Red Flower British Suits

collar striped Snake

Graphosoma lineatum, Linnaeus 1758

EUS : Zimitz marraduna

ING: Red & Black Striped Bug.

might think that this little animal about a centimeter in length, is very bold and has chosen an extremely eye-catching dress. There are many species as a survival strategy used cryptic coloration or aspects, that is, a way to blend with the environment and pass unnoticed by predators. This Graphosoma has chosen the opposite approach by acquiring a design that does not go unnoticed. This is throwing us a warning and that when disturbed, secrete a fluid repellent rather unpleasant taste. This strategy is called aposematic, that is to be a very colorful and eye-catching color that some animals use to warn potential predators of their danger, toxicity or bad taste, and make them unattractive prey.

is a herbivorous insect feeding on the juice extracted from plants. It uses a modified mouthparts that form a beak-shaped structure called the face and is adapted piercing and sucking plant fluids.

They are usually easily locate on plants belonging to the family of the Umbelliferae.

is distributed in the south central and southern Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula.

Serantes In the mountains is abundant and as I said before, it is difficult to see despite its small size.

Text and Photos: Manu

Océn

www.flickr.com/photos/manu_ocen/

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Natrix natrix, Linnaeus 1758

EUS: Suge gorbataduna

ING: Grass Snake

The grass snake is a snake robust, medium size, which does not usually exceed 1.20 m. but rarely been given up to 2 m. length long. The dorsal coloration of juveniles may be olive-gray, greenish or brownish, with a series of dark spots scattered throughout its length, although the most obvious feature is the "collar" on the back of the head, which is often interrupted in its central part.

Adult

adults in all of these features are being gradually diluted as they increase in age and size, staying at a uniform dorsal pattern and a necklace almost imperceptible. By contrast, the ventral design both youth and adults is quite contrasting with dark spots on a white background, like a chessboard. Although not abundant, there are rare cases of melanism. The dorsal scales, like the viper snake are keeled.

Youth

is considered an aquatic snake, although it can be found in a variety of wetland habitats such as rivers, swamps, conifer forests, oak forests mixed crops, Fresh Meadows.

melanic

is a diurnal snake, it could be seen active during the months of March, April to October is when you start your period hibernation.

is a completely harmless animal, when threatened twists, emits strong blows, widens the head, making threats of biting, a clear example of Batesian mimicry . If the harassment persists, tends to be the dead, turning the body to show his belly as he opens his mouth and sticks out his tongue (tanatosis). To be captured, like the viper snake, empty their gut contents, leaving a scent not easily forgotten.

"Tanatosis"

feed primarily on amphibians and between them has a predilection for the anurans such as frogs and toads. More rarely eats fish, mammals or reptiles.

keeled scales Detail

The distribution of this species in Europe is large, occupying nearly a whole and including part of West Africa, northwest China and Mongolia. In the Basque Country is next to the N. maura one of the most abundant snakes, occupying all the territory.

Ane Océn

As seen is totally harmless, and the snake also .

Text and photos:

Manu Océn

www.flickr.com/photos/manu_ocen/

I Can't Take Out My Stud Earring

Podalirius

Iphiclides podalirus , Linnaeus 1758

Scarce Swallowtail

The Podalirius is one of the largest butterflies of Europe, the females can reach 8 cm .- and competes in size with the swallowtail (Papilio machaon ), the only butterfly which could confused. Differs from it by having a design similar to that of a zebra, with dark wing bands in the longitudinal and decreasingly on a white or yellow background. The hind wings ending in a slender tail very flashy in the beginning of which can be seen a large ocellus (colored circle in the wings) blue partially wrapped in black and red. The presence of ocelli has a very clear purpose, to attract the predators to attack these vital points

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The caterpillar is plump reaches 4 cm length in the final stages of development, and its color is green with bands oblique yellow and a tiny, bright red spots. They feed on various species of Rosaceae such as hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna ), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa ) Seval (Sorbus acuparia ), apple (Malus ), pear (Pyrus , etc.).

It is widely distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, but is becoming less frequent, probably due to the significant changes undergone by agricultural practices and organization landscape. Because of this, have gone much of the hedges of their larvae feed. It is a species protected by law in some European countries.

easily It can be seen flying through the higher areas of Mount Serantes between the months of April to September in two generations per year.

Text and photos:

Manu Océn

www.flickr.com/photos/manu_ocen/

Illustrator Abcpy.ini

Espejitos

Heteropterus morpheus (Pallas 1771)
Large Skipper Cequered

is a species belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is probably more representative of beauty.

Although its front is nearly uniform black color, the reverse has a design that gives the common name of "mirrors." His way of flying is also very characteristic, giving the impression to go bouncing in the air. Probably this form of flight has the function to prevent predators predict a fixed path of flight, as we do have many other butterflies.

Although the Basque Country this butterfly can be found in a number of places, their distribution in the Peninsula Iberian is mainly concentrated in this region, which is a privilege. However also dispersed by the other provinces of Cantabria, still common in many parts of Europe.

is a species that by their beauty and rarity in the whole country, must be protected, for example with the creation of small local reserves.

Text and photos:

Yeray Leon

Monastery

President English Association for the Protection of the butterflies and their Environment (Zerynthia).

If you want more information on the projects and actions aimed at the protection and conservation of butterflies that are doing this non-profit association, go through here.

www.asociacion-zerynthia.org

Mayo Clinic Does Trichozed

South Culebra lisa

girondica Coronella, Daudin 1803.

EUS: Hegoaldeko suggestions Leuna
ING: Southern smooth snake

body is a snake thin and cylindrical. His back is brownish or gray tones with a row of dark spots in the center. Usually presents a dark picture next to the snout and runs through the head from side to side (bracket). Looking it from the side, we see a large stain that goes from the back of the eye until the end of the scales supralabials.

is a generalist species that occupies a large variety of habitats but prefers sunny sites facing south with rocky areas and scrub.

It feeds almost exclusively on reptiles (sauriophagous) once captured, are subjected to twisting on them then eat them by the head.

activity begins at nightfall, passing the day sheltered under rocks or logs.

In some places can match another species similar in size and design, European smooth snake (Coronella Austrian ). Can be easily differentiated by the size and number of scales on the head, as well as ventral design:

Southern smooth snake.

• rostral not penetrate between the scales internasals.

• The scales supralabials 4 th and 5 th touch the eye.

• Belly with light shades and square-shaped black spots which gives checkerboard.

• With flange.

Click here

European smooth snake.

• rostral if internasals penetrates the scales.

• supralabials Scales 3 and 4 ª touch the eye.

• Belly dark coloration more or less uniform.

• Without flange.

Click here

In the Basque Country is dispersed, distributed throughout the territory. At Mount Serantes is present but their abundance is unknown due to the difficulty involved in its location for its crepuscular and night.

Map: Aranzadi Society of Sciences - Herpetology Observatory

For more information:

http://www.aranzadi-herpetologia.org/

Text and photos:

Manu Océn

www.flickr.com/photos/ manu_ocen /

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Butterfly

Cacyreus marshalli , 1898 Butler

Geranium Bronze

a small butterfly is about 2 cm. major. When it is open, we can see a brownish color framed by a black and white fimbriae (hairs that have some butterflies in the shape of the wings). However, when folding the wings has a marbled design in brown, black, gray and white. In the bottom of the hind wings may notice a couple of small queues.

is a species from South Africa. In the late 80 was detected in Mallorca and, since the early nineties, began to colonize the Iberian Peninsula. In the Basque Country was detected in different places in the middle of this decade, it is currently quite easy to observe flying on our balconies or parks.

Now occupies much of the Iberian Peninsula and begin to colonize other parts of Europe. It is believed that this expansion has been through its food plant, ornamental geraniums (genus Geranium and Pelargonium ). Make entry into the buds of these plants, and once the caterpillar begins to emerge to feed on the flower. Later introduced into the stem where it builds a series of galleries that then cause the death of the plant.

Posted about the bud of a Pelargonium

The flight period is between the months of May through November. If conditions are favorable can get to complete its cycle in one month what a butterfly polivoltina (several generations per year).

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Gecko geraniums

Tarentola mauritanica, Linnaeus 1758

EUS: Dragoitxo

ING: Moorish Gecko

The common gecko is a reptile of the family Gekkos usually not exceed 19 cm. It is widely distributed by the center, south and east of the Iberian Peninsula, becoming more scarce as we approach the Cantabrian coast.

is characterized by a broad head, rounded snout and prominent eyes with a pupil arranged vertically. Its tail is thorny, with transverse bands in different tones.

This species is clearly associated with the human environment. Their mostly nocturnal habits are thus not usually difficult to observe near the light on the walls and roofs of houses, walls or fences which seem to defy gravity. This is because it has fingers flattened, bearing a transverse row of slides as a small suction cups that allow them to adhere to vertical surfaces and even upside-down.

Feeds all kinds of insects and arachnids, so they are generally respected and tolerated in our homes since it plays an effective role as "insecticide."

Many of the comments out of their range have been because of introductions, possibly accidentally. Santurce is no stranger to these introductions because more and more data collected from individuals scattered by the observations made by our neighbors as Paul, TXIRI-VITA or Gorka Ocio. To these must be added the last and most important, made by Ricardo Ituarte, and stood on the balcony an adult and a Youth no more than a week old, which could indicate that we have a small breeding nucleus similar to that found by Aitor Laza in the nearby town of Getxo.

geko Distribution in Spain. Map taken from the "Red Book Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Spain."

Text and Photos: Manu

Océn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manu_ocen/

Fluttering Sensation Abdomen

CHARCAS OF "THE PLAINS"

The process for the construction of ponds, though laborious, is simple. After site selection, we proceeded to mark the exact spot for a mini-excavator buckets made us. Once the work proceeded to smooth base with a layer of approximately 5 cm of sand, then put another layer over it, this time of "geotextile ." These layers are intended to avoid possible perforation of waterproof plastic to be placed later. Once placed the plastic, put on this another layer of geotextile to retain the substrate to be cast above to give a natural look to the future pond.

Start digging into the pond 1.

The bulldozer was the first to release the pond and did not hesitate to "jump to the pool. "

the end nothing happened, the operator was unharmed and everything was a shock.

Start digging in the pond 2.

Preparing the fence.

Finishing the Pond 2.

Pond 1 completed.

Finally only comment that in a period of no more than a couple of months to finish the job, there are several midwife toads with his productions using the two ponds.

Is It Possible To Get Rainbow Puffle

PONDS FOR AMPHIBIANS

Although we have no exact data of the amphibian fauna existing in the past, thanks to the talks held with the greatest of all, personal observations and review of work made in this direction in a close environment such as mountains and Galdames Triano, we can deduce that the number of species was significantly higher in times not far distant. Within this project has considered the construction of a network of ponds, in order to restore a greater or lesser extent habitat lost to the man's hand, and recover the amphibian populations that formerly inhabited Mount Serafin. Co mo beginning, we decided to build two in the area of \u200b\u200b"Los Llanos", place visited by people who enjoy the mountain climbs. The purpose of creating two ponds in a place so exposed has three good reasons:

The primary, which is increase the availability of aquatic habitat for amphibians Serantes.

Secondly, through information panels, to publicize the environmental problems that these and other species are suffering as throughout the world due to habitat destruction and change climate.

Finally, closer to the people who enjoy the mountain that little wildlife we \u200b\u200bhave all heard about and that few are privileged to know and observe.

If you want to see the process of construction of ponds click here.

WHAT IS THE USE OF PONDS?

aquatic habitats of small size are essential for the conservation of amphibians and aquatic invertebrates such as dragonflies, damselflies and a number of other species of fauna and flora, and are also used as a watering hole and bathing area for birds and small mammals that live nearby.

Pond artificial beach Azkorri (Getxo).

According to recent research, ponds capture an enormous amount of CO 2 the atmosphere, thereby contributing to minimize the effects of climate change.

WHY PROTECT AMPHIBIANS?

are good indicators of the health of our ecosystems and that, lead a double life (aquatic and terrestrial larval stage as an adult) are more sensitive to changes in the various media where you live, and even more if we consider that they have permeable skin very sensitive to that especially affects changes in the environment.

frog (Rana temporaria ).

They are priceless as natural insecticides and an adult toad can eat up to 3,000 insects per month, so that we can consider as good allies of the farmer.

are very useful in our regular medicine, the skin of amphibians have removed over 300 chemicals that are used to treat heart disease, Alzheimer's, herpes, AIDS, cancer etc.

... Yet.

Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates on the planet. Have become extinct more than 150 species in just 20 years, and about half of the 6,000 species are endangered. These are the main causes

• LOSS OF HABITAT

destruction and fragmentation of habitats is undoubtedly the most serious environmental problem worldwide and is considered one of the processes more devastating impact on biodiversity. This occurs when natural ecosystems are altered to adapt its surface for human use. Because of these changes, plants and animals that occupy them are limited in numbers, drastically reducing their number may even be driven to extinction.

What we see in this picture is the area that remained after using a pond (in the vicinity of the wetland Saldropo, close Barazar high in Zeanuri, Bizkaia) and lumber yard. This flooding was one of the few places in Bizkaia reproduced the Alpine newt ( Mesotriton alpestris).

ALIEN SPECIES

crawfish (Procambarus clarkii ).

The introduction of alien species as Florida turtles, crawfish and other fish species (mosquitofish, goldfish, etc.), In addition to transmitting diseases, they behave as predators and direct competitors of the native fauna.

• EMERGING DISEASES

The recent detection chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by fungus, probably extended to other continents from Africa through trade of frogs of the genus Xenopus (frogs polish). This disease has caused the extinction of at least a dozen species of amphibians on the planet. In the Iberian Peninsula, are being detected mass mortalities of the midwife toad (Alytes obsetricans ), amphibian common in our environment.

• OTHER

Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita ) hit.

overexploitation of resources, soil contamination by pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, solid waste, hunting and trading of species, direct killing because of his bad reputation , abuses, etc..