18-9-2019 EL SALER, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel or Old World kestrel, is a species of predatory bird belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called the "kestrel".

This species occurs over a large native range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.

The common kestrel measures 32–39 cm (12+1⁄2–15+1⁄2 in) from head to tail, with a wingspan of 65–82 cm (25+1⁄2–32+1⁄2 in). The female is noticeably larger, with the adult male weighing 136–252 g (4+3⁄4–8+7⁄8 oz), around 155 g (5+1⁄2 oz) on average; the adult female weighs 154–314 g (5+3⁄8–11+1⁄8 oz), around 184 g (6+1⁄2 oz) on average. They are thus small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Like the other Falco species, they have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail.

The plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.

The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler. Hatchlings are covered in white down feathers, changing to a buff-grey second down coat before they grow their first true plumage.

18-9-2019 EL SALER, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

Large wader (approx 102 cm or 3.5 ft) with an also large wingspan (approx 175 cm or 5.5 ft). Stylized silhouette and long neck. Greyish plumage in general. White head in adults with black forelock and long, black feathers like a plume. Light neck with dark lines. Ashen back and dark spot on the shoulders. Lighter belly. Long, sharp, yellow bill. Yellow legs. Silhouette in flight with neck folded in the shape of an "s" and stretched legs.

Its habitats are principally Wetlands, River and Riverside

It lives in all types of wetlands with salty or fresh water in winter. In the breeding season it needs wetlands with nearby tree vegetation. Also in Reservoirs, lagoons, ditches and irrigation ponds, stream banks, coast line.

This pecies is present in the province all year round, both as a wintering one and in the breeding period. There are also specimens in migratory passage. Gregarious during the reproductive season and lonelier during the rest of the year. Nest in trees or groves of riparian vegetation. One laying of 2 to 5 eggs. The Grey Heron feeds on fish, micromammals, small reptiles, including snakes, amphibians and insects. It shows a very calm behaviour when foraging. This bird explores the water while being very still, waiting for a prey to appear. Once sighted, it shoots the bill as if it were a harpoon.

17-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED EARED SLIDER TERRAPIN (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)

The red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a subspecies of the pond slider (Trachemys scripta), a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. Native to the southern United States and extreme northern Mexico, it is popular as a pet across the world, and is the most invasive turtle. It is the most commonly traded turtle in the world.

The red-eared slider is native to the central and southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become invasive in many areas where it outcompetes native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species.

Red-eared sliders are popular pets around the world.

The red-eared slider gets its name from the small, red stripe around its ears, or where its ears would be, and from its ability to slide quickly off rocks and logs into the water. This species was previously known as Troost's turtle in honor of an American herpetologist Gerard Troost. Trachemys scripta troostii is now the scientific name for another subspecies, the Cumberland slider.

The red-eared slider belongs to the order Testudines, which contains about 250 turtle species. It is a subspecies of Trachemys scripta. It was previously classified under the name Chrysemys scripta elegans. Trachemys scripta contains three subspecies: T. s. elegans (red-eared slider), T. s. scripta (yellow-bellied slider), and T. s. troostii (Cumberland slider).

17-9-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - 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.

For decades, naturalists have debated whether the offspring of these immigrants ever make a southwards return migration. Research suggests that British painted ladies do undertake an autumn migration, making 14,500 km (9,000 mi) round trip from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle in a series of steps by up to six successive generations. The Radar Entomology Unit at Rothamsted Research provided evidence that autumn migrations take place at high altitude, which explains why these migrations are seldom witnessed. In recent years, thanks to the activity of The Worldwide Painted Lady Migration citizen science project, led by the Barcelona-based Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Catalan: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva), the huge range of migration has begun to be revealed. For example, some butterflies migrated from Iceland to the Sahara desert, and even further south.

V. cardui is known for its distinct migratory behaviour. In California, they are usually seen flying from north to north-west. These migrations appear to be partially initiated by heavy winter rains in the desert where rainfall controls the growth of larval food plants. In March 2019, after heavy rain produced an abundance of vegetation in the deserts, Southern California saw these butterflies migrating by the millions across the state.

Similarly, heavier than usual rain during the 2018-2019 winter seems to have been the cause of the extraordinarily large migration observed in Israel at the end of March, estimated at a billion individual butterflies. Painted lady migration patterns are highly erratic and they do not migrate every year. Some evidence suggests that global climatic events, such as el Niño, may affect the migratory behaviour of the painted lady butterflies, causing large-scale migrations. The first noticeable wave of migration in eastern Ukraine was noted in the 20s of April 2019. From May 15, numbers began to grow and it was possible to observe hundreds of this species in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, including in the city streets of Kharkiv.

Based on experimental data, the painted lady's migration pattern in northern Europe apparently does not follow a strict north-west heading. The range of headings suggests that migrating butterflies may adjust their migration patterns in response to local topographical features and weather, such as strong wind patterns. Laboratory-raised autumn-generation painted lady butterflies were able to distinguish a southern orientation for a return migration path. According to the same laboratory-based study, when butterflies were isolated from the sun, they were unable to orient themselves in a specific direction, opposed to those that did have access to the sun. This suggests that V. cardui requires a direct view of the sky, implying the use of a solar compass to orient its migratory direction and maintain a straight flight path.

17-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WOOD COCKROACH (Loboptera canariensis)

Loboptera canariensis is a species of cockroach native to the Canary Islands, known for inhabiting above-ground (epigean) environments, often in areas influenced by human activity. 

Unlike many other Loboptera species found in the Canary Islands, which are endemic and adapted to subterranean (cave) environments, L. canariensis lives above ground.

It is often found in epigean environments that have been influenced by human activities.

The genus Loboptera includes generalist species that visit a wide variety of flowers and plant families, suggesting a role as a pollinator or flower visitor, although specific behavior for L. canariensis requires further study.

They are ground-dwelling insects found in various microhabitats such as leaf litter and near plant roots.

The species is native to the Canary Islands and is also considered an alien species in some parts of Europe, according to the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN).

17-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ROSY TABBY MOTH (Endotricha flammealis)

The Rosy Tabby (Endotricha flammealis) is a small European micro-moth with fiery orange/red markings, common in gardens and heathlands, known for its unique raised-body resting pose, feeding on nectar as an adult (like heather, buddleja), and its caterpillars eating leaf litter or plants like agrimony and bilberry. These light-attracted moths fly in summer, camouflaged by their flame-like patterns, and are important pollinators, despite their unassuming appearance. 

Key Facts:

Name & Appearance: Endotricha flammealis, with wings resembling flickering flames, hence "Rosy Tabby".

Size: Small, with a wingspan of 18-23 mm.

Habitat: Found across Europe, including the UK, in diverse spots like gardens, heathlands, woodlands, and scrub.

Activity: Adults fly in summer (July-August), are attracted to light, and feed on nectar from flowers like heather, buddleja, and ragwort .

Larval Food: Caterpillars eat plant debris, dry leaves (willow, oak), common agrimony, and bilberries.

Resting Posture: Distinctive, holding the front of their body raised on their forelegs.

Ecological Role: Contributes to pollination. 

16-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RING LEGGED EARWIG (Euborellia annulipes)

The ringlegged earwig (Euborellia annulipes) is a species of earwig in the family Anisolabididae.

Adult Euborellia annulipes are typically dark brown, and 10 mm (0.4 in) to 25 mm (1.0 in) in length. It is a wingless species, and like most earwigs, the females are larger than the males. Their legs are a pale brown color, and have a noticeable dark band around the middle of the femur, or occasionally the tibia, hence their common name. Their antenna generally have sixteen segments, although other numbers are possible.

Their cerci share similar characteristics to most earwigs, as males' cerci are more curved than females'. Further sex differences can be found in the species abdomen: males have ten abdominal segments, while females have eight.

Described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1847, the ringlegged earwig has been known to inhabit the United States since 1902. Over the years, it has obtained a cosmopolitan status, documented all over the world.

The species, like other earwigs, tends to inhabit both tropical and temperate climates.

Adult females generally lay eggs in batches, with an average of fifty eggs in each batch, and two to four batches. Eggs are laid at different seasons during the year. If laid in the fall, they will usually incubate over the winter, while those laid in spring will incubate for a shorter time before hatching. During the incubation period, the mother guards the eggs, protecting them from predators, and eating any fungi that starts to grow on them.

A few days after being born, nymphs will leave their nest. They resemble adults in shape, except for their smaller size, and absence of wingpads. Also, while the number of abdominal segments varies in adults depending on sex, nymphs always have ten abdominal segments. They will continue to develop for five instars, which will generally last for 45 and 176 days, until they become adults. Approximately 75% of nymphs will develop into females.

The earwigs will mate soon after they reach adulthood, and after a period of approximately eleven days, the eggs are laid. Ringlegged earwigs generally complete two to three generations per year, or one for spring and one for autumn, and a single generation can be completed in 61 days.

Adult ringlegged earwigs can be found throughout the year, except in winter, when they stay underground.

16-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ASIAN TIGER MOSQUITO (Aedes albopictus)

Aedes albopictus (synonym Stegomyia albopicta), from the mosquito (Culicidae) family, also known as the (Asian) tiger mosquito or forest mosquito, is a species of mosquito native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. In the past few centuries, it has spread to many countries through the transport of goods and international travel. It is characterized by the white bands on its legs and body.

This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to at dusk and dawn. The insect is called a tiger mosquito as it has stripes, as does a tiger. Ae. albopictus is an epidemiologically important vector for the transmission of many viral pathogens, including the yellow fever virus, dengue fever, and Chikungunya fever, as well as several filarial nematodes such as Dirofilaria immitis. Aedes albopictus is capable of hosting the Zika virus and is considered a potential vector for Zika transmission among humans.

15-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BOX TREE MOTH (Cydalima perspectalis)

Cydalima perspectalis or the box tree moth is a species of moth of the family Crambidae, first described by Francis Walker, the English entomologist, in 1859. Native to Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, far-east Russia and India, it has invaded Europe; first recorded in Germany in 2006, then Switzerland and the Netherlands in 2007, Great Britain in 2008, France and Austria in 2009, Hungary in 2011, then Romania, and Spain. It has been seen in Slovakia, Belgium and Croatia.

It was during preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in 2012, that it was introduced from Italy to Sochi, European Russia, with the planting stock of Buxus sempervirens. The following year it defoliated Buxus colchica in large quantities.

It was recorded in Ontario, Canada in August 2018 and in the eastern United States in May 2021.

Eggs are 1 mm in diameter, pale yellow, and placed under green leaves without herbivory present. First larvae just coming out from the egg are about 1–2 mm long. Larvae development brings them in four weeks to about 35–40 mm at maximum. There is some shrinkage at the beginning of the nymphosis, pupae are 25–30 mm long, first green with browning longitudinal lines, then more and more brownish. The wingspan of the adult form is 40–45 mm. Two variants are observed, the most common one is mostly white while the other is most entirely light brown. With one of the variants, the light brown with the white streaked wings has not been reported in North America as of yet. 

13-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

Iris oratoria, known by the common name Mediterranean mantis (or less frequently iris mantis), due to humans first studying it in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, is a species of praying mantis. Its range is expanding in the Middle East, Western Asia and the United States.

Albania, Bulgaria, Brač Island, Korčula Island, France (Including Corsica), Greece (Including Ionian Islands, Crete, Cyclades Islands), Italy (Including Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain (Including Balearic Islands), Yugoslavia (Including Serbia, Kosovo, Voivodina, Montenegro), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria,[9] Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, North Chad), Cyprus, West, Central and South Asia (Asian Turkey, India, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkestan Non-native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas.

Two novel I. oratoria survival strategies may have contributed to the expansion of this species beyond its original range, and its success in areas formerly occupied by other mantids such as Stagmomantis carolina. Firstly, this species is capable of parthenogenic reproduction when males are scarce. Secondly, additional I. oratoria nymphs may emerge from their oothecae in the second season after the egg case is produced, i.e., when their siblings are already grown and are producing their own offspring.

The Mediterranean mantis is known for two distinctive behaviours, apart from the ambush hunting common to other mantids: cannibalism and deimatic or threat displays. The sexual cannibalism of mantids known in popular culture occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of I. oratoria.

13-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - STRIPED GREENHOUSE SLUG (Ambigolimax valentianus)

Ambigolimax valentianus (also known as Lehmannia valentiana) is a species of terrestrial slug, a pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Limacidae.

It has spread very widely around the world, especially in greenhouses, where it can be a pest; in warmer climates it has often then spread outdoors. Comparatively much has been learnt about its life cycle and temperature relations. Dissection is necessary to reliably distinguish it from congeners in regions where these co-occur.

Ambigolimax valentianus eats green leaves and shoots, and consequently can be a pest in greenhouses or even outdoors. It also eats animal matter and fallen leaves. Activity and feeding start before sunset, peaking in the earlier part of the night. This species seldom climbs up trees and during the day is most commonly found under boards, rocks and plant containers. Often its first discovery in a country has been in greenhouses, from whence it has spread to gardens, other synanthropic habitats outdoors, and even to woodland, likely facilitated nowadays by global warming. Where it has been introduced, this species may become the dominant slug.

13-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - THERESIAN MOTH (Lamoria anella)

Lamoria anella is a species of snout moth described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775 found in Africa, Asia and Europe.

The wingspan measures 18–28 mm for males and 30–40 mm for females. The head, thorax, and abdomen are greyish brown. The forewings are grey-brown, often entirely suffused with red or fuscous. There is an indistinct, highly dentate antemedial line. A more or less developed speck is present in the cell and the discocellular spot. A highly dentate postmedial line is sharply angled on vein 4 and often reduced to streaks on the veins. A marginal specks series is present. The hindwings are pale semi-hyaline, suffused with fuscous towards the margin.

It is found in most of Europe (except Ireland, Great Britain, Fennoscandia, Denmark, the Baltic region and Slovenia), the Canary Islands, as well as North Africa (including Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt), South Africa, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

The first confirmed British record was recorded in a garden at Hartford, Huntingdonshire on 5 October 2018, possibly as a migrant.

14-9-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN WRYNECK (Jynx torquilla)

The Eurasian wryneck, a member of the woodpecker family, is a bird that captivates with its slender, thrush-like form and its ability to twist its neck in a serpentine fashion. This bird, approximately 16.5 cm in length, boasts a plumage mottled with pale brown, rufous, and blackish bars, and streaks across its upperparts, while its underparts are a creamy white speckled with brown.

To identify the Eurasian wryneck, look for its distinctive barred and mottled upperparts, cream underparts with brown speckles, and a shorter, less dagger-like bill compared to other woodpeckers. The juveniles resemble adults but have a softer, less defined coloration.

The Eurasian wryneck is found in open countryside, woodlands, orchards, and sometimes in deciduous or coniferous forests. It has a preference for old trees and areas with abundant ant populations.

14-9-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SPINY TOAD (Bufo spinosus)

The spiny toad, spiny common toad, or giant toad (Bufo spinosus) is a species of toad native to the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, extreme northwestern Italy, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia). There is an isolated population in Jersey in the Channel Islands which may be a distinct species, the Jersey Toad. For much of the 20th century, it was considered either a synonym or a subspecies of common toad Bufo bufo, but it is now classified as a separate species.

These toads feed on a number of invertebrates from earthworms to insects and woodlice.

Adult males measure 58.6–112 mm (2.3–4.4 in) and adult females 65–180 mm (2.6–7.1 in) in snout–vent length.

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.

Bufo spinosus is a primarily nocturnal species, though it may also be active in the daytime during the reproductive season. It generally prefers standing bodies of water, though it is also found near areas of flowing water. It is very drought-tolerant, due in part to its ability to absorb 21% of its body weight in water per minute. It is assumed to be able to tolerate huge losses of water as B. bufo, a congeneric species, can lose up to 20% of its weight in water without any deleterious effects (Ortiz-Santaliestra 2014).

Males have a weak and short mating call, and call throughout the day and night. Breeding usually takes place in spring, though this varies geographically, with populations in warmer areas generally breeding earlier in the year and populations in colder areas generally breeding later in the year. Amplexus is axillary. Females lay anywhere from 2000 – 11000 eggs at a time, which are around 3 mm in diameter and connected in strings and attached onto aquatic vegetation. It has a geographically variable larval period, with the period lasting 65 - 108 days in the southern Iberian Peninsula, and 55.5 days in Doñana National Park in Andalusia, Spain (Ortiz-Santaliestra 2014).

14-9-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

The spotted flycatcher is a grey-brown songbird known for its distinctive hunting style of perching and making short flights to catch flying insects, returning to the same spot after each catch. They are summer visitors in places like the UK, spending winters in tropical Africa, and are often found in parks, gardens, and woodland edges. The bird's diet consists primarily of flying insects like moths and bees, but they also eat berries in the autumn, and will rub stinging insects against their perch to remove the stinger. 

Commonly found in woodland edges, parks, gardens, and other human-influenced environments.

A strict insectivore that primarily eats flying insects, such as moths, butterflies, and wasps.

If a spotted flycatcher catches a stinging insect, it will rub the insect against its perch to remove the stinger before eating it.

In the autumn, their diet expands to include berries. 

14-9-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - 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.

11-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SCLEROSOMATID HARVESTSMAN (Cosmobunus granarius)

Sclerosomatidae are a widespread family of harvestmen (order Opiliones) known for their typically long legs and oval, single-sectioned bodies. They are often mistakenly called "spiders" or "daddy longlegs" but belong to a distinct order of arachnids. 

Key Facts About Sclerosomatidae Harvestmen

Not Spiders: Harvestmen are arachnids, but they are not spiders. Unlike spiders, they have one fused body section (cephalothorax and abdomen are broadly joined), two eyes located on a raised bump (spiders typically have six to eight eyes), and lack venom glands and silk-producing spinnerets.

Harmless to Humans: The myth that they are highly venomous is false. They do not have fangs, their mouthparts (chelicerae) are too small to bite humans, and they pose no threat.

Sensory Legs: Their second pair of legs is often the longest and is used as highly sensitive "feelers" or antennae to sense the environment and detect prey.

Defense Mechanisms: When threatened, they can detach a leg, which will continue to twitch to distract the predator while the harvestman escapes. The lost leg does not grow back. They can also secrete foul-smelling chemicals to deter predators.

Diet: They are primarily omnivores and scavengers, using their mouthparts to ingest solid food chunks (unlike spiders which suck liquids). Their diet includes small insects, mites, aphids, fungi, plant fluids, feces, and carrion.

Habitat and Behavior: They are typically nocturnal and prefer damp, shady environments like leaf litter, under logs and rocks, and in basements or garages. Some species, such as those in the genus Leiobunum, are known to aggregate in large groups, possibly to conserve moisture.

Reproduction: Unlike most other arachnids, male harvestmen have a penis and engage in direct copulation to inseminate the female. In some species, males exhibit unusual parental care, guarding the eggs. Some species can even reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis.

Ancient Lineage: Harvestmen are an ancient order of animals, with fossils found dating back over 400 million years, existing long before dinosaurs. 

11-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The great tit (Parus major) is a small passerine bird, easily recognized by its black head and neck, striking white cheeks, olive upperparts, and vibrant yellow underparts. This bird is the most widespread species in the genus Parus, found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of North Africa.

Males are characterized by their bright plumage, with a black bib that extends down the belly, bordered by a lemon-yellow breast. Females and juveniles are similar but have duller coloration. The black line down the belly is also narrower and sometimes broken in these birds.

Great tits favor a variety of woodland habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, and even urban parks and gardens. They are also found in riverine woodlands and, in some regions, boreal taiga.

This species is resident throughout its range, which extends from the Iberian Peninsula to the Amur Valley, and from Scandinavia to the Middle East. It is generally non-migratory, except in harsh winters when it may move to more temperate areas.

Great tits are known for their intelligence and adaptability. They exhibit a range of foraging behaviors and can solve problems with insight learning. They are also cavity nesters and are monogamous, with both parents involved in raising the chicks.

10-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN PAPER WASP (Polistes dominula)

The European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) is one of the most common and well-known species of social wasps in the genus Polistes. Its diet is more diverse than those of most Polistes species—many genera of insects versus mainly caterpillars in other Polistes—giving it superior survivability compared to other wasp species during a shortage of resources.

The dominant females are the principal egg layers, while the subordinate females ("auxiliaries") or workers primarily forage and do not lay eggs. This hierarchy is not permanent, though; when the queen is removed from the nest, the second-most dominant female takes over the role of the previous queen Dominance in females is determined by the severity of the scatteredness in the coloration of the clypeus (face), whereas dominance in males is shown by the variation of spots of their abdomens. P. dominula is common and cosmopolitan due to their exceptional survival features such as productive colony cycle, short development time, and higher ability to endure predator attacks.

These wasps have a lek-based mating system. Unlike most social insects, 35% of P. dominula wasps in a colony are unrelated. It is considered an invasive species in Canada and the United States.

7-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LAMENTING GRASSHOPPER (Eyprepocnemis plorans)

Eyprepocnemis plorans, the lamenting grasshopper, is a species of insect in the family Acrididae. It is the type species of the genus Eyprepocnemis, and is found in Africa, parts of the Middle East, and southern Europe. It typically inhabits wetlands and other moist habitats.

This is a medium-sized grasshopper, with females growing to a length of about 4.5 cm (1.8 in), while males are slightly smaller. The general colour is greyish-brown. The head and prothorax have a central dark band edged with paler stripes. The eye has a longitudinal dark streak, a characteristic shared by Anacridium aegyptium, Heteracris annulosa and Heteracris adspersa. The femurs of the hind legs have greenish, blue and yellow striations, and the hind tibia have reddish or bluish iridescence, and black and white spines.

Eyprepocnemis plorans is native to much of Africa, parts of the Middle East such as Iran, and southern Europe, where it is present in southern Greece, southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and southern Spain. It seems to be expanding its range northwards in Italy, possibly as a result of putative climate change. It usually occurs in wetlands, reed beds, freshwater and salt marshes, riverside vegetation, coastal vegetation and man-made habitats. It appreciates vertical-growing stems such as reeds, and habitats with tall forbs mixed with lower-growing plants.

7-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (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).

The Common wall gecko is a small lizard native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It is commonly observed on walls in urban environments, mainly in warm coastal areas. However, the Common wall gecko can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as insect hunter. This little creature is brownish-grey or brown in color with darker or lighter spots. These colors change in intensity according to the light. When geckos are active by day their color is darker than during the night.

Common wall geckos are mainly nocturnal or crepuscular. They may also be active during the day, on sunny days especially at the end of the winter. They like to receive sunlight near their refuge. They prefer to forage and spend their time singly; in the warmer months of the year, geckos can often be seen hunting nocturnal insects near light sources and street lamps.

8-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - 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)

10-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TRUE WEEVIL (Coniocleonus nigrosuturatus)

Coniocleonus nigrosuturatus is a species of weevil found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa that feeds on the roots of Erodium cicutarium (Common Stork's-bill). This plant parasite overwinters as adults, emerges in spring to mate, and its larvae pupate in earthen cocoons in the soil. The species prefers dry, sunny grasslands with sparse vegetation and can be an endangered species in some central European countries. 

Taxonomy and Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera (beetles)

Family: Curculionidae (true weevils)

Genus: Coniocleonus

Species: Coniocleonus nigrosuturatus (Goeze, 1777) 

The species has a wide range across North Africa, a large part of Asia (including western Siberia), and most of Europe, excluding the British Isles and the northernmost regions. 

 

Coniocleonus nigrosuturatus thrives in dry, sunny grasslands with sparse vegetation and open, disturbed ground.

They are often found in pastures, along road margins, and in areas with a proper disturbance regime, such as from vehicle traffic or grazing. 

 

Overwintering: Overwintering adults emerge in early spring and begin feeding and mating on their host plants.

Larval stage: Larvae develop in the soil, feeding externally on the base of the stem of the host plant, Erodium cicutarium.

Pupation: In early July, the larvae pupate in a closed earthen cell in the soil.

Adult activity: High adult activity is observed from mid-April to mid-May. 

 

In some central European countries, Coniocleonus nigrosuturatus is considered an endangered species. 

5-9-2019 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.

5-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG JOINTED BEETLE (Lagria grenieri)

Lagriinae is a subfamily of long-jointed beetles in the family Tenebrionidae. There are more than 270 genera in Lagriinae, grouped into 11 tribes.

Adults of Lagriinae are mostly medium-sized (5-12 mm) and exhibit typical Tenebrionidae characteristics, including a 5-5-4 tarsal formula and the antennal bases concealed by canthi. The eyes are usually deeply emarginate and in many species partially surround the antennal bases. The last antennal segment is either the longest or the widest segment, and is often sexually dimorphic. The head tends to be at least as broad as the pronotum and is often constricted behind the level of the eyes. The pronotum tends to be much narrower than the base of the elytra. Additionally, the pronotum is generally broadest at its base, and its sides are sinuate or otherwise constricted.

Some species resemble members of other families, like Arthromacra resembling Oedemeridae, Rhypasma resembling Silvanidae, Casnonidea apicicornis resembling Chrysomelidae, Statira resembling Carabidae and Paratenetus punctatus resembling Coccinellidae.

Lagriinae larvae feed in decaying vegetation. They can be found in stumps and under bark.