29-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SLUG CATERPILLAR MOTH (Hoyosia codeti)

The Limacodidae or Eucleidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea or the Cossoidea; the placement is in dispute. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillars bear a distinct resemblance to slugs. They are also called cup moths because of the shape of their cocoons.

The larvae are often liberally covered in protective stinging hairs, and are mostly tropical, but occur worldwide, with about 1800 described species and probably many more as yet undescribed species.

They are small, hairy moths, with reduced or absent mouthparts and fringed wings. They often perch with their abdomens sticking out at 90° from their thoraces and wings. North American moths are mostly cryptic browns, sometimes marked with white or green, but the hag moth mimics bees.

The final instar constructs a silk cocoon and hardens it with calcium oxalate excreted from its Malpighian tubules. Cocoons have a circular escape hatch, formed from a line of weakness in the silk matrix. It is forced open just prior to emergence of the adult.

The larvae are typically very flattened, and instead of prolegs, they have suckers. The thoracic legs are reduced, but always present, and they move by rolling waves rather than walking with individual prolegs. They even use a lubricant, a kind of liquefied silk, to move.

Larvae might be confused with the similarly flattened larvae of lycaenid butterflies, but those caterpillars have prolegs, are always longer than they are wide, and are always densely covered in short or long setae (hair-like bristles). The head is extended during feeding in the lycaenids, but remains covered in the Limacodidae.

28-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DARK MOTTLED WILLOW MOTH (Spodoptera cilium)

Spodoptera cilium, known variously as dark mottled willow, lawn caterpillar and grasslawn armyworm, is a noctuid moth found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and western, southern, and south-east Asia and several countries in southern and eastern Europe. It is a migrant to northern Europe and has been recorded at least nine times in the United Kingdom.

The larva feeds on Oryza. It is sometimes a pest.

27-9-2025 RIO SERPIS GANDIA, VALENCIA - IBERIAN GREEN FROG (Pelophylax perezi)

The Perez's frog (Pelophylax perezi), also known as Iberian waterfrog, Iberian green frog or Coruna frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is native to southern France, Portugal, Spain, and has been introduced to the Canary and Balearic Islands, Madeira, the United Kingdom, and the Azores. In the Iberian Peninsula it is widespread and common.

Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, sandy shores, arable land, and urban areas. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN. A medium-sized, stout frog; snout-vent length is usually from 40 to 70 mm, but sometimes is longer than 10 cm (Docampo and Milagrosa-Vega 1988; González de la Vega 1988). The head is as long as wide, with prominent eyes located in dorsal position very close to each other. The tympanum is well marked, about 1/2 to 3/4 the eye diameter (Salvador and García-París 2001). Toes have well developed webbing. Skin is either smooth or slightly rough, with well-formed dorsolateral folds.

The dorsal coloration is very variable, usually green but also brown or grayish to dark gray. They usually show a vertebral stripe, mostly yellow or green. Two irregular rows of dark, rectangular spots are present on both sides of the vertebral stripe. These spots are also present on the rear limbs, sometimes forming a banded pattern. Some individuals lack both the spots and the vertebral stripe. Ventrally they are white with a variable number of dark spots. Males are smaller than females and have stronger forelimbs. They have gray vocal sacs than can be appreciated even when they are not in use.

Tadpoles grow up to 111 mm total length (Salvador 1985), but usually measure between 60-70 mm (Barbadillo et al. 1999). The spiracle is sinistral and the anus open on the right side of the base of the tail. Marginal papillae are absent from the upper side of the mouth. Denticles are arranged in a variable number of single rows (Llorente et al. 1994), but the most common formula is 2(2)/3(1). The dorsal fin is low, starting at the level of the spiracle. The tip of the tail is pointed. Ground coloration is green or light brown, with small, dark dots. These dots are denser and larger in the tail fin. The tail presents a typical pattern with three longitudinal dark stripes. The ventral coloration is white.

27-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea cervantaria)

Small moth of the Geometridae family; It is distributed in southeastern France, the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa; present in the warm areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

Geometric shape, with the front wings ending in a sharp edge and the rear wings with a wide and rounded shape; gray background color, this gray can be darker, lighter or with an ocher tone; Two irregular lines are drawn on the wings, one proximal and one distal on the wing dorsum, a dark dot on each wing, a subterminal dark line formed by small black strokes, unlike other Idaea, which only have a subterminal dotted line; long ocher fimbriae.

It lives in dry and sunny places, rocky slopes.

I do not know the food plants for the larvae, but this photograph corresponds to an open area of ​​dryland crops, where trees and shrubs are scarce and grasses and other wild herbaceous plants are abundant.

They fly in one generation a year, the months of May to July.

27-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COPPERY TAUPE MOTH (Charissa mucidaria)

Charissa mucidaria, the coppery taupe, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Jacob Hübner in 1799. It is found in southern Europe and North Africa (including Morocco).

The wingspan is 20–30 mm. Adults are on wing from March to May and again from July to September.

The larvae feed on Sedum, Anagallis, Polygonum and Rumex species.

24-9-2025 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS , ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (JUVENILE) (Gallinula chloropus)

The common moorhen, known scientifically as Gallinula chloropus, is a bird of the rail family, Rallidae. It is a bird of striking appearance, with a mix of black and brown plumage, a white under-tail, and white streaks along its flanks. Its legs are a vibrant yellow, and it sports a distinctive red frontal shield. The bill is a matching red with a yellow tip. Juveniles are a duller brown and do not have the red shield.

Adult moorhens can be identified by their red frontal shield, which has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides. The tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is smoothly curved. Their yellow legs and the combination of their black and brown plumage with white markings make them quite distinctive. The young are browner and lack the red shield, making them less conspicuous.

The common moorhen is found in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, ponds, canals, and lakes that are rich in vegetation. It is also known to inhabit city parks with suitable water bodies.

24-9-2025 LAGUNA DE SILLA, ALBUFERA - BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.

The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.

A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.

Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

30-9-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader of the Palearctic region, easily recognized by its greyish-brown upperparts and pristine white underparts. Adults typically measure between 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32-35 cm. They possess short, dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill that is pale at the base with a dark tip.

In the field, look for the Common Sandpiper's distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern, just above the water's surface. During the non-breeding season, they appear duller and exhibit more noticeable barring on the wings, which is most visible at close range. Juveniles display heavier barring above and buff edges to their wing feathers. The species can be differentiated from the similar Spotted Sandpiper by its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern, especially in flight.

These birds are often found near freshwater sources, where they nest on the ground in close proximity to the water's edge. 

The Common Sandpiper breeds across much of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. During migration, large numbers may congregate in stop-over locations such as Palau in Micronesia.

Common Sandpipers are typically solitary or found in small groups. They may form larger flocks during migration or at breeding season roosts but seldom join multispecies flocks.

When breeding, these birds nest on the ground near freshwater. A notable behavior is the young's ability to cling to a parent's body, being flown to safety when threatened.

The Spotted Sandpiper (A. macularia) is the most similar species, especially in non-breeding plumage. However, the Common Sandpiper's darker legs and more defined wing pattern in flight help distinguish it.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates from the ground or shallow water. It is also known to catch insects in flight.

The species is widespread and common, thus classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it is considered vulnerable in some Australian states. The Common Sandpiper is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

25-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CRAMBID SNOUT MOTH (Evergestis isatidalis)

Evergestis isatidalis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is found in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey and North Africa, including Algeria.

The wingspan is 28–34 mm. Adults are on wing from December to January.

The larvae feed on Isatis tinctoria, Raphanus raphanistrum and Eruca vesicaria. Along the coast, larvae are found from February to March. Inland, they live from April to May.

12-4-2018 VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN GREY HEADED SPARROW (Passer griseus)

The Southern grey-headed sparrow (Passer diffusus) is a charming member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This bird is recognized by its distinctive grey head, which contrasts with its brown back and wings, and a pale underbelly.

When trying to identify this species, look for the grey head without a pattern, which is a key distinguishing feature. The bird's upperparts are brown, and the underparts are a lighter shade, providing a subtle contrast that can be quite helpful for identification.

The Southern grey-headed sparrow (Passer diffusus) is a charming member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This bird is recognized by its distinctive grey head, which contrasts with its brown back and wings, and a pale underbelly.

When trying to identify this species, look for the grey head without a pattern, which is a key distinguishing feature. The bird's upperparts are brown, and the underparts are a lighter shade, providing a subtle contrast that can be quite helpful for identification.

This sparrow favors savanna and woodland areas, where it can be seen flitting about in search of sustenance or engaging in social activities with its kin.

The Southern grey-headed sparrow is found across a swath of the African continent, from Angola and Zambia, stretching southwards into South Africa. Here, it has been expanding its range, becoming a more familiar sight in suitable habitats.

In its natural environment, the Southern grey-headed sparrow exhibits typical sparrow behaviors such as social flocking and active foraging. It is also known to be kept as a caged bird, much like its relative, the white-rumped seedeater.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SAVANNAH BEARDED WOODPECKER (Chloropicus namaquus ssp. namaquus)

The Bearded Woodpecker, known scientifically as Chloropicus namaquus, is a striking bird, one of the largest woodpeckers in Africa, reaching a length of about 25 cm. It boasts a black and white head with a brownish barred body, making it quite the sight to behold.

To identify the Bearded Woodpecker, look for its distinctive black moustache, broad black eye-stripe, and black crown, which are set against a white supercilium, face, chin, and throat. The male is adorned with a red hind crown, absent in the female. The mantle is black, while the upper parts are yellowish-brown with narrow white barring. The tail is brown, barred with white, and the underparts are grey, also with narrow white barring. The beak is large and greyish-black, the legs are grey, and the eyes are a striking red. Juveniles resemble adults but have a greenish tinge to their upper parts and more diffuse barring, with both sexes displaying some red on the crown and nape.

The Bearded Woodpecker is found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands with sizeable trees, Brachystegia woodland, Euphorbia and Acacia woodland, as well as the fringes of gallery forests and brushland. It thrives from the lowlands to altitudes of about 3,000 m.

This bird's range extends across tropical central Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

24-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PEARL MOTH (Dolicharthria bruguieralis)

Dolicharthria bruguieralis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is found from France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Turkey, east to Japan and Taiwan. It is also found in Africa, including Morocco, Algeria and South Africa.

The wingspan is about 17 millimetres (0.67 in).

24-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (JUVENILE) (Tarentola mauritanica)

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).

27-3-2018 FERNKLOOF LAKE, SOUTH AFRICA - THREE BANDED PLOVER (Charadrias tricollaris)

The Three-banded Plover, or Charadrius tricollaris, is a small wader, measuring 18 cm in length, with a distinctive elongated profile characterized by its long wings and very long tail. This bird is easily recognized in flight by its white front and the white side of the tail and rump. The adult's upperparts are a medium brown, while the underparts are predominantly white, featuring two black breast bands separated by a white band, which are the hallmark of this species. The head boasts a striking pattern with a black crown and white supercilia extending from the white forehead to meet at the back of the neck. The face is grey, transitioning to brown on the neck, and the orbital ring is a vivid orange-red. The bill is mostly black with a rosy red base.

When identifying the Three-banded Plover, look for the unique combination of the two black breast bands and the white band in between. The long wings and tail are also key features, setting it apart from most other small plovers. The thin white bar above the wings and the dark smudge over the primary coverts below are visible in flight. The Malagasy subspecies can be distinguished by a grey band between the bill and the white forehead, and grey sides of the head.

25-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SATIN WAVE MOTH (Idaea subsericeata)

Idaea subsericeata, the satin wave, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1809. It is found from central and southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor to Transcaspia.

The ground colour is white with strong silky gloss, the lines grey, seldom strongly expressed, on the other hand usually all present, thus numbering five on the forewing and four on the hindwing; the outermost line (distal shading of subterminal) the oftenest absent; all except the median are parallel with the distal margin, but slightly wavy; the median on the forewing is usually somewhat oblique, but occasionally almost parallel with the others; that of the hindwing runs straighter across the wing, instead of following the curve of the strongly convex distal margin. Cellspots and terminal line wanting or rarely the former present, minute; fringe usually with a series of minute black dots at the base, which are sometimes in part, more rarely entirely obsolete. Forewing beneath often with a smoky suffusion, either basally or all over; median and postmedian lines present, often well developed; a small discal dot present. Hindwing beneath white, with discal dot and postmedian line. Male antennal ciliation little longer than diameter of shaft; hindtarsus short. 

Not on the whole an extremely variable species, except in size; there is, however, a great deal of trivial variation, i.e. as regards the absolute or relative strength of the several lines, the close proximity of the inner subterminal to the postmedian or their wider separation, the degree of suffusion of the under surface, etc. Second-brood specimens, besides being smaller seem to be on an average whiter beneath and are sometimes rounder winged. The oval egg has a depression in the middle of the upper end. The surface has small, flat recesses. It is initially light yellow and later turns bright orange with red spots.The caterpillar is relatively slender, the diameter decreasing a little at the front end. It is whitish grey, grey, grey-brown or brown and shows a slightly reddish dorsum. The surface looks wrinkled and is studded with fine warts. The dorsal line is relatively narrow, dark and is lined with dark dots. The lateral lines are yellowish white. The large head has a notch in the middle of the apex.The pupa is blackish brown to golden brown with greenish wing-sheaths . It is nine millimeters long and measures 2.9 millimeters in diameter. The cremaster is about as long as wide and is studded with four pairs of hook-shaped curved bristles.

The species has a wingspan of 22–25 mm. The adults fly in one generation from June to July.

24-9-2025 CREU DE LONGA , ALBUFERA - 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.

8-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.

The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat colour varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging 58 kg (128 lb) with 90 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 37.5 kg (83 lb) on average.

The African leopard is sexually dimorphic; males are larger and heavier than females. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb). The heaviest known leopard weighed about 96 kg (212 lb), and was recorded in South West Africa.

24-9-2025 EL PALMAR , ALBUFERA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)

The western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the eastern cattle egret together (called the cattle egret), but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century.

It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Western cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the cattle egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

The adult cattle egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species maintains a special relationship with cattle, which extends to other large grazing mammals; wider human farming is believed to be a major cause of their suddenly expanded range. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. This benefits both species, but it has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

23-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea cervantaria)

Small moth of the Geometridae family; It is distributed in southeastern France, the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa; present in the warm areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

Geometric shape, with the front wings ending in a sharp edge and the rear wings with a wide and rounded shape; gray background color, this gray can be darker, lighter or with an ocher tone; Two irregular lines are drawn on the wings, one proximal and one distal on the wing dorsum, a dark dot on each wing, a subterminal dark line formed by small black strokes, unlike other Idaea, which only have a subterminal dotted line; long ocher fimbriae.

It lives in dry and sunny places, rocky slopes.

I do not know the food plants for the larvae, but this photograph corresponds to an open area of ​​dryland crops, where trees and shrubs are scarce and grasses and other wild herbaceous plants are abundant.

They fly in one generation a year, the months of May to July.

24-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COPPERY TAUPE MOTH (Charissa mucidaria)

Charissa mucidaria, the coppery taupe, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Jacob Hübner in 1799. It is found in southern Europe and North Africa (including Morocco).

The wingspan is 20–30 mm. Adults are on wing from March to May and again from July to September.

The larvae feed on Sedum, Anagallis, Polygonum and Rumex species.

24-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CRIMSON SPECKLED FLUNKEY MOTH (Utetheisa pulchella)

 Utetheisa pulchella, the crimson-speckled flunkey, crimson-speckled footman, or crimson-speckled moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

This common widespread species can be found in most of Europe (as a migrant), in the entire Afrotropical realm, North Africa, in the Near East and Central Asia, in the western Indomalayan realm (not known east of Myanmar.) In the United Kingdom it is only a sporadic migrant. These moths inhabit dry open places, meadows, shrublands, grasslands and parks.

The wingspan of Utetheisa pulchella can reach 29–42 mm. The front wings are narrow, white or cream coloured with a variable pattern of numerous small black spots located between the larger-sized bright red spots. Sometimes the red spots are merged to transversal bands. The hindwings are wide, white, with an irregular black border along the outer edge and two black markings in the middle of the cell. The head and thorax range from cream colour to buff yellow, with the same pattern as the wings. The antennae are long and monofiliform. The abdomen is smooth, with a white background.

Caterpillars are warty, dark brown or greyish, with tufts of greyish hairs, an orange crossline on each segment, a wide whitish line along the back and two other lateral white lines.

This species in southern Europe overwinters as a caterpillar. Pupation occurs on the ground near the host plants, usually on fallen leaves and dead vegetation, or pieces of bark and old wood. During mild winters in temperate and typically Mediterranean climates this species hibernates as pupae. Adults of this multivoltine species usually are present from March to early November in three generations a year, but in the tropics, they develop continuously. They fly both day and night and come to light. The polyphagous larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants, mainly on forget-me-not (Myosotis), Echium, Borago officinalis, Solanum, Plantago lanceolata and Anchusa species. In the Afrotropical realm they mainly feed on Trichodesma zeylanicum, Lithospermum, Heliotropium, Trichodesma and Gossypium species.

Due to their food, the caterpillars accumulate a large amount of alkaloids, consequently also the moths are toxic and unpalatable to birds. The characteristic colouration of its wings serve as a sign of warning to their predators (aposematism).

23-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN BIRD GRASSHOPPER (JUVENILE) (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium, the Egyptian grasshopper or Egyptian locust, is a species of insect belonging to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae.

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

22-9-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ANGLE MOTH (Itame vincularia)

Itame vincularia is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in France, Portugal, Spain, North Africa and Turkey.

The wingspan is about 28–32 mm.

The larvae feed on Rhamnus infectoria and Frangula alnus. It is called a Fettered Dyer in English.

Subspecies

Itame vincularia vincularia

Itame vincularia latefasciata Rothschild, 1914

Itame vincularia lycioidaria Herbulot, 1957

Itame vincularia mrassinaria (Oberthur, 1923)

22-9-2025 RIO SERPIS GANDIA GRAU, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN SPLENDID GRASSHOPPER (Heteracris littoralis)

Heteracris littoralis is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia.

Its nutrition is Grasses and herbs.

Heteracris littoralis lives in dunes and other coastal areas. Heteracris littoralis is found in the more densely vegetated islands of grass, Eleocharis and other dune plants where the animals escape from disturbances on the sandy ground.

They are strongly endangered.

Heteracris littoralis is endangered in some places by the ever escalating tourism (hotel construction, other infrastructure), since hardly intact dunes areas are still available. In Gran Canaria, the grasshopper is found in the dunes at Maspalomas. Although the area is a nature reserve, it is devalued by thousands of tourists who roll around in crowds on the beach and in the dunes because a huge hotel city was built around the reserve at Maspalomas.

In Europe, Heteracris littoralis occurs only in the Mediterranean region and on some Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, indeed belonging to Africa). Moreover, Heteracris littoralis is found in the northern half of Africa and in Southwestern Asia.

22-9-2025 RIO SERPIS GANDIA GRAU, 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.