days.
The Western Marsh Harrier feeds on small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and frogs, hunting by gliding low over the ground in search of prey.
Once declining due to persecution, habitat destruction, and pesticide use, the Western Marsh Harrier is now protected and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has made a comeback in areas like Great Britain and Ireland but still faces threats such as shooting during migration and disturbance during breeding.
16-10-2019 EL SALER, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG (Nezara viridula)
Nezara viridula, commonly known as the southern green stink bug (USA), southern green shield bug (UK) or green vegetable bug (Australia and New Zealand), is a plant-feeding stink bug. Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, it can now be found across the world. Because of its preference for certain species of legumes, such as beans and soybeans, it is an economically important pest on such crops.
Nezara viridula is a cosmopolitan species, living in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Europe between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the Ethiopia region of East Africa, from where it has spread around the world due to its strong flight and human transport along trade routes.
The adult males can reach a body length (from front to elytral apex) of about 12.1 millimetres (0.48 in), while females are bigger, reaching a size of about 13.1 millimetres (0.52 in). The body is usually bright green and shield-shaped and the eyes are usually reddish, but they may also be black. There is a row of three white spots on the scutellum. They differ from the similar green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) by the shape of their scent gland openings, which are short and wide in N. viridula, and narrow and long in the green stink bug.
When ready to mate N. viridula produce 100 Hz vibrations with a "tymbal" composed of fused first and second terga (not to be confused with tymbal of cicadas) that allow bi-directional communication to any Nezara standing on the same plant so they could find each other. The female lays 30 to 130 eggs at a time, in the form of an egg mass glued firmly to the bottom of a leaf. The eggs are barrel-shaped with an opening on the top. The eggs take between 5 and 21 days to develop, depending on the temperature. The newborn nymphs gather near the empty eggs and do not feed until three days later, after the first moult. They moult five times before reaching maturity, increasing in size each time. Each instar stage lasts about a week, except for the last one which is a day longer. Up to four generations can develop in one year, with eggs developing into adults in as few as 35 days in mid-summer. Up until their third moult the nymphs aggregate together on the host plant; the purpose of this aggregation is probably pooling of chemical defenses against predators such as ants.
Sunday, 13 October 2019
12-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)
The double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a widespread and common species, being found throughout the Palearctic region, including the Near East and North Africa.
This is a variable species but always easy to recognize due to the two prominent dark fascia across each forewing which give the species its common name. The forewing ground colour ranges from light to dark reddish brown. The crosslines are distinct. The inner margin of the pale white sub-marginal line bears black marks. The hindwings are pale grey with darker fringes, darker lines and a small black discal spot. There is a dark band across the basal segments of the abdomen. The wingspan is 15–19 mm.
The caterpillars reach a length of up to 17 millimeters and have a very variable basic colouration. It ranges from whitish to yellowish green, brown, red to purple. On the back there is a pale band marked with a series of dark diamonds or triangles. The drawing resembles a rear-facing trident, is sometimes crow-foot-like and can occasionally be only weakly formed. The head is yellowish brown.
Two, sometimes three, broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing in April and May (sometimes earlier), July and August, and sometimes later in the autumn. Later broods are more heavily marked. It flies at night and is attracted to light and flowers, both of its food plants and others.
12-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FLESH FLY (Family Sarcophagidae)
Sarcophaga is a genus of true flies and the type genus of the flesh-fly family (Sarcophagidae). The members of this cosmopolitan genus are frequently known as common flesh flies. There are more than 1000 species in Sarcophaga.
This genus occurs essentially worldwide. These flies are generally well-sized and of a greyish color; like many of their relatives, the typical patterns are lengthwise darker stripes on the thorax and dark and light square dots on the abdomen. Many have conspicuous red compound eyes. These are set further apart in females than in males; the females are also larger on average. As typical for this family, it is almost impossible to tell the species apart from their outward appearance, and many can only be reliably identified by microscopic examination of the males' genitalia.
As the common name implies, their larvae typically feed on decaying meat. Some, however, instead eat the bacteria and other small organisms living on carrion. Many species have adapted to humans, and while they are usually nuisance pests, some are medically significant vectors of pathogens and bacteria. Sometimes, the larvae cause myiasis. Others are parasitoids of pest caterpillars and beneficial in forestry and orchards.
Friday, 11 October 2019
10-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LESSER BLOODY NOSE BEETLE (Timarcha goettingensis)
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Timarcha goettingensis, commonly known as the Small Bloody-nosed Beetle or the Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle is a species of leaf beetle native to Europe.
T. goettingensis is a shiny blue-black, violet-copper, or black beetle measuring 8–13 mm in length. Visually it may be confused with Timarcha tenebricosa, but this beetle is larger (11–18 mm) and is more constricted on the base of its pronotum than T. goettingensis. Timarcha goettingensis may also be visually confused with Chrysolina sturmi.
Thursday, 10 October 2019
10-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SHIELDBACK 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.
Habitat:
Thyreonotus corsicus inhabits most often areas with strongly developed vegetation (bushes, dwarf shrubs, grasses) like garigues, scrub, maquis or dry open woodland.
Life cycle:
The adults appear between late June/July and November. The adults often rest in elevated position in bushes such as Buxus or Juniperus.
Remarks:
Thyreonotus corsicus occurs in SW-Europe (Iberian Peninsula, S-France, Corsica and Sardinia).
10-10-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPANISH CARPET MOTH (Scotopteryx peribolata)
Scotopteryx peribolata, the Spanish carpet, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland and Great Britain,[1] where it is found on the Channel Islands and on occasion along the southern coast of mainland Britain.
The wingspan is 28–33 mm. Adults are on wing from August to September.
The larvae feed on Cytisus, Genista and Ulex species. They are greyish.
Wednesday, 9 October 2019
9-10-2019 PETROLA, ALBACETE - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Sympetrum striolatum)
The common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to Eurasia. It is one of the most common dragonflies in Europe, occurring in a wide variety of water bodies, though with a preference for breeding in still water such as ponds and lakes. In the south of its range adults are on the wing all year round.
Sympetrum species are not easy to tell apart and in most areas more than one Sympetrum species will occur. Females and teneral individuals have light yellow thorax and abdomen. Males turn red as they mature. Females darken with age, becoming a dark chocolate brown, and sometimes develop a blue colouration to the bottom of the abdomen. The wings also develop a brown tinge with age. In all cases the legs have a cream or yellow stripe on a black background - this is a diagnostic feature of this species. The pterostigma of the females can be red, blue, pale blue or brown.
9-10-2019 CORAL RUBIO, ALBACETE - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (FEMALE) (Saxicola rubicola)
The European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a subspecies of the common stonechat. Long considered a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, genetic evidence has placed it and its relatives in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.
European stonechats breed in heathland, coastal dunes and rough grassland with scattered small shrubs and bramble, open gorse, tussocks or heather. They are short-distance migrants or non-migratory, with part of the population (particularly from northeastern parts of the range, where winters are colder) moving south to winter further south in Europe and more widely in north Africa.
Perky little bird of open country, especially heathland with gorse, moorland, weedy meadows, scrubby marsh margins, and rough grassland with scattered low bushes. Perches atop bushes and on fences, dropping to the ground to feed, before flying back up to a perch. Male distinctive, with blackish head set off by big white patch on sides of neck, orangey breast. Female brownish overall with paler eyebrow (only behind eye, unlike Whinchat), dull orangey breast; shows paler rump in flight, contrasting with solidly blackish tail. Warbled song is short and buzzy. Calls include dry “tchak” and rising “weet.”
Monday, 7 October 2019
7-10-2019 BAYREN GANDIA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Mantis religiosa)
The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is a large hemimetabolic insect in the Mantidae family, which is the largest family of the order Mantodea (mantises). Their common name praying mantis is derived from the distinctive posture of the first pair of legs that can be observed the mantis is in repose, resembling a praying position. Both males and females have elongated bodies with two pairs of wings. The most striking features that all Mantodea share are a very mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes and their first pair of legs (the 'raptorial legs'), which is highly modified for the efficient capture and restraint of fast-moving or flying prey.
The phenomenon that conspecifics are attacked and eaten after, during, and even before copulation is called sexual cannibalism. Many examples are known in various groups of invertebrates, including the mantids. Some speculations exist about the benefits of this behaviour, but its causes are not fully understood yet.[23] For quite some time, the belief that sexual cannibalism in M. religiosa only occurred in captivity was widespread. It was believed to be an artefact of improper animal keeping (too little food or space). In 1992, however, the cannibalising behaviour of female M. religiosa was observed in a field study. Lawrence compared the percentage of cannibalism in natural and manipulated (males and females were put close together in the field) pairings and found rates of 31% and 24%. This proves that sexual cannibalism in this praying mantid is not caused by laboratory conditions. They can, however, intensify the phenomenon; females that were starved for more than three days were more likely to attack males, even before copulation.
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.
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