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/

Use Action Replay Desmume Mac

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

not

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