11-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CHINESE ABELIA (Abelia chinensis)

Abelia chinensis, commonly known as Chinese abelia, is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. It is a semi-evergreen, densely branched shrub with dark green foliage.

The species was described by Robert Brown in 1818.

It is a compact deciduous shrub with reddish stems and glossy, small leaves that become reddish-brown before autumn. Its simplified-form flowers are funnel-shaped, white, and its pink sepals remain long after flowering. As long as the plant continues to make new growth during the summer, it will continue to flower. It is one of the most cold-resistant species within the genus.

The plant is found in south-central China and south-eastern China, as well as Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Ryukyu Islands.

Abelia chinensis is widely cultivated as an ornamental garden plant. The cultivar 'China Rose' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

13-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SMALL BLOOD VEIN MOTH (Scopula imitaria)

Scopula imitaria, the small blood-vein, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1799 and it is found throughout Europe and in North Africa.

The wingspan is 12–26 mm. (1st generation); the next generation is typically much smaller and reaches no more than 18 mm. The forewing leading edge (costa) forms an acute angle with the outer edge forming a sharp point. The hindwings also come to a sharp angle in the middle of the outer edge (a "tail"). The pattern and colouring are variable. The wings are reddish, yellowish or orange to light brown. The lines and marginal line are almost always clear, but fine. The median crossline is clearly developed and inclined slightly diagonally to the inner and outer crossline. It is slightly curved and very weakly wavy and often accompanied by a distal facing shadow. The interior and exterior crosslines are slightly wavy (more clearly than the median line). The hindwings have the pattern, however they often lack the inner crossline. The outer cross line shows a pointed bulge outwards, which follows the "tail" of the perimeter. Discal flecks are only sometimes present or weak, They are more pronounced on the hindwing. The discal fleck of the hindwings sits on the outside of the medium line or in the "shadow". On the forewing it is basal to the median line.

2-4-2025 CONCORDIA ESTATE GOATFELL, SRI LANKA - ASHY PRINIA (Prinia socialis)

The ashy prinia or ashy wren-warbler (Prinia socialis) is a small warbler in the family Cisticolidae. This prinia is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent, ranging across most of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, eastern Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and western Myanmar. It is a common bird in urban gardens and farmland in many parts of India and its small size, distinctive colours and upright tail make it easy to identify. The northern populations have a rufous rump and back and have a distinct breeding and non-breeding plumage while other populations lack such variation.

These 13–14 cm long warblers have short rounded wings and a longish graduated cream tail tipped with black subterminal spots. The tail is usually held upright and the strong legs are used for clambering about and hopping on the ground. They have a short black bill. The crown is grey and the underparts are rufous in most plumages. In breeding plumage, adults of the northern population are ash grey above, with a black crown and cheek with no supercilium and coppery brown wings. In non-breeding season, this population has a short and narrow white supercilium and the tail is longer. They are found singly or in pairs in shrubbery and will often visit the ground.

11-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON LAND SNAIL (Xerocrassa subrogata)

Xerocrassa subrogata is a species of air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae.

This species is endemic to Spain, where it is widely distributed in the eastern provinces of the country.

Xerocrassa subrogata is a terrestrial, air-breathing land snail endemic to Spain, specifically adapted to dry, sun-drenched environments. It belongs to the family Geomitridae and the subfamily Helicellinae.

Quick biological and environmental facts:

Size: It is a small species, typically measuring around 8.3 mm (approx. 0.33 inches) in shell diameter.

Habitat: It is a xerophilous (drought-loving) species found in Mediterranean scrublands, low forests, and rocky limestone substrates, frequently sheltering under stones.

Conservation Status: Listed on the Asturnatura Species Database as Least Concern (LC), though it remains a protected species in Spain.

11-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LOCUST BLOWFLY (Stomorhina lunata)

Stomorhina lunata is a species of fly in the family Rhiniidae first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1805.

This species is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, the eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East and North Africa, the Indomalayan realm, and the Nearctic realm. These flies usually inhabit meadows.

Stomorhina lunata can reach a length of 5–9 millimetres (0.20–0.35 in) and a wingspan of 13–16 millimetres (0.51–0.63 in).[4] These distinctive, medium-sized blowflies are rather similar to the house flies, but they have a characteristic prominent proboscis, a longitudinally striped thorax and an abdomen with yellow and black bands. Males have large orange patches on the sides of tergites 3 and 4, while females only show grey dust patches.

This distinctively marked species is often misidentified because of the unusual band pattern in the abdomen, typical of hoverflies.

Stomorhina lunata is an important egg predator of some major African agricultural pests, the South African brown locust (Locustana pardalina), the more widespread desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), and the migratory locust (Locustana migratoria).

Adults are migratory and are present from July to October. They can usually be found feeding on nectar and pollen of umbellifer flowers (Apiaceae) and of Asteraceae species (mainly Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Tanacetum vulgare, Anthriscus sylvestris, Erysimum cheiranthoides, Filipendula ulmaria).

11-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPLENDID HELIX SNAIL (Iberus splendidus)

Iberus splendidus (commonly known as the Splendid Helix) is a striking species of terrestrial snail belonging to the family Helicidae. It is celebrated for its brilliantly colored and ornate shell, making it a fascinating subject for nature enthusiasts.

Here are the key facts about this mollusk:

Appearance: The shell is relatively light-colored (often creamy-yellow or white) with variable, spiraled, and ornate dark banding.

Native Range: It is a Mediterranean species, with populations spanning the eastern Iberian Peninsula (such as the Valencian Community) and southeastern France.

Disjunct Populations: An isolated, established population was documented in Cabo Mayor, Santander. Historical museum specimens verify its presence in northern Spain since at least 1962, likely a result of human translocation.

12-6-2026 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)

The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), a statuesque avian, stands with a height ranging from 70 to 94 cm and boasts a wingspan of 120 to 152 cm. Despite its grand stature, it is a slender creature, tipping the scales at a mere 0.5 to 1.35 kg. This bird is slightly smaller and more svelte than its cousin, the Grey Heron, and is adorned with darker, reddish-brown plumage.

Adult Purple Herons are distinguished by their black foreheads and crowns, with a dark stripe cascading down the back of the neck, culminating in a modest, dangling crest. Their heads and necks are a buffish chestnut, streaked with dark lines, while the mantle dons an oily brown hue. The upper parts and tail are a brownish grey, and the underparts are a mix of chestnut and black. During the breeding season, the beak of the adult brightens, and the eyes gleam with a yellow iris.

The Purple Heron is a denizen of marshes, lagoons, and lakes, often shrouded by dense vegetation. It has a penchant for freshwater habitats, particularly those with expansive reed beds of Phragmites. Coastal mangrove swamps are also within its realm, though less frequently visited.

12-6-2026 BENISSA, ALICANTE - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

Orthetrum chrysostigma, the epaulet skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi as well as Canary Islands, and Portugal. It was recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2010.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs. The adults prey on various flying insects. The bodies of adult males are blue, and those of young and females are yellow and brown.

11-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPINY TOAD (JUVENILE) (Bufo spinosus)

Bufo spinosus is a large and robust toad with a snout-vent length of 58.6 - 112 mm in males and 65 - 180 mm in females. Its head is relatively broad, and the region between the eyes is either flat or slightly concave. The snout is short and rounded. The tympanum is subtly visible and rounded, and its diameter does not exceed half the eye. The parotoid glands are large, elongated, and divergent at the posterior end. The eyes are prominent with a horizontally oval pupil. The skin is warty on the back and granular on the underside. 

Its warts usually end in a keratinized tip, resulting in a spiny appearance, though not all individuals express this. These keratinized warts are especially prominent between the corner of the mouth and the parotoid. The fingers, of which the third is the longest, are short. No information is available on the relative finger lengths. There are two palmar tubercles on the hands. The hind limbs are webbed, and have a pair of metatarsal tubercles, with the internal metatarsal tubercle being larger than the external metatarsal tubercle. No information is available on the relative toe lengths. There is a pair of subarticular tubercles on the hands and the feet that may be fused in older adults.

 

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis)

The Greater coucal (Centropus sinensis) is a large member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. They are weak fliers and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs, and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range.

The head of the Greater coucal is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. There are no pale shaft streaks on the coverts. The eyes are ruby red. Juveniles are duller black with spots on the crown and there are whitish bars on the underside and tail. The males and the females are similar in plumage but females are slightly larger.

3-12-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

The European serin, or simply the serin (Serinus serinus), is a diminutive member of the finch family, Fringillidae. This sprightly bird is the smallest within its family, closely related to the Atlantic canary. It is characterized by its short tail and a length that spans a mere 11 to 12 centimeters. The serin's plumage is a tapestry of nature's palette, with upper parts dappled in dark-streaked greyish green and a conspicuous yellow rump. The underparts are a canvas of yellow breast and white belly, both adorned with heavy streaks.

When attempting to identify the European serin, look for the male's radiant yellow face and breast, which stand out against the greenish backdrop of its feathers. The male also boasts yellow wing bars and yellow tail sides, which can be quite helpful in distinguishing it from similar species. Both sexes share a buzzing trill of a song that resonates through their Mediterranean habitats.

The European serin is partial to open woodland and cultivated areas, often with a sprinkling of conifers. These environments provide the perfect backdrop for breeding and foraging.

16-12-2020 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)

The booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus, is a medium-sized bird of prey, with a stature comparable to the common buzzard. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being larger, weighing approximately 840–1,025 grams, while males are lighter at 510–770 grams. The species measures around 40 cm in length and boasts a wingspan ranging from 110 to 132 cm. It is characterized by two distinct plumage morphs: a pale variant with light grey feathers and a darker head and flight feathers, and a darker morph with mid-brown plumage and dark grey flight feathers.

When identifying the booted eagle, look for the white markings on the wings, often referred to as "landing lights," which are visible when the bird is in flight. The pale morph is dominant, but the darker morph can be more prevalent in certain eastern populations. The call of the booted eagle is a distinctive shrill "kli-kli-kli."

8-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WINGPOD PURSLANE (Portulaca umbraticola)

Wingpod Purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) is a heat-loving, drought-tolerant succulent native to the Americas. Famous for its vibrant, sun-worshipping blooms and dense, spreading habit, it thrives in containers and poor, rocky soils. The entire plant is edible and features prominent winged seed pods.

Key Characteristics

Appearance: A low-growing, mat-forming herbaceous plant reaching about 6-8 inches in height with a spread of up to 2-3 feet. Stems are fleshy, often reddish, and lined with thick, succulent, spoon-shaped leaves.

Blooms: Produces striking, showy flowers in vibrant shades of pink, yellow, orange, and red.

Daily Cycle: Flowers open under bright, direct sunlight and close in the afternoon or at sunset.

Growth Cycle: Grows as an annual in cooler climates and a perennial in frost-free regions (USDA Zones 10b-11).

Growing Conditions

Light: Requires full sun to encourage prolific blooming and maintain its dense, compact foliage.

Soil: Highly adaptable but prefers sandy, rocky, and well-draining soils.

Watering: Once established, it requires low water and withstands drought remarkably well.

Maintenance: Plants can be pruned back mid-summer to promote fresh, flower-bearing shoots.Uses & BenefitsLandscaping: Commonly used in hanging baskets, rockeries, borders, and slopes for quick, colorful ground cover.

Edible & Medicinal: The entire plant (stems, leaves, flowers, and roots) is completely edible and frequently used in fresh salads. Historically, it has also been applied topically for skin irritations and insect bites.

Wildlife: The pollen and nectar-rich flowers are known to attract bees and butterflies.

Care Tips

Avoid overwatering; too much moisture in the soil can lead to root rot or fungal issues.To source seeds or starters, you can explore offerings on platforms like Amazon or check availability at regional outlets using the Local Plant Finder.

9-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SHINING LEAF BEETLE (Crioceris paracenthesis)

Crioceris paracenthesis (often spelled paracentesis) is a European leaf beetle closely related to the common asparagus beetle Crioceris asparagi. Unlike the common pest species, C. paracenthesis is a specialized, oligophagous insect that feeds almost exclusively on the wild asparagus plant Asparagus acutifolius.

Taxonomic and Biological Facts

Scientific Classification: It belongs to the Chrysomelidae family (leaf beetles) and the Criocerinae subfamily.

Physical Appearance: It is a small beetle with a mostly dark-to-reddish-orange head and pronotum. The yellowish-to-orange elytra (wing covers) feature distinctive longitudinal black stripes and spots.

Host Plant: The larvae are phytophagous (plant-eating) and rely heavily on the pointed asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius) to complete their life cycle.

Diet and Microbiome: Research into its internal biology reveals that its gut microbiota is heavily dominated by Spiroplasma bacteria, which accounts for up to 98% of its bacterial community.

Distribution: It is widely distributed across the Palearctic realm, with a heavy presence throughout the Mediterranean and Southern Europe (including Italy and Spain). 

9-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (MALE) (Monticola solitarius)

The blue rock thrush is a starling-sized bird, 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in) in length with a long slim bill. The breeding male of the nominate subspecies is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The male of the subspecies M. s. philippensis has rufous-chestnut plumage from the mid-breast down to the undertail. Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.

The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the rock thrush.

The European, north African and southeast Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe.

 Blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.

Blue Rock Thrushes are a resident species that is widespread but localised. They prefer rocky environs and cliffs as a breeding habitat so one can find them on the coast as well as inland, but they will also breed in old ruins, even close to Man, though in these circumstances they are wary and shy.

8-6-2026 GANDIA GRAU, VALENCIA - AUDOUIN'S GULL (Ichthyaetus audouinii)

The Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii, presents itself as a large gull species, predominantly inhabiting the Mediterranean, the western coast of Saharan Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. Its name pays homage to the French naturalist Jean Victoire Audouin. Resembling a small European herring gull, the adult Audouin's gull is distinguished by its short, stubby red bill and the unique "string of pearls" white wing primary tips. The legs of this bird are a subtle grey-green, and it takes a full four years for the gull to don its adult plumage.

When observing the Audouin's gull, one should note the red bill and the distinctive pattern of white spots along the wingtips, which contrast with the larger "mirrors" seen in other gull species. These features are key to distinguishing it from its relatives.

8-6-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

9-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LARGE WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata maera)

Lasiommata maera, the large wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

The species is common in continental Europe. It is also present in the Urals, south western Siberia, Asia Minor, Syria, Iran, Central Asia and the Himalayas. It is absent from the United Kingdom. Its preferred habitats are edges of the forest, unmanaged clearings on forested areas, rocky dry areas and stony slopes, at an elevation of 0–2,000 metres (0–6,562 ft) above sea level.

Lasiommata maera has a wingspan of 44–56 millimetres (1.7–2.2 in). These large butterflies are quite variable in color and pattern. Usually the upperside is orange in the forewings and mostly brown in the hindwings. The forewings always show a single ocellus, while the hindwings bear two or three ocelli. The underside of the forewings is orange and the underside of the hindwings is marbled with gray brown. 

This species is quite similar to Lasiommata megera, that is smaller and has paler yellow-orange forewings. Seitz P. maera L. (= adrasta Dup.) (45 d). On an average larger than hiera, more evenly coloured, the black markings of the ground less prominent in the nymotypical form with a sooty brown disc; the forewing of the male more pointed, with longer costal margin and more oblique distal margin; on the underside of the forewing the distal band extends without interruption across the median veins to the hindmargin. The underside of the hindwing has a much purer ground-colour, i. e. there are less clouds and shadows between the various dentate lines which cross the disc.

9-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BARBARY GRASSHOPPER (Calliptamus barbarus)

 Calliptamus barbarus is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is found in the Palearctic.

Calliptamus barbarus or Costa's rose wing is a right-winged insect from the family locust (Acrididae). The scientific name of this species was first validly published in 1836 by Oronzio Gabriele Costa.

The Barbarian grasshopper is not toxic and does not usually pose a threat to human health. There is no need to be overly concerned.

The Barbarian grasshopper feeds on plants and usually does not cause a major problem. However, If you observe the number getting larger, you need to take it seriously.

20-12-2023 ALLAHEIN RIVER, SENEGAL - OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus), /ˈɒspri, -preɪ/, also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

The osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

As its other common names suggest, the osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It possesses specialised physical characteristics and unique behaviour in hunting its prey. Its unique characteristics classify it in its own taxonomic genus, Pandion, and family, Pandionidae.

The osprey is the second most widely distributed raptor species, after the peregrine falcon, and is one of only six land-birds with a worldwide distribution. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents, except Antarctica. In North America it breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to the Gulf Coast and Florida, wintering further south from the southern United States through to Argentina. It is found in summer throughout Europe north into Ireland, Scandinavia, Finland and Great Britain though not Iceland, and winters in North Africa. In Australia it is mainly sedentary and found patchily around the coastline, though it is a non-breeding visitor to eastern Victoria and Tasmania.

There is a 1,000 km (620 mi) gap, corresponding with the coast of the Nullarbor Plain, between its westernmost breeding site in South Australia and the nearest breeding sites to the west in Western Australia. In the islands of the Pacific it is found in the Bismarck Islands, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, and fossil remains of adults and juveniles have been found in Tonga, where it probably was wiped out by arriving humans. It is possible it may once have ranged across Vanuatu and Fiji as well. It is an uncommon to fairly common winter visitor to all parts of South Asia, and Southeast Asia from Myanmar through to Indochina and southern China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

10-6-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WRINKLED SNAIL (Xeroplexa intersecta)

Xeroplexa intersecta is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae.

It was previously included within the genus Candidula.

This snail can be a pest species in agricultural settings.

The 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) × 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) shell has 5 convex whorls. The aperture is simple without a lip; the aperture margin is slightly reflected near the umbilicus. The umbilicus is open and variably wide. The periostracum is whitish or yellowish with brown bands or spots and finely striated. The animal is yellowish or bluish grey with dark brown pigments. The upper tentacles are long, and the lower tentacles are very short.

This species is known to occur within its native range in a number of Central and Western European countries and islands including:

Great Britain

Ireland

France

Portugal

Belgium

Netherlands

Denmark

Spain

Germany

It also lives as an introduced species in:

Oregon, United States

Colombia

Chile

New Zealand

Australia

8-6-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - 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.

8-6-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - WHITE ITALIAN SNAIL (Theba pisana)

The White Italian Snail (Theba pisana), also known as the white garden snail or sand hill snail, is a highly adaptive, land-dwelling mollusk native to the Mediterranean Basin.

Physical Characteristics

Shell Size: Adult shells typically measure 12 to 15 mm in diameter and 9 to 12 mm in height.

Coloration: The background shell color is usually ivory white.Patterns: Shells often display variable dark brown spiral bands made of dots, dashes, or solid lines.

Texture: Under magnification, the shell surface has distinctive cross-hatched vertical scratches.

Juvenile Trait: Young snails feature a sharp keel around their shell midline, which rounds out as they mature.

Habitat & Behavior

Preferences: They thrive in dry, sandy coastal areas, open scrublands, and dunes.

Aestivation: During hot summer months, they climb vertical structures like fences and tree trunks to escape ground heat.

Mass Clusters: Thousands can aggregate together on a single plant or structure to form dense colonies.

Survival Seal: They seal their shell with a dried mucus wall (epiphragm) to conserve water.

Temperature Limit: This species cannot survive severe winter frosts.

Diet & Agricultural Impact

Food Sources: They are generalist herbivores eating pastures, cereal seedlings, succulent leaves, and decaying matter.

Crop Damage: They can completely defoliate citrus orchards and vineyards when populations surge.

Farming Pest: They pose a severe agricultural threat by clogging harvesting machinery and contaminating grain yields.

Reproduction & Lifecycle

Mating Type: They are cross-fertilizing hermaphrodites that become active and mate after autumn rains.

Egg Laying: Clutches of 40 to 80 eggs are buried several centimeters deep into moist soil.

Incubation: Soft-shelled eggs absorb water and hatch in roughly 20 days.

Lifespan: Their life cycle spans 1 to 2 years depending on local climate conditions.

Global Distribution & Invasion

Invasive Range: They have established aggressive populations across Australia, South Africa, and California.

Spread Method: Due to their habit of climbing cargo, they are the most frequently intercepted land snail in global trade.

Culinary Use: In Italy's Veneto region, they are locally known as "bovoéto" and traditionally boiled with garlic and olive oil.

8-6-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

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 occurs in any temperate zone, including mountains in the tropics. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain and Europe in May and June, occasionally reaching Iceland, and from the Red Sea basin, via Israel and Cyprus, to Turkey in March and April. The occasional autumn migration made by V. cardui is likely for the inspection of resource changes; it consists of a round trip from Europe to Africa.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - GREEN VEINED EMPEROR BUTTERFLY (Charaxes candiope)

Charaxes candiope, the green-veined emperor or green-veined charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is common in sub-Saharan Africa.

The habitat is forest and savanna excluding arid savanna. It also occurs in gardens and agricultural areas. Notes on the biology of candiope are given by Pringle et al. (1994), Larsen, T.B. (1991), Larsen, T.B. (2005) and Kielland, J. (1990). Flight period is from October to June.

The wingspan is 45–55 mm in males and 50–60 mm in females. The basic colour of the upperside wings is tawny or orange tawny, with a basal area slightly paler or pale ochre yellow. The unscaled veins and the costal edge of forewing are green. The hindwings have a submarginal black band with a series of tawny ochreous or whitish interstitial spots. The undersides of the forewings are clayish, slightly ochreous, while the hindwings are sepia colour. Forewings are rather falcate, while the hindwings have two small tails protruding from the lower edge.

Larvae have large green bodies and heads decorated with horns. They feed on Croton sylvaticus, Croton gratissimus, and Croton megalocarpus.

This species can be found in most of the Afrotropical realm (Sub-Saharan Africa).