7-11-2016 BANGKOK, THAILAND - BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)

The brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike (L. collurio) and isabelline shrike (L. isabellinus). The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

Like most other shrikes, it has a distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye and is found mainly in open scrub habitats, where it perches on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey. Several populations of this widespread species form distinctive subspecies which breed in temperate Asia and migrate to their winter quarters in tropical Asia. They are sometimes found as vagrants in Europe and North America.

3-12-2015 SINGAPORE - YELLOW HOODED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Chrysomus icterocephalus)

The yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela. It has been recorded as a vagrant on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. In addition, there is a small population in extreme eastern Panama and a previously misidentified specimen from Barbados.

The yellow-hooded blackbird is about 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) long. Males weigh an average of 35.9 g (1.3 oz) and females average 26.8 g (0.95 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a bright yellow head, throat, neck, and upper breast except for black lores. Ther rest of their plumage is glossy black. Adult females of the nominate subspecies have a yellow supercilium, throat, and upper breast. Their crown and the rest of their face are citrine. Their upperparts are dull grayish olive with dusky streaks. Their wings and tail are a darker brownish olive. Their underparts are mostly olive with a somewhat olive-streaked brownish belly. Adult males of subspecies C. i. bogotensis are like the nominate. Adult females are darker than the nominate. Their head is less yellowish overall. They have a blackish mask from the lores to the ear coverts and a brighter yellow supercillium that wraps around behind the ear coverts to meet a yellow upper breast. Juveniles are similar to adult females but are duller, have less yellow on the head, paler upperparts, and faintly streaked buffish underparts. Both sexes of both subspecies have a dark brown iris and black legs and feet. Males have a black bill; females' bills often have a pale base to the mandible.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TACHANID FLY (Trigonospila transvittata)

Trigonospila transvittata is a distinctive species of parasitic fly belonging to the family Tachinidae. Known for their striking, zebra-like appearance, these small flies are highly effective natural enemies of other insects.

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Diptera (True flies)

• Family: Tachinidae (Bristle flies)

• Genus: Trigonospila

• Species: Trigonospila transvittata (originally described by Pandellé in 1896)

Unlike many famous Trigonospila species that dominate Australia and New Zealand (such as the biological control agent Trigonospila brevifacies), Trigonospila transvittata has a predominantly Palaearctic distribution. It is widespread across:

• Europe & the Middle East

• North Africa: Long documented in Algeria and Egypt, with expanding research adding new country records in northern regions like Morocco (specifically the Rif mountains).

• Middle Asia through to the East Palaearctic region.

Adults are relatively small, delicate flies measuring around 6 to 7 mm in length. They can be easily recognized by their highly ornate markings:

• Coloring: Jet-black body heavily contrasted by pearly-white to silvery-golden transverse bars running across both the thorax and abdomen.

• Thorax: Typically features two bold, pale transverse bands.

• Abdomen: Adorned with three distinct pale bands spanning the third to fifth tergites.

• Body Texture: Like most tachinids, they possess a robust, shield-like postscutellum on the thorax and prominent, dark sensory bristles covering the rear of their abdomen.

While the exact, specific host insects for T. transvittata remain understudied, its biology aligns with the broader Trigonospila genus. They are strictly parasitoids during their larval stage:

• Egg Laying: Female flies actively seek out host larvae (typically leaf-eating caterpillars or beetle grubs) and glue a white, oval egg directly onto the host's cuticle, often right behind the head where the host cannot reach it.

• Larval Development: The maggot hatches, bores directly through the host's skin, and feeds internally on non-vital tissues first, eventually consuming the vital organs and killing the host before emerging to pupate.

• Adult Diet: Free-living adults do not hunt other insects; instead, they emerge to feed harmlessly on plant nectar and honeydew.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TYPICAL GREEN LACEWING (Apertochrysa flavifrons)

Apertochrysa flavifrons is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, formerly classified under the genera Dichochrysa and Pseudomallada.

Taxonomy and Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Order: Neuroptera (Lacewings and allies)

• Family: Chrysopidae (Green lacewings)

• Genus: Apertochrysa

• Synonyms: Dichochrysa flavifrons, Pseudomallada flavifrons

Identification and Morphology

• Coloration: A pale green lacewing that generally lacks a prominent pale yellow dorsal stripe down the back.

• Head Markings: It has a square-shaped scape (first antennal segment), a green second antennal segment, reddish-brown spots on the sides of the face, and crucially no black spot between the bases of the antennae (which distinguishes it from related species like Apertochrysa prasina and Apertochrysa ventralis).

• Wings and Venation: The forewings feature a dark spot typically present at the base of the costa, the basal costal cross-vein is dark, and the RMCV vein is positioned proximal to the apex of cell IMC.

• Palps: Ringed with black.

Phenology and Activity

• Active Season: Typically active from late June through August, with a peak in late July and early August, and occasional records stretching into October.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, 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.

11-10-2026 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).

3-12-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - GOLDEN BREASTED STARLING

The golden-breasted starling is a social animal, living in groups of three to twelve individuals. Adults can be found from January to June and from August to November, with a peak in January.

The golden-breasted starling molts once a year, after the breeding season. These birds are monogamous. The female usually lays between three and five pale green eggs with red speckles. It nests in tree holes, usually in tree holes that woodpeckers have left. The nest is made from leaves, roots and other vegetation. Entire family groups cooperate in raising young by gathering food and nesting materials.

In contrast to other brilliant starlings, which feed mainly on fruits, their diet consists mainly of insects and termites. Adult birds catch insects in flight and dig up termite mounds to find prey. Snails, spiders, crustaceans, or small vertebrates, such as lizards, sometimes integrates the diet.

11-10-2026 RIFFLES BEAR CAMP, ALASKA - BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) WEBCAM

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear species found across Eurasia and North America. In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bears, while the subspecies that inhabits the Kodiak Islands of Alaska is known as the Kodiak bear. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average. 

The brown bear's range includes parts of Russia, Central Asia, the Himalayas, China, Canada, the United States, Hokkaido, Scandinavia, Finland, the Balkans, the Picos de Europa and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Iran, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. The brown bear is recognized as a national and state animal in several European countries.

11-10-2026 CANOPY LODGE, PANAMA - CRIMSON BACKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) WEBCAM

The crimson-backed tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela, and introduced to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. A nickname in Panama is sangre de toro ("Blood of the bull").

The crimson-backed tanager was first described by French naturalist Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1837. It is one of nine species of brightly coloured tanagers of the genus Ramphocelus. Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates its closest relative is the masked crimson tanager (R. nigrogularis), and the two split around 800,000 years ago.

Measuring around 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, the adult male has a silver sheen on its lower mandible. Its whole head and chest are a maroon red, brightening to a bright red on its lower back and abdomen. Its wings and tail are black. The female is duller with blackish underparts.

It is found in northern and western Colombia (south to Chocó where it is uncommon, the Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela, and over most of Panama, where it extends to Chiriquí and Veraguas Provinces in the west of the country, as well as Coiba, where it is abundant, and Pearl Islands. It inhabits forest, scrub and gardens.

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)

The brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike (L. collurio) and isabelline shrike (L. isabellinus). The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

Like most other shrikes, it has a distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye and is found mainly in open scrub habitats, where it perches on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey. Several populations of this widespread species form distinctive subspecies which breed in temperate Asia and migrate to their winter quarters in tropical Asia. They are sometimes found as vagrants in Europe and North America.

This shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts and the tail is rounded. The black mask can be paler in winter and has a white brow over it. The underside is creamy with rufous flanks and belly. The wings are brown and lack any white "mirror" patches. Females tend to have fine scalloping on the underside and the mask is dark brown and not as well marked as in the male. The distinction is not easy to use in the field but has been tested with breeding birds in Japan where the female can be identified from the presence of a brood patch. The use of multiple measurements allows discrimination of the sex of about 90% of the birds. Subspecies lucionensis has a grey crown shading into the brown upperparts and the rump appears more rufous than the rest of the upper back. The tail is more brownish and not as reddish as in the red-backed shrike. Younger birds of lucionensis have a brown crown and lack the grey on the head. Subspecies superciliosus has a broad white supercilium and a richer reddish crown. The tail is redder and tipped in white.

A number of confusing forms are known from central Asia where the populations of cristatus, isabellinus and collurio overlap. The taxonomy has been in a state of flux and some forms such as phoenicuroides formerly considered as subspecies of L. cristatus have been moved to the species L. isabellinus. Subspecies lucionensis has been recorded interbreeding with superciliosus in Ishikawa, Japan while superciliosus has interbred with Lanius tigrinus in central Japan.

The nominate form breeds in northern Asia from Mongolia to Siberia and winters in South Asia, Myanmar and the Malay Peninsula. The race confusus described from the same region is not well marked but is said to have a wider white brow and paler upperparts and is sometimes included within the nominate population. Subspecies superciliosus (sometimes called the Japanese shrike) breeds on the islands of Sakhalin, Kuril and Japan and winters in Hainan, Sumatra, Java, and the Sundas. Subspecies lucionensis, sometimes known as the Philippine shrike (local names: tarat or pakis-kis), breeds in Korea and eastern China wintering mainly in Taiwan and the Philippines but also on the Andaman Islands and in peninsular India. Stuart Baker suggested that the species may breed in the Cachar Hills of Assam but the idea was questioned by Claud Buchanan Ticehurst.

This species is rare in Europe and vagrants have been recorded in the United States and Canada.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - (TRUE WEEVIL Coniocleonus excoriatus)

Coniocleonus excoriatus is a species of true weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae and the subfamily Lixinae. Commonly known as a type of snout beetle or gorgojo in Spanish, it was first described by Leonard Gyllenhal in 1834.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: Adults typically measure around 10 to 14 mm in length.

• Appearance: It has a highly armored, robust, and elongated spindle-shaped body with a tough exoskeleton.

• Rostrum: Like other true weevils, its head features a distinctive snout (rostrum), which in this species is notably short and broad.

• Coloration: It possesses highly cryptic coloration ranging from gray to brown. Its elytra (wing covers) are marked with intricate geometric dark patterns, notably featuring two dark, somewhat trapezoidal or fish-tail-shaped spots along the mid-sutural line.

• Pronotum: The upper thorax (pronotum) exhibits distinctive, light-colored sub-lateral longitudinal lines that start behind the eyes and diverge outward.

Distribution and Habitat

The species is widely distributed across Central and Southern Europe, the Canary Islands, and North Africa. It is particularly common in sun-exposed, arid, and sandy areas of the Iberian Peninsula, such as the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Ecology and Life Cycle

• Diet: Coniocleonus excoriatus is a plant-feeding (phytophagous) insect. Adults are typically found feeding on the leaves, stems, and flowers of large thistles, such as those from the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum, as well as artichoke plants (Cynara). They are also documented interacting with certain weed species like Emex spinosa.

• Development: The larvae live ectophagously or develop inside the receptacles of thistle seed heads, making them specialized consumers of these host plants.

10-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PUG MOTH (Eupithecia semigraphata)

Eupithecia semigraphata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found from most of Europe (except the Netherlands, Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Fennoscandia, the Baltic region and Portugal) to the Caucasus and Armenia. It is also present on the Canary Islands and North Africa.

The wingspan is about 18–20 mm. Adults are on wing from late June to August in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on the flowers of Calamintha (including Calamintha nepeta and Calamintha sylvatica), Hypericum, Origanum and Thymus species. The species overwinters in the pupal stage.

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

Scopula asellaria is a small moth belonging to the family Geometridae (geometer moths). It was first formally described by German entomologist Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1847.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: It has a modest wingspan of 17 to 21 mm.

• Appearance: The wings feature a pale, whitish, or light-gray base color covered with a fine dusting of tiny brown or blackish spots. Its species name, asellaria, comes from the Latin word asellus (little donkey), a historical nod to its soft, donkey-gray coloration.

Distribution & Habitat

The moth is predominantly found across Southern Europe and North Africa. It favors dry, xeric environments with low vegetation, such as rocky outcroppings, scrublands, and steppe hills.

Life Cycle & Diet

• Larval Diet: The caterpillars are polyphagous but are known to primarily feed on the dry parts and flowers of Silene species (campions).

• Behavior: Like other geometer moths, its caterpillars move with a distinct looping motion, often closely resembling small twigs to camouflage themselves from predators.

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

Udea numeralis is a species of small moth belonging to the family Crambidae (grass moths) and the subfamily Spilomelinae. It was first documented and described by the German entomologist Jacob Hübner in 1796.

Key Characteristics & Biology

• Appearance: The wingspan measures roughly 25–26 mm. Its forewings typically display variable base colorations ranging from straw-yellow and pale orange to copper-brown. The wings are patterned with distinctive darker spots, notably an orbicular stigma (circular mark) in the cell area and secondary gray or dark spots near the outer margin. Its legs are predominantly white.

• Distribution: This species is primarily native to Southern Europe (including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Crete) and North Africa (such as Morocco and Algeria).

• Habitat: It is frequently found in sunny, low-scrub environments, olive groves, riverbanks, and coastal regions.

• Host Plants: The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants within the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, including genera like Urospermum and Pterotheca.

• Flight Period: Depending on the local climate, adults can be found on the wing almost year-round in warmer Mediterranean zones, commonly peaking from spring through autumn.

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - BURMESE SHRIKE (Lanius collurioides)

The Burmese shrike (Lanius collurioides) is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - BURMESE MYNA (Acridotheres burmannicus)

The Burmese myna (Acridotheres burmannicus) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Myanmar and Yunnan, China.

The Burmese myna was considered conspecific with the vinous-breasted myna. Common names of the two split species were changed to "mynas" instead of "starlings" to match the genus.

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - WHITE THROATED BABBLER (Argya gularis)

The white-throated babbler (Argya gularis) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is endemic to Myanmar.

This species was formerly placed in the genus Turdoides but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Argya.

The white-throated babbler (Argya gularis) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is entirely endemic to Myanmar, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world.

• Size & Build: A medium-sized, long-tailed babbler measuring 25 to 27 cm in length.

• Plumage: It features a striking rich chestnut-brown or pinkish mid-brown crown and nape, a pale olive-brown back, and a distinctive bright white chin and chest. The lower underparts transition into a warm buffy-rufous or pale reddish belly. Its forecrown has greyish-white streaks.

• Facial Features: It has a dark greenish-brown bill and prominent eyes with a bright yellow to yellowish-white iris.

• Legs: Long, dirty pale green to brownish-green legs.

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - BURMESE SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)

The Burmese shrike (Lanius collurioides) is a compact, beautifully colored predatory songbird belonging to the shrike family (Laniidae). Like other shrikes, it is often nicknamed the "butcher bird" due to its distinct habit of impaling prey on sharp thorns or barbed wire to store as a "larder".

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: Measuring around 19 to 21 cm, males feature a striking slaty-gray crown, a broad black facial mask, a rich brick-red/rufous-chestnut back, and white underparts. Females are slightly duller, and juveniles exhibit a barred appearance.

• Behavior: It is a territorial hunter that watches for movement from exposed perches. Its calls consist of musical, varied notes mixed with harsh, noisy chatters

12-12-2015 BAGAN, BURMA - COMMON KINGFISHER (MALE) (Alcedo atthis)

 The Common kingfisher in most parts of its range is indeed common, but it is under threat from river pollution, disturbances, and human developments. It is also vulnerable to bouts of severe winter weather, as it is unable to feed when bodies of water freeze over.

Common kingfishers serve as a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem. As they feed on small aquatic animals, toxins in the water affect them severely. A strong kingfisher population therefore usually means a healthy habitat. Common kingfishers are also important predators throughout their range of small fish from freshwater habitats, thus controlling their populations.

12-12-2015 BAGAN, BURMA - PIED BUSH CHAT (FEMALE) (Saxicola caprata)

The pied bush chat (Saxicola caprata) is a small passerine bird found ranging from West Asia and Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. About sixteen subspecies are recognized through its wide range with many island forms. It is a familiar bird of countryside and open scrub or grassland where it is found perched at the top of short thorn trees or other shrubs, looking out for insect prey. They pick up insects mainly from the ground, and were, like other chats, placed in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now considered as Old World flycatchers.

They nest in cavities in stone walls or in holes in an embankment, lining the nest with grass and animal hair. The males are black with white shoulder and vent patches whose extent varies among populations. Females are predominantly brownish while juveniles are speckled.

5-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PETITE WAVE MOTH (Scopula minorata),

 Scopula minorata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1833. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula and on the islands of the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, it is found in southern Europe. It can be distinguished from Scopula lactaria only by examination of its genitalia.

The wingspan is 15–20 millimetres (0.59–0.79 in).

Subspecies

Scopula minorata minorata

Scopula minorata corcularia (Rebel, 1894)

Scopula minorata ochroleucaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1847)

Scopula minorata tripolitana (Sterneck, 1933)

8-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LARGE TREE CRICKET (Oecanthus dulcisonans)

Oecanthus dulcisonans is a species of cricket sparsely but widely distributed in the Mediterranean Basin and in the Middle East.

The species can be found in several Thyrrhenian coastal regions of Italy, as well as in Sardinia and Sicily. O. dulcisonans was originally reported from Saudi Arabia and is present also in the Canary Islands.

In the Mediterranean area, its range overlaps that of its congener O. pellucens. According to some studies, O. dulcisonans sings preferentially from trees while O. pellucens seems to prefer high grass such as the vegetation growing along the small streams.

This thermophilic and heliophilic species is not particularly demanding, and can be found both in wet and in xeric environments.

The adult males grow up to 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in) long, while females reach 14–16 millimetres (0.55–0.63 in). The overall color is yellowish. Long forewings cover entirely the abdomen, hind wings are decidedly longer. It can be distinguished from O. pellucens by its bigger size, by the different shape of the sternal plate, and by the male genitalia. The morphological differences were investigated by Cordero et al. 

Its namesake song is among the most useful characters to recognize O. dulcisonans form O. pellucens: the strong and melodious trill of the former is continuous, as opposed to the equal, discrete 0.5sec - 1sec trills of O. pellucens. Furthermore, peak frequency by O. dulcisonans is slightly higher. Both species are difficult to locate by the unaided ear: the insect can vary the elevation of the forewings making difficult to identify the provenance of the sound, reverberated by the high grass or by the reeds.

9-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BURNT PINE LONGHORN BEETLE (Arhopalus ferus)

 Arhopalus ferus, commonly known as the burnt pine longhorn beetle, is a species of long horn beetle, of the order Coleoptera. It was first described by French entomologist Étienne Mulsant in 1839.

Adult beetles are 8–30 mm long reddish-brown to black, while males are generally smaller and lighter in colour.

The body is elongated and oval, typical for longhorn beetles. The head angles forward, showing most of the mouth parts. The thread-like antennae are half to three-quarters of the body length, longer in males. The prothorax is smoothly curved with no spines, narrower than the elytra. The elytra have four ridges and slightly tapering sides.

9-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CUTWORM AND DART MOTH (Polymixis dubia)

Polymixis dubia (Duponchel, 1836) is a nocturnal moth belonging to the family Noctuidae and the subfamily Noctuinae. Commonly known in France as La Xyline floue, this species is primarily native to Southwest Europe and North Africa.

Physical Characteristics

• Wingspan: It features an adult wingspan of approximately 37 mm.

• Coloration: The forewings display a marbled pattern of light and dark grey tones, often accented with contrasting whitish or straw-colored patches. Darker grey coloration tends to concentrate heavily across the transverse middle third of the forewings, while the wing margins generally fade into lighter shades.

 Lifecycle and Ecology

• Larvae: The caterpillars are polyphagous, meaning they feed on multiple plant species. However, they show a strong ecological preference for rockroses (Cistus).

• Habitat: It is typically found in Mediterranean shrublands, garrigues, and open woodlands where its preferred host plants thrive.

9-10-2026 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.