12-12-2021 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

The European robin (Erithacus rubecula), known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird, a member of the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. It is a plucky little bird, with a length of about 12.5–14.0 cm and a weight of 16–22 g. Both sexes are similarly adorned with an orange breast and face, lined with grey, brown upper-parts, and a whitish belly.

Adult robins can be identified by their orange breast and face, bordered by a bluish-grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly is whitish. The bill and eyes are black. Juvenile robins are distinguishable by their spotted brown and white plumage, with patches of orange gradually appearing as they mature.

23-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)

The acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, 21 cm (8.3 in) long, with an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz).

The adult acorn woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly and rump. The eyes are initially dark in fledglings, turning to white within a few months. There is a small part on the small of their backs where there are some greenish feathers. In most subspecies, adult males have a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and drop a foot or so. White circles on their wings are visible when in flight. Acorn woodpeckers have a call that sounds almost like they are laughing. 

11-2-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)

The European greenfinch, or simply greenfinch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Exhibiting a predominantly green plumage with yellow accents on the wings and tail, the male is a vibrant sight, while the female and juveniles are more subdued with brownish tones. This bird measures approximately 15 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 24.5 to 27.5 cm, resembling the size and shape of a house sparrow.

To identify the European greenfinch, look for its thick and conical bill, a characteristic of seed-eating birds. The male's plumage is a striking green with yellow flashes on the wings and tail, whereas the female and young birds are more muted with brownish backs. The male's display flight is akin to a butterfly, a dance to charm its mate.

The greenfinch favors woodland edges, farmland hedges, and gardens with dense vegetation for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes within these habitats.

4-10-2026 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. 

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

4-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Scopula asellaria)

Scopula asellaria is a small geometer moth belonging to the family Geometridae. First described by German entomologist Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1847, its scientific name asellaria comes from the Latin word asellus (little donkey), referencing its subtle gray coloration.

• Wingspan: Typically ranges between 17 mm and 21 mm.

• Appearance: The wings have a light, whitish-gray, or pale brown background. They are speckled with tiny dark or blackish dots distributed across the surface, giving them a dusty look.

The moth natively frequents xeric, dry environments with low vegetation, such as rocky steppes and sunny hillsides. Its overall distribution spans across Southern Europe and North Africa:

• Europe: Found in Mediterranean regions including Spain, Italy, Malta, and Southern France.

• North Africa: Present in countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Libya.

• Larval Diet: The caterpillars are polyphagous but show a strong preference for feeding on the flowers and dried parts of Silene (campion) species.

• Caterpillar Appearance: Like other geometer moths ("inchworms"), the larvae have a twig-like appearance to camouflage seamlessly with plants.

4-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SICKLE BEARING LEAF KATYDID (Phaneroptera sparsa)

The Sickle-bearing Leaf Katydid (Phaneroptera sparsa) is a widespread green bush-cricket species recognized by its leaf-like appearance and sickle-shaped ovipositor (egg-laying organ).

Overview and Appearance

• Appearance: Medium-sized with a body length of around 30mm, featuring a vibrant green body, round eyes, and a green unstriped abdomen.

• Wings: Opaque green fore wings and longer hind wings that often feature a tan dorsal stripe.

• Classification: Belongs to the order Orthoptera, family Tettigoniidae, and genus Phaneroptera.

 Habitat and Range

• Distribution: Widely distributed across Africa (including all provinces of South Africa), the Middle East, parts of southern Europe, and Macaronesian islands like the Canary Islands.

• Environment: Found in tree canopies, shrubs, gardens, and agricultural areas with abundant foliage and flowers.

Conservation Status

• Status: Evaluated as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to its stable, widespread distribution and lack of immediate threats.

4-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS EGGAR MOTH (Lasiocampa trifolii)

The grass eggar moth (Lasiocampa trifolii) is a hairy, reddish-brown or straw-yellow moth belonging to the family Lasiocampidae.

Physical Description and Appearance

• Wingspan: Measures between 40 and 55 mm, with females notably larger than males.

• Markings: Features a curved cross-line on the forewings and a distinct central white spot.

 • Subspecies: Includes the pale form known as the pale grass eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii subspecies flava) found in Kent.

• Caterpillars: Thickly haired, growing up to 65 mm, and display ruddy brown, yellow, or black segments.

Habitat and Distribution

• Locations: Found across Europe, inhabiting coastal dunes, maritime cliffs, and acid heaths.

• Food Plants: Caterpillars feed on grasses, heather, bramble, and willow.

Life Cycle and Behavior

• Flight Period: Adults fly primarily from August to September and are active at night, showing strong attraction to light.

• Overwintering: The species overwinters in the egg stage near the ground before hatching in spring.

• Pupation: Larve spin tough cocoons low to the ground amongst grass stems and leaf litter.

21-9-2026 GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK - WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta) WEBCAM

The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is a medium-sized icterid bird, about 20 cm (7.9 in) in length. It is found across western and central North America and is a partial migrant, breeding in western Canada and western United States west of the Great Lakes, and in northern Mexico. In the northern half of the breeding range, the birds migrate south for the winter, while further south they are resident all year. 

The winter range also extends south and southeast of the breeding range, as far as central Mexico, and east to western Florida. The western meadowlark nests on the ground in open grasslands and shrublands. It feeds on bugs and seeds. The western meadowlark has distinctive calls described as watery or flute-like, which distinguish it from the closely related eastern meadowlark. The western meadowlark is the state bird of six states; in Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming.

4-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WRINKLED SNAIL (Xeroplexa intersecta)

Xeroplexa intersecta, commonly known has wrinkled snail 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

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - FLAME COLOURED TANAGER (MALE) (Piranga bidentata)

The flame-colored tanager (Piranga bidentata), formerly known as the stripe-backed tanager, is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found from Mexico throughout Central America to northern Panama and occasionally in the United States; four subspecies are recognized. The flame-colored tanager is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long, the male having predominantly red-orange while the female is more yellowish orange.

English naturalist William Swainson described the flame-colored tanager in 1827 from material collected by William Bullock and his son from a specimen from Temascaltepec in Mexico. French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye described Piranga sanguinolenta as a separate species in 1839, though the two were generally regarded as conspecific by the end of the 19th century.

A 2019 genetic study using mitochondrial DNA showed that the flame-colored tanager was the sister taxon of the western tanager (P. ludoviciana).

The flame-colored tanager and the other species of genus Piranga were originally placed in the family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers. Since approximately 2008 they have been placed in their current family.

3-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PEARL MOTH (Dolicharthria bruguieralis)

Dolicharthria bruguieralis is a species of crambid moth first described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1833. It belongs to the grass moth family (Crambidae) and is found across Southern Europe, parts of Africa, and Asia.Classification and Range

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Spilomelinae

Region: Found in countries like Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and parts of North Africa and East Asia.

Discovery: Named and recorded in 1833.

3-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PEARL MOTH (Udea numeralis)

The pearl moth (Udea numeralis) is a small species of snout moth in the family Crambidae.

Overview and Physical Characteristics

• Wingspan: Approximately 25 to 26 mm.

• Description: Originally described by the entomologist Jacob Hübner in 1796. It belongs to the subfamily Spilomelinae and the genus Udea.

Distribution and Habitat

• Location: It is found in Southern Europe—including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, and Greece (such as the island of Crete)—as well as North Africa (Algeria and Morocco).

• Habitat: Commonly observed in warm, Mediterranean environments like olive groves and river banks.

Biology and Diet

• Food Plants: The larvae feed on plants from the Compositae (aster/daisy) family.

• Flight Period: In warmer southern regions like Crete, adults can be recorded across an extended period of the year.

3-10-2026 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.

Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Mollusca

• Class: Gastropoda

• Family: Hygromiidae (or Geomitridae)

Habitat and Range

• Location: Endemic to Spain, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world.

• Distribution: Widely spread across the eastern regions of the country.

• Environment: Terrestrial areas where it breathes air using a modified lung.

2-10-2026 TONGASS NAT FOREST, ALASKA - BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) WEBCAM

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder that subsists mainly on fish, upon which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton (1.1 short tons) in weight. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years.

Bald eagles are not bald in the literal sense; the name derives from an older meaning of the word, "white-headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25% larger than males. The yellow beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown.

The bald eagle is the national bird and national symbol of the United States and appears on its seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States, but measures such as banning the practice of hunting bald eagles and banning the use of the harmful pesticide DDT slowed the decline of their population. Populations have since recovered, and the species' status was upgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995 and removed from the list altogether in 2007.

2-10-2026 HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, FLORIDA - WEST INDIAN MANATEE (Trichechus manatus) WEBCAM

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the Eastern United States to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on underwater plants and uses its whiskers to navigate. It is divided into two subspecies, the Florida manatee (T. m. latirostris) in the United States and the Antillean manatee (T. m. manatus) in the Caribbean, both of which are endangered and face pressure from habitat loss, pollution, and other human activity. The West Indian manatee is the largest living member of the sirenians (order Sirenia), a group of large aquatic mammals that includes the dugong, other manatees, and the extinct Steller's sea cow.

Manatees are herbivores, have developed vocal communication abilities, and are covered in highly sensitive whiskers (called vibrissae) that are used for feeding and navigation. In breeding season, several males form mating herds around an individual female; on average, one calf is born to a female manatee every two to three years.

In the 1970s, the West Indian manatee was listed as endangered in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, when there were only several hundred left. The decades since have witnessed significant efforts to protect this species from natural and human threats, particularly collisions with watercraft. In 2017, the United States changed the classification to threatened, citing a substantial increase in the total population.

In 2025, a petition began by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reinstate them as endangered.

2-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MULLEIN WAVE MOTH (Scopula marginepunctata)

Scopula marginepunctata, the mullein wave, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1781. It is found throughout Europe.

Scopula marginepunctata occurs in Europe from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Ural mountains in the east. In the north, the range extends to the south coast of England, the southern Netherlands and the German Baltic Sea coast. However the species is missing in parts of northern Germany. There are isolated occurrences on Bornholm, Skåne and the southern Baltic. In the south, the range extends in North Africa from Morocco in the west to Egypt. The distribution ranges from there further over the Middle East, Asia minor, the Caucasus, northern Iran, Central Asia and Mongolia.

The wingspan is 25–28 millimetres (0.98–1.10 in). The length of the forewings is 12–15 millimetres (0.47–0.59 in). The second generation is often smaller and the moths reach only about 18 mm wingspan. Colour and wing pattern vary. The base colour is off-white to light brown, and the wings are strong dark over dusted with dark scales. In the Swiss Canton of Ticino darkened forms occur, which were formerly called subspecies insubrica. The pattern of the wing is dark grey to dark brown, depending on the ground colour. The interior cross line and median bands are usually little developed. The medium band is relatively wide, if present, but frequently washed out. The interior cross line is often reduced to a row of dots. Usually only the outer cross line is significantly developed and almost always very pronounced and jagged, the tips of the spikes are even darker highlighted towards the marginal field. The front edge itself may be slightly darker than the ground colour. In the marginal field, usually four to five tooth-shaped, slurred stains are present, two penultimate often characteristic close. The intensity of each cross line may be slightly different on forewings and hindwings. Marginal stains are usually present. Discal flecks are almost always present on the front as well as on the rear wings.

2-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ELBOW STRIPED GRASS VENEER (Agriphila geniculea)

Agriphila geniculea, the elbow-striped grass-veneer, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1811.

This species can be found in most of Europe and parts of North Africa. It usually occurs in dry pastures, grassy area, sand-dunes, gardens and grassland.

The wingspan is 20–26 mm. The forewings usually show two strongly curved cross-lines, but sometimes these lines are not visible.

This species is very similar to Agriphila tolli and Agriphila inquinatella. It can be distinguished from the first on the basis of the higher distance that separates said cross-lines. Moreover, in A. geniculea the forewings are crossed by a couple of chevrons, while A. inquinatella is longitudinally variably streaked.

The species has one generation. The moth flies at dusk from July to October depending on the location. When disturbed they come to light. The larvae can be found from late September to early May, as they winter in the larval stage. They feed within stems of Festuca ovina and various other grasses. They inhabit silken galleries, camouflaged with excrement, at the base of small grasses. Sometimes they leave these galleries and curl themselves tightly in a coil along the stem-bases of grasses.

2-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CLICK BEETLE (Cebrio superbus)

Click beetles (family Elateridae) are distinct for their ability to flip themselves upright when on their backs by snapping a thorax spine into a groove, creating an audible "click" to escape predators. Over 7,000–10,000 species exist worldwide, typically measuring 12–40 mm (up to 2.5 inches) with long, slender, dark-colored bodies. Their larvae, known as wireworms, live in soil, feeding on roots and tubers. 

Key Facts About Click Beetles

Unique Mechanism: When flipped on their backs, they snap their thorax, launching themselves into the air while making a clicking sound.

Physical Appearance: They have hard, elongated, and often parallel-sided bodies (brown, black, or grey). Some species feature eye-like spots on their pronotum.

2-10-2026 TONGASS NAT FOREST, ALASKA - BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) WEBCAM

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder that subsists mainly on fish, upon which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton (1.1 short tons) in weight. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years.

Bald eagles are not bald in the literal sense; the name derives from an older meaning of the word, "white-headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25% larger than males. The yellow beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown.

The bald eagle is the national bird and national symbol of the United States and appears on its seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States, but measures such as banning the practice of hunting bald eagles and banning the use of the harmful pesticide DDT slowed the decline of their population. Populations have since recovered, and the species' status was upgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995 and removed from the list altogether in 2007.

16-4-2024 PANNA TIGER RESERVE, INDIA - MOTTLED WOOD OWL (Strix ocellata)

The mottled wood owl (Strix ocellata ) is a species of large owl found in India. They are found in gardens and thin deciduous forests adjacent to dry thorn forests or farmland. They are easily detected by their distinctive tremulous eerie calls at dawn and dusk. The characteristic call is a duet of the male and female while other notes include a low hoot and a screech. Their large size, lack of "ear" tufts and the concentric barring on the face make them easy to identify.

The eerie call has been associated with ill omen in some parts of Kerala. The call is interpreted as povaa-aa (="let us go" in Malayalam) and likened to a summons to the spirit world.

This large owl lacks ear tufts and is mottled and vermiculated in reddish brown and white. The face disc is marked with fine concentric black and white barring. The sexes are alike. The chin is white. The eyelid is orange and the iris is dark brown. The tail is barred narrowly in brown and black. The concentric barring on the face and mottled crown separate it from the brown wood owl in southern India.

21-9-2026 CANOPY LODGE, PANAMA - COMMON BASILISK (MALE) (Basiliscus basiliscus) WEBCAM

The common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Central America and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams in rainforests. It is also known as the Jesus Christ lizard, Jesus lizard, South American Jesus lizard, or lagarto de Jesus Cristo for its ability to run on the surface of water.

The common basilisk can be distinguished from similar species within its range by its large size and the high fin-like crest along its back. Most common basilisks are brown and cream in color. Males also have high crests on the head and tail. Both genders are brown to olive, and have a white, cream, or yellow stripe on the upper lip and a second stripe along either side of the body; these stripes have higher contrast in juveniles and fade as the lizards age.

Hatchlings weigh a mere 2 grams (0.071 oz) and are 38 to 43 mm (1.5 to 1.7 in) long. Adults can grow to a total length (including tail) of 76 cm (2.5 feet). Females are generally 135 to 194 g (4.8 to 6.8 oz), and weigh half as much as males. The tail comprises 70 to 75% of the total length: for example, a 70-cm-long (27.5-inch-long) common basilisk would have a 50-cm-long (19.5-inch-long) tail. The common basilisk has a large mouth with saw-like teeth on the inner sides of the jaw. While the common basilisk is most known for its ability to run on water, it is also an excellent climber and swimmer, and has been known to stay underwater for up to half an hour. The average lifespan is seven years in captivity; in the wild, it tends to be less because of predators.

When startled, the common basilisk escapes by speeding to the nearest edge of water—and continues sprinting. The lizard runs on only its hind legs in an upright position, holding its forelegs to its sides. The common basilisk is adroit on water because its feet are large and equipped with flaps of skin along the toes that allow it to catch on tiny air bubbles. When moving quickly, the lizard can cross a surface of water before sinking. On water, it runs at an average speed of 24.1 km/h (15 mph), which is just a little slower than its speed on land. Younger basilisks can run 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft) on water, while adults cross only a few meters before sinking. Adults do not move slowly, but they weigh more and cannot sprint for as long a time. Once a basilisk submerges, it continues swimming until it is sufficiently far from its pursuer — if the predator has followed past the bank. Although the common basilisk stays close to water to escape terrestrial predators, it swims only when necessary because some other aquatic animals would eat it given the chance.

30-9-2026 MONTE CORON, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)

1.4 to 2.2 cm wingspan. Straw-coloured, with yellowish wings with scattered dark, brown or greyish scales. On each wing it has a wavy line with small pointed spots, pointing backwards. Sometimes these details are barely noticeable. Between these lines and the rear edge, it has dark spots that may have a  light wavy stripe. It has a spot on each wing but those on the front wings may go unnoticed.

There are other similar species that are impossible to distinguish externally, so for a correct and safe identification, genital analysis must be used. Several of them have been found in the province of Malaga, although I. cervantaria is currently the most common and the only one that has been observed in urban environments.

The caterpillars feed on dry leaves of herbaceous plants and in captivity on petals of different Asteraceae and sea alder (Lobularia maritima), the latter common in our province, especially in sunny areas of the limestone mountains, and occasionally used in gardening for the showiness of its inflorescences.

29-9-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - VESTAL MOTH (Rhodometra sacraria)

Rhodometra sacraria, the vestal, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 12th edition of Systema Naturae.

It can be found throughout Europe, in the Near East, in North Africa, in the Afrotropical realm and in large parts of Asia. It is also found in South America (Chile and Argentina).

Rhodometra sacraria inhabits meadows, forest clearing, paths, gardens and urban environments.

 Rhodometra sacraria has a wingspan reaching 22–28 mm, while the length of the forewings is 12–14 mm. The late generations are smaller and the wingspan has an average of 16–26 mm. These moths are easily distinguishable from the mahogany or pink stripe, located on yellowish or cream background, crossing diagonally the dorsal sides of the upperwings from the posterior margin up to the apex. Discal spots are usually present and have the same colour as the postmedial line.

The dorsal sides of the hindwings are whitish and unmarked. The fringes on the wings are mostly in the basic colour. The abdomen is pure white. Head and thorax are straw yellow. In males the antennae are bipectinated to three-fourths length. The hind tibiae bear two pairs of spurs.

22-9-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS VENEER MOTH (Ancylolomia disparalis)

Ancylolomia disparalis is a species of snout moth belonging to the family Crambidae. It is found in parts of southwestern Europe (including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece), Turkey, and North Africa.

The wingspan is 27–43 mm. Adults are on wing from July to October in one generation per year.[4]

The larvae feed on various grasses.

 Key Facts

• Scientific Name: Ancylolomia disparalis

• Family: Crambidae (grass-veneer moths and allies)

• Geographic Range: Southern Europe, Turkey, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria)

• Wingspan: 27–43 mm

• Flight Period: July to October (one generation per year)

• Host Plants: Larvae feed on various grass species (Poaceae)

21-12-2023 NGALA LODGE, GAMBIA - BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD (FEMALE) (Cinnyris pulchellus)

The beautiful sunbird (Cinnyris pulchella), formerly placed in the genus Nectarinia, is a sunbird. It is native to tropical Africa, its range extending from Senegal and Guinea in the west to Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya in the east.

Beautiful sunbirds are tiny, only 10 cm (4 in) long, although the breeding male's long tail adds another 5 cm (2 in). They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both of which are adaptations to their nectar feeding. The male has a black head, bright metallic green upper parts, scarlet breast bordered with yellow and black belly. The central feathers of the teal are greatly elongated. The female is brown above with yellowish underparts.