7-6-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. A successful colonist, its range has gradually expanded north, with stable and self-sustaining populations now present in the United Kingdom.

In warmer locations, most birds are permanent residents; northern populations, including many European birds, migrate to Africa and southern Asia to over-winter there. The birds may also wander north in late summer after the breeding season, and their tendency to disperse may have assisted in the recent expansion of the bird's range. At one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south. Around 1950, conservation laws were introduced in southern Europe to protect the species and their numbers began to increase. By the beginning of the 21st century the bird was breeding again in France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Britain. Its range is continuing to expand westward, and the species has begun to colonise the New World; it was first seen in Barbados in 1954 and first bred there in 1994. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the bird's global conservation status as being of "least concern".

7-6-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9236-Serinus-serinus

7-6-2020 VILLALONGA RIO SERPIS, VALENCIA - SCARLET DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/85030-Crocothemis-erythraea

7-6-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - ARTICHOKE THISTLE (Cynara cardunculus)

The cardoon (Cynara cardunculus /ˈsɪnərə kɑːrˈdʌnkjʊləs/), also called the artichoke thistle, is a thistle in the family Asteraceae. It is a naturally occurring species that also has many cultivated forms, including the globe artichoke. It is native to the Mediterranean region, where it was domesticated in ancient times and still occurs as a wild plant.

The wild cardoon is a stout herbaceous perennial plant growing 0.8 to 1.5 m (31 to 59 in) tall, with deeply lobed and heavily spined green to grey-green tomentose (hairy or downy) leaves up to 50 cm (20 in) long, with yellow spines up to 3.5 cm long. The flowers are violet-purple, produced in a large, globose, massively spined capitulum up to 6 cm (2 in) in diameter.

It is adapted to dry climates, native across a circum-Mediterranea area from Morocco and Portugal east to Libya and Greece and north to Croatia and Southern France; it may also be native on Cyprus, the Canary Islands and Madeira. In France, the frost-tender cardoon only occurs wild in the Mediterranean south (Gard, Hérault, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales, Corsica). It has become an invasive weed in the pampas of Argentina, and is also considered a weed in Australia and California.

The "giant thistle of the Pampas" reported by Charles Darwin has been identified as cardoon.

7-6-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52592-Pararge-aegeria

7-6-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12716-Turdus-merula

7-6-2020 VILLALONGA RIO SERPIS, VALENCIA - BRIGHT WAVE MOTH (Idaea ochrata)

Idaea ochrata, the bright wave, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Europe.

The species has a wingspan of 21–24 mm. The adults fly at night from late June to early August in one generation . The species overwinters as a larva.

The larvae feed on the flowers of hawk's beard (Crepis sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum) and coltsfoot (Tussaligo) in captivity. In the wild the larvae feed on Smooth Tare and the flowers of Hare's-foot Clover.

The Bright Wave (Idaea ochrata) is a small, sandy-brown moth with a 21–24mm wingspan, recognized by its pointed forewings and, as shown on Butterfly Conservation, distinct, thin cross-lines. Primarily a coastal species in Southeast England (Kent/Suffolk), it is rare and listed in the Red Data Book, appearing between late June and early August, often flying in the late afternoon and at dusk. 

Key facts about the Bright Wave include:

Appearance: Small with sandy-brown to ochreous coloration. It has a distinctive pointed forewing, often with black dots along the fringe, notes and via Picture Insect.

Flight Season: A single generation flies from late June to early August.

Habitat: Prefers coastal habitats, including vegetated shingle beaches and sandy undercliffs.

Larval Food: Caterpillars feed on various low-growing plants, including Smooth Tare, Hare's-foot Clover, dandelion, and hawk's-beard, according to Butterfly Conservation and UKMoths.

Life Cycle: The species overwinters as a larva.

Behavior: It is easily disturbed from vegetation during the day but also comes to light, sometimes in large numbers.

Status: In the UK, it is considered a resident but also an immigrant. It was previously considered extinct in Suffolk before reoccurring, as described in the Suffolk Moths records. 

The species is found throughout southern Europe, preferring open, dry grasslands, according to Norfolk Moths and Butterfly Conservation. 

6-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FUNNEL WEAVER SPIDER (Genus Textrix)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agelenidae

5-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - IBERIAN SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Iphiclides feisthamelii)

The Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) is a large, distinctive white-and-black butterfly found across the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and North Africa. Characterized by long tails, wide black stripes, and a "wedge" shape, this species is often considered a separate species or a distinct subspecies of the Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius). 

Key Characteristics and Habits

Appearance: This butterfly has a white to pale yellowish base color with striking, wide black tiger stripes, long tails on the hind wings, and blue "eyes".

Flight: They have a distinctive, almost directionless, floating flight style compared to other swallowtails.

Habitat & Behavior: Often found in dry, bushy, and sunny areas, often near fruit trees (like Prunus and Malus). They are seen feeding on lavender and other nectar plants.

Life Cycle: They are bivoltine, meaning they have two generations, with the first brood often appearing in spring (e.g., May in the Picos de Europa). 

Common in Spain and Portugal, with range extensions into southern France.

It is frequently observed in Mediterranean climates, including Andalusia and the Sierra Nevada. 

While many sources refer to this as Iphiclides feisthamelii, it is sometimes referred to as a subspecies of the Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) by certain authorities, although I. feisthamelii has darker, broader stripes. 

5-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE SPOT HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLY (Satyrium spini)

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_stilt

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

3-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COASTAL PEARL MOTH (Mecyna asinalis)

Mecyna asinalis, sometimes known as the madder pearl, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae found in Europe.

The wingspan is 25–29 millimetres (0.98–1.14 in). The forewings are grey; lines darker, first indistinct, sometimes followed by a dark fuscous triangular subdorsal spot, second sometimes blackish -dotted, curved, with a deep abrupt sinuation inwards below middle, often preceded by a brownish or dark fuscous trapezoidal subdorsal spot ; very large orbicular, and reniform discal spot somewhat paler, latter preceded and followed by faint brownish sometimes dark-edged spots. Hind are wings grey ; a darker postmedian line. The larva is yellow-brownish ; dorsal line reddish-brown ; subdorsal broader, brown ; lateral brown ; spots black.

The moth flies from May to October in two generations per year.

It is found in west and southern Europe, including Ireland, Britain, the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Albania, Croatia, Greece and Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Madeira, Corsica, the Azores and the Canary Islands.

3-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/311619-Gymnoscelis-rufifasciata

3-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED FOOTMAN MOTH (Coscinia cribraria)

Coscinia cribraria, the speckled footman, is a species of moth belonging to the subfamily Arctiinae within the large family Erebidae. This moth has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic.

Coscinia cribraria has a forewing which has a background colour of dirty white marked with black streaks along the wings and crossbands made up of dark dots, both of which vary in extent. The subspecies arenaria has an almost pure white forewing. The speckled footman has a wingspan of between 30 and 35 mm (1.2 and 1.4 in).

Coscinia cribraria has a wide Palearctic distribution being found from Northwestern Africa Iberia and southern Great Britain east to China and Mongolia. In Europe, north of the Alps, the speckled footman is typically found on sandy heaths and open sandy pine forests. To the south of the Alps, it inhabits on dry mountain meadows with stony or rocky areas and around the Mediterranean this species can be found in habitats like maquis and in open forests.

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3756-Plegadis-falcinellus

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4954-Ardea-cinerea

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4943-Egretta-garzetta

2-6-2020 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4835-Himantopus-himantopus

2-6-2020 ULLAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/55626-Pieris-rapae

2-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED PALM WEEVIL (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

The palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is one of two species of snout beetle known as the red palm weevil, Asian palm weevil or sago palm weevil. The adult beetles are relatively large, ranging between 2 and 4 centimetres (1 and 1+1⁄2 inches) long, and are usually a rusty red colour—but many colour variants exist and have often been classified as different species (e.g., R. vulneratus). Weevil larvae can excavate holes in the trunks of palm trees up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) long, thereby weakening and eventually killing the host plant. As a result, the weevil is considered a major pest in palm plantations, including the coconut palm, date palm and oil palm.

Originally from tropical Asia, the red palm weevil has spread to Africa and Europe, reaching the Mediterranean in the 1980s. It was first recorded in Spain in 1994, and in France in 2006. Additional infestations have been located in Malta, Italy (Tuscany, Sicily, Campania, Sardinia, Lazio, Marche, Puglia and Liguria), Croatia and Montenegro. It is also well established throughout most of Portugal, especially in the South. It also has established in Morocco, Tunisia, and other North African countries. The weevil was first reported in the Americas on Curaçao in January 2009 and sighted the same year in Aruba. It was reported in the United States at Laguna Beach, California late in 2010 but this was a misidentification of the closely related species, R. vulneratus, and it did not become established.It was reported in Uruguay in March 2022, and has since spread to many parts of the country.

This species of red palm weevil is reported to attack 19 palm species and is the worst such pest in the world.  Although the weevil was first reported on coconut in Southeast Asia, it has gained a foothold on date palm over the last two decades in several Middle Eastern countries, and then expanded its range to Africa and Europe. This expansion has been due to the movement of infested planting material from contaminated to uninfected areas. In the Mediterranean region, the red palm weevil also severely damages Phoenix canariensis. Currently, the pest is reported in almost 15% of the global coconut-growing countries and in nearly 50% of the date palm-growing countries.

This weevil usually infests palms younger than twenty years. While the adult causes some damage through feeding, it is the burrowing of the larva into the heart of the palm that can cause the greatest mortality of trees. The adult female lays approximately two hundred eggs on new growth in the crown of the palm, at the base of young leaves, or in open lesions on the plant. The egg hatches into a white, legless larva. The larva will feed on the soft fibres and terminal buds, tunneling through the internal tissue of the tree for about a month. The larvae can occasionally grow to a length of 6 to 7 centimetres (2+1⁄2 to 3 in). At pupation, the larva will leave the tree and form a cocoon built of dry palm fibers in leaf litter at the base of the tree. The total life cycle takes about 3–4 months.

After fertilization, the adult female can lay between 300 and 500 eggs. They lay in holes they produced while searching for food, or take advantage of the cracks or wounds in a recently cut palm. At oviposition, females bend upward and the tarsi are anchored to the tissue with the spines of the third pair of legs to push the ovipositor into the tough palm tissue. After laying, the female protects and secures the eggs with a secretion that rapidly hardens around the eggs. On average, females produce 210 eggs per clutch, most of which hatch over a period of 3 days. The eggs are white, cylindrical, glossy, oval shaped, and measure 1 to 2.5 millimetres (3⁄64 to 3⁄32 in).  developing insect with oxygen.

Larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus are considered a delicacy in Southeast Asian cuisine. In some regions, however, larvae farming is strictly prohibited to prevent the potential devastation of plantation crops.

The main control method is through the application of a systemic insecticide. Insecticide is usually applied through a funnel about 5 centimetres (2 in) above the infested area of the trunk. The red palm weevil can be monitored using pheromone lures and alternative forms of control use field sanitation and mass trapping with traps baited with pheromone and plant derived semiochemicals. New alternative technologies using semiochemicals and bioinsecticides are being developed to attract the weevils to a point source and kill them. Another management technique is to drench the base of palm fronds with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii (syn. M. anisopliae, Entomophthora anisopliae), or Beauveria bassiana.

Palms' natural defense against this weevil is understudied.

1-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including 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.

1-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_flycatcher

1-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SILVER Y MOTH (Autographa gamma)

The silver Y (Autographa gamma) is a migratory moth of the family Noctuidae which is named for the silvery Y-shaped mark on each of its forewings.

The silver Y is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 30 to 45 mm. The wings are intricately patterned with various shades of brown and grey providing excellent camouflage. In the centre of each forewing there is a silver-coloured mark shaped like a lower case Y (y) or a lower case Greek letter gamma (γ). There are several different forms with varying colours depending on the climate in which the larvae grow.

The species is widespread across Europe and over almost all the Palearctic including North Africa. It is resident in the south of its range and adults fly almost throughout the year[citation needed]. In spring variable numbers migrate north reaching as far as Iceland, Greenland, and Finland with huge invasions taking place in some years[citation needed]. A second wave of migrants arrives in the summer[citation needed]. In central Europe and the British Isles adults are present in significant numbers from May onwards with numbers dwindling in late autumn as they are killed off by frosts. Some individuals fly south again to winter around the Mediterranean and Black seas.

It occurs in a wide variety of habitats, particularly open areas. It regularly visits gardens to take nectar from the flowers.

Silver Y moths can produce two or three generations in a year with a fourth generation when conditions are particularly good. The eggs are laid on the upper or lower surface of leaves. They are whitish in colour and hemispherical in shape with deep ribbing. They hatch after three to four days (longer in cool conditions).

The larvae are about 30 mm long, have three pairs of prolegs and are usually green with whitish markings. They feed on a wide variety of low-growing plants and have been recorded on over 200 different species including crops such as the garden pea (Pisum sativum), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea). They can reduce crop yields by damaging leaves and are often considered to be a pest.

The pupa is green at first, gradually darkening to black. The adults mate one or two days after emerging from the pupa and start laying eggs one to five days later. They die three to nineteen days after emergence.

1-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SMALL PURPLE BARRED MOTH (Phytometra viridaria)

Phytometra viridaria, the small purple-barred, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759. It is found in central and southern Europe, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Armenia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and further east across the Palearctic to southern Siberia.

The wingspan is 19–20 mm. The length of the forewings is 9–11 mm. Forewing olive brownish; the costa at base, and an outer and terminal fascia deep rosy purple; the outer band varying in width; a pale line of ground colour between them; hindwing olive with a median and terminal darker band more or less tinged with purple; in ab. fusca Tutt the purple tints are replaced by dark brown; —ab. aenea Hbn. the ground colour is olive grey or fuscous instead of green; ab. suffusa Tutt is a rare form, blackish fuscous with a still darker terminal border.