https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/546913-Idaea-incisaria
Tuesday, 7 September 2021
Monday, 6 September 2021
Sunday, 5 September 2021
22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - MALACHITE BUTTERFLY (Siproeta stelenes)
Adults feed on flower nectar, rotting fruit, dead animals, and bat dung. Females lay eggs on the new leaves of plants in the family Acanthaceae, especially Ruellia. The larvae are horned, spiny, black caterpillars with red markings, The pupal stage is green, with sharp, gold spines that can puncture predators.
Malachites often are confused with the heliconiine Philaethria dido. They have similar coloration, but their wing shapes are different.
22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - GREEN BANDED URANIA MOTH (Urania leilus)
Here are the key facts about this spectacular insect:
Habitat & Range: The species is found east of the Andes in the Amazon basin, ranging from Brazil and Peru to Suriname, Venezuela, and Trinidad. They prefer riverbanks and primary and secondary rainforests, thriving at elevations up to 800 meters.
Appearance: They have a striking wingspan of about 65–70 mm. The wings feature vibrant, metallic blue-green bands bordered by black and tipped with white "tails".
Diet & Toxicity: Caterpillars feed exclusively on the toxic plants of the genus Omphalea (specifically Omphalea diandra). They sequester these plant toxins, which remain in their system, making them distasteful to predators even in their adult stage.
Day-Flying Nature: Unlike most moths, the Green-Banded Urania is diurnal (active during the day). Because of their bright colors and behavior, they are frequently mistaken for butterflies and are highly sought after by collectors and artisans for framing and interior design.
Migration: They are powerful, migratory insects. Large swarms can occasionally be seen migrating, and they have even been recorded as vagrants on Caribbean islands like Barbados and Dominica.
Evolutionary History: They are closely related to the Urania fulgens (Urania swallowtail). It is believed these two species diverged about 2.7 to 5 million years ago when the Andes Mountains formed, forcing them into separate geographical ranges.
Friday, 3 September 2021
3-9-2021 TANCAT DE MILIA, VALENCIA - IBERIAN BLUE TAIL DAMSELFLY (Ischnura graellsii)
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A fairly slender species, the posterior edge of the prothorax with a well-marked but slightly raised median tubercle; the forewings and hindwings have a similarly sized pterostigma, bicolor in the male; the abdomen is dorsally bronzed black, the 2nd segment of which bears a well-marked dorsal tubercle, and the 8th and part of the 9th segments are sky-blue in the male and greyish or greenish in the female; the 10th segment of the male bears a thick dorsal tubercle.
Anal appendages: the cercoids are shorter than the cerci, uncrossed, with a sharp tip and an internal branch longer than the internal part; the cerci have an internal expansion.
Dimensions
Abdomen, 20–23 mm; hindwing, 12–16 mm.
Abdomen, 21–23 mm; hindwing, 14–16 mm.
Distribution is the Iberian Peninsula; North Africa (north of the Atlas Mountains).
Widely distributed across most of the Iberian Peninsula, it is the most common and abundant zygopteran in many areas.
The larvae, which are almost always found in stagnant waters (ditches, ponds, marshes, etc.), can tolerate slightly brackish waters.
The flight period of this species, very common in the Iberian Peninsula, extends from March to September.
Thursday, 2 September 2021
2-9-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)
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The Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), also known as the northern wren, is a diminutive bird, the sole representative of the wren family Troglodytidae found across Eurasia and Africa's Maghreb region. In Anglophone Europe, it is often simply referred to as the wren. This bird is characterized by its very short tail, typically held erect, a short neck, and a relatively long, thin bill. Its upperparts are russet brown, while the underparts are a paler buff-brown, complemented by a cream buff supercilium. Both sexes exhibit similar plumage.
The Eurasian wren can be identified by its compact, robust body, rounded wings, and notably short tail. It measures approximately 9 to 10 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 13 to 17 cm, and weighs around 10 g. The plumage varies geographically, with some isolated populations exhibiting distinct coloration.
Wednesday, 1 September 2021
22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - PLUTO SPHINX MOTH (Xylophanes pluto)
The Pluto Sphinx Moth (Xylophanes pluto) is a striking, nocturnal insect native to the Americas, ranging from Argentina up through Central America into southern Florida and Texas. Named after the Greek god of the underworld, it features green camouflage wings, a yellow-orange hindwing, and is a crucial nocturnal pollinator.
Here is a breakdown of key facts about this fascinating species:
Appearance & IdentificationWingspan: A medium-to-large moth with a wingspan of 53 to 65 mm.
Adult coloration: The forewings are green with white speckling. The hindwings are distinctive, displaying a vibrant yellow-orange band bordered by black and brown.
The Body: The thorax and abdomen are green with metallic yellow or white scales.
Habitat & Behavior
Distribution: Can be found in tropical and subtropical lowlands, commonly in the Caribbean, Florida Keys, and South America.
Nocturnal Flight: As a member of the Sphingidae family, they hover much like hummingbirds while feeding on flower nectar (such as wild verbena) at night.
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