14-10-2026 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)

The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small wader, formerly sometimes separated with the other "stints" in the genus Erolia. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality.

It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East. Birds that breed in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic migrate short distances to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, although those nesting in northern Alaska overwinter in Asia. Many dunlins winter along the Iberian south coast.

 An adult dunlin in breeding plumage shows the distinctive black belly which no other similar-sized wader possesses. The winter dunlin is basically grey above and white below. Juveniles are brown above with two whitish "V" shapes on the back. They usually have black marks on the flanks or belly and show a strong white wingbar in flight. The legs and slightly decurved bill are black. There are a number of subspecies differing mainly in the extent of rufous colouration in the breeding plumage and the bill length. Bill length varies between sexes, the females having longer bills than the males. On the tip of the Dunlin's bill is a soft covering that fills with blood and with many nerve endings, forming a sensitive probe that is used to locate invertebrate prey in mud and sand. Although the bill can look sharp-pointed in dead specimens, in life it is blunt.

14-10-2026 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - SPANISH SNAIL (Otala punctata)

Otala punctata is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae.

This species occurs in the Mediterranean basin - Andorra, Spain, the Balearic Islands, France, Corsica, Sardinia and Malta

This species is already established in the United States, and is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.

In southern Spain they are prepared in a typical dish, "cabrillas", cooked in spicy tomato sauce.

11-10-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR - EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

The Reed Warbler is a plain unstreaked warbler. It's warm brown on top and beige underneath. A summer visitor to breed in the UK, the largest concentrations are East Anglia and along the south coast. There are relatively few breeding in Scotland and Ireland. It spends winters in Africa.

The Reed Warbler is a bird of reedbeds, where its rhythmic song can be heard from April to September.

A recent colonist to southern Scotland, the Reed Warbler is largely confined to reedbeds and riverside reed fringes of England, Wales and eastern parts of the island of Ireland. The Reed Warbler is double brooded, laying two clutches of eggs during late spring and midsummer. It is a common host species of the Cuckoo.

UK Reed Warbler numbers increased in the latter part of the 20th century, stabilising in the early-2000s. Most Reed Warblers leave the Britain & Ireland by mid September to spend the winter in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

13-10-2026 TURPENTINE CREEK, ARKANSAS - BENGAL TIGER (FEMALE) (Panthera tigris) WEBCAM

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the nominate Tiger subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The Bengal tiger is estimated to have been present in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, for about 12,000 to 16,500 years. Today, it is threatened by a number of threats caused by humans.

The Bengal tiger's coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from dark brown to black; the belly and the interior parts of the limbs are white, and the tail is orange with black rings. The white tiger is a recessive mutant, which is reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, and especially in the former State of Rewa. However, it is not an occurrence of albinism. The Bengal tiger has exceptionally stout teeth. Its canines are 7.5 to 10 cm (3.0 to 3.9 in) long and thus the longest among all cats. 

The tiger is a carnivore and prefers hunting large ungulates such as gaur, sambar, chital, barasingha, water buffalo, nilgai, serow and takin. Medium-sized prey includes wild boar, Indian hog deer, Indian muntjac and northern plains gray langur. Small prey such as porcupine, hare and peafowl form a small part of its diet. Because of the encroachment of humans into tiger habitat, it also preys on domestic livestock.

10-10-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)

The Green Sandpiper is a fairly bulky, small wader that looks very dark above and white below. It is typically found by inland fresh waters. Unlike most Scolopacidae, it usually nests in trees, but instead of building a nest, it uses an old one, abandoned by other species, especially thrushes and Wood Pigeon. However, it may occasionally nest on the ground among tree roots.    

The Green Sandpiper breeds in forested habitats across N Europe and Asia, and spends the winter from Africa to SE Asia.

This species is currently not globally threatened, in spite of some decline due to habitat changes in wintering areas.

The Green Sandpiper breeds in Scandinavia and N and E Europe, through C Asia and E Siberia, with isolated population in Kyrgyzstan (C Asia) and extreme NW China (NW Xinjiang).

It winters in Mediterranean and tropical Africa, and from Turkey through Middle-East and Indian Subcontinent to S japan, E China, Philippines and N Borneo. There are small populations wintering in W and WC Europe, and in Tien Shan area.  

The Green Sandpiper breeds in damp area in various types of woodlands including swampy woodland, montane forest (pine, spruce and alder), usually close to water, in vicinity of rivers and streams, swamps and lakes.  

On the wintering grounds, it can be found in freshwater locations, by streams, pools, ditches, sewage farms, marshes, and occasionally, sheltered tidal creeks.

This species is recorded at high elevation in winter, more than 2700 metres in Ethiopia, 2800 metres in Bhutan, and more than 3000 metres in Turkey.

30-9-2015 -CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - BLUETHROAT (FEMALE) (Luscinia svecica)

The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats.

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in wet birch wood or bushy swamp in Europe and across the Palearctic with a foothold in western Alaska. It nests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in the Iberian Peninsular, the northern half of Africa, and in southern Asia (among others including the Indian subcontinent).

The bluethroat bird is similar in size to the European robin at 13–14 cm. It is plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches. It has a strong white supercilium. Despite the distinctive appearance of the males, recent genetic studies show only limited variation between the forms, and confirm that this is a single species. Moults begins in July after breeding and are completed in 40–45 days, before the birds migrate.

13-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN FIELD CRICKET (Gryllus bimaculatus)

 Gryllus bimaculatus is a species of cricket in the subfamily Gryllinae. Most commonly known as the two-spotted cricket, it has also been called the "African" or "Mediterranean field cricket", although its recorded distribution also includes much of Asia, including China and Indochina through to Borneo. It can be discriminated from other Gryllus species by the two dot-like marks on the base of its wings.

The species is popular for use as a food source for insectivorous animals like spiders and reptiles kept as pets or in zoos. They are easy to raise and do not require prolonged exposure to cold in order to complete their life cycle.

In the wild, male crickets do not tolerate one another and will fight until there is a winner. The loser usually retreats without serious injury. The fighting method involves opening the mandibles as wide as possible, gripping the opponent's mandibles and pushing with the hind legs.

Male crickets of this species produce several distinctive chirps, though each sound is made by rubbing the two outer wings together. Loud and steady chirps made throughout the night are to attract females and to warn off other males. Loud fast-frequency chirps are emitted when males encounter one another and are preparing to fight. They are intended to frighten off the rival male. There are two other chirp patterns that can be observed in their mating behaviors. A soft clipping sound, 'calling' song, is made when a female is known to be nearby but in a certain distance, and more rigorous sound, 'courtship' song, is made when a female is close enough to mate (mounting on the male's back). These two songs can be easily distinguished by human ears based on its chirp patterns and frequency components.

12-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TOMATO LOOPER MOTH (Chrysodeixis chalcites)

Chrysodeixis chalcites, the tomato looper or golden twin-spot moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae. It mainly lives in southern Europe, the Levant and tropical Africa, but can be seen migrating across much of Europe. In 2013, it was spotted in Canada. It is an important horticultural pest in New Zealand.

The length of the forewings is 15–18 mm. The moth flies from June to October.

The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, such as Echium vulgare, Apium, Rubus, tomato, Fragaria and tobacco which is why it is perceived as a pest.

Chrysodeixis chalcites and Chrysodeixis eriosoma moths cannot be separated morphologically and they may be sibling species. They are distinguished by DNA, pheromones and geographic origin, as C. chalcites is found in the palearctic and C. eriosoma in the tropics and subtropics. The literature referring to C. chalcites in southern and eastern Asia or Oceania may actually refer to C. eriosoma.

25-9-2015 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - COMMON KINGFISHER (FEMALE) (Alcedo atthis)

 The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

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.

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.