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Friday 1 November 2024

1-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)


The European robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a small insectivorous passerine bird. The term robin is also applied to some birds in other families with red or orange breasts. These include the American robin (Turdus migratorius ), a thrush, and the Australasian robins of the family Petroicidae.

The male and female European robins are similar in coloration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts, and a whitish belly. The bill and eyes are black. Juveniles are spotted brown and white in coloration, with patches of orange gradually appearing.

European robins occur in Eurasia east to Western Siberia, south to Algeria, and on the Atlantic islands as far west as the Central Group of the Azores and Madeira. Irish and British robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter, a few as far as Spain. Scandinavian and Russian robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. European robins prefer spruce woods in northern Europe, contrasting with their preference for parks and gardens in Ireland and Great Britain. These may also be found in grasslands, shrubby vegetation, hedgerows with some tall trees, orchards, and farmlands.

1-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RUSTY DOT PEARL MOTH (Udea ferrugalis)


Udea ferrugalis, the rusty dot pearl, is a moth of the family Crambidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1796.

This species can be found in central and southern Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, India and Japan.

The wingspan is 18–22 mm. The forewings of these small moths have yellow, brown or ferruginous ground colour and prominent indistinct dark brown or blackish markings towards the edge. Hindwings are brownish grey.[4] Legs are whitish. Caterpillars can reach a length of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in). They are greenish with yellowish head.

These moths are bivoltine or trivoltine. The moth flies through the year, but mainly in the autumn, depending on location. The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, such as Stachys, Arctium, Lycopus, Mentha, Eupatorium cannabinum and Fragaria vesca. They overwinter in the soil as a chrysalis. This species is sometimes considered a pest, as the larvae attack various crop plants. 

Wingspan 18-22 mm.

The ferruginous ground colour and blackish markings on the forewing help to identify this species. Like several of its congeners, it shows distinctively whitish legs.

In Britain this moth is mainly a migrant species, but can occur at almost any time of the year, sometimes in large influxes with other migrants.

The adult flies at night and comes to light.

1-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WEEVIL (Lixus punctiventris)


 Lixus punctiventris

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Curculionoidea 

Familia: Curculionidae

Subfamilia: Lixinae

Tribus: Lixini

Genus: Lixus

Subgenus: L. (Dilixellus)

1-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TURF RUNNING SPIDER (Philodromus cespitum)


Philodromus cespitum is a species of running crab spider in the family Philodromidae. It is found in North America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East and Asia. P. cespitum is a foliage-dweller, and is the most abundant species found in European fruit orchards. It acts as a biological control by preying on orchard pests. P. cespitum is a diurnal ambush hunter and preys on aphids, insects, and occasionally competitor spider species. Males court females by tapping on the females’ bodies with their forelegs. They then insert a genital plug into the female during copulation. Unlike in many other spider species, subsequent males can mate with plugged females by removing part of the plug prior to copulation. Males discriminate among females based on virginity and plug size, and can determine these factors using the females’ draglines and plug samples.

Males of this species are approximately 3.5-5.0 mm long, and females are about 5.3 mm long. Body color is variable, mostly in shades of brown or yellow. Spots are also a common body pattern. Males tend to have more spots than females. Legs are usually yellowish brown or grey. Some members of the species also have spots on their legs. Males of the species have a noticeably asymmetric sperm duct. Male pedipalps contain nerve tissue and a sensory organ.

1-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CUTWORM AND DART MOTH (Polymixis dubia)


Polymixis dubia
Class: Insecta.

Order: Lepidoptera.

Superfamily: Noctuoidea.

Family: Noctuidae.

Subfamily: Hadeninae.

Tribe: Ipimorphini.