Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791)
Family: Pyrgomorphidae
Being a species of Pyrgomorph, it is known as a “gaudy” grasshopper, native to southern Europe, especially countries around the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands, also found in Africa and Western Asia.
The coloration of this species P. conica, varies between brown and green forms.
Habitat: Open warm areas, which is usually described as scrub land, stoney grasslands with sparsely growing vegetation, usually established shrubs and bushes.
The larvae over-winters from autumn, then becomes an adult by April. In the warmer climates the larvae mature quicker and is able to become an adult in the very early months of the year.

© All Rights Reserved

The fox in Spain is the subspecies of the “Iberian red fox” and it is one of the smallest species of fox in Europe.
Family: Canidae (Also in same family, wolves and Coyotes)
Height 35 to 45cm to shoulder. Body length: 60 to 80cm. Tail length 35cm approx.
(In Spanish, a fox is called “Zorro.”)
The European fox is the most widespread species of fox in the world. It is found in most of Europe, also Asia, parts of North Africa and North America.
Foxes are mainly active at night-time, but when food is scarce will also venture out during the day, especially if the fox has young to feed. Also, being territorial it will scent its land with faeces and urine. A fox’s territory will differ in size, determined on the amount of food available within its range.
The fox can survive on a wide range of food, because of this, it enables them to be very resilient, to being able to live in the “wild.” They are hunters and scavengers, giving them the ability to adapt to many types of habitats and food sources.
A fox’s diet is very versatile, to different food types from various fruits and animals such as: Insects, worms, reptiles, amphibians, mice, rats, rabbits, all types of domestic and wild birds up to pheasant size. They will raid nests for young birds and eggs. In fact, they will eat and kill any living creature that they can easily overpower. Also, they will scavenge human food from unprotected rubbish bags and will also take advantage of road kills.
Matting takes place during the winter months; around 52 days after mating, the female will give birth. Four to six pups are looked after by both parents. Usually, the male will be the food provider to the female and the pups, in the burrow.
Within two weeks the pups will start to open their eyes and as soon as five weeks, will start to explore their surroundings. Within ten weeks they will start to live on their own and will try to establish its own territory within the autumn months.

© All Rights Reserved

Sedum sediforme (Jacq.) common names... Mediterranean Stonecrop, Pale Stonecrop.
Plant family: Crassulaceae, 25cm to 60cm tall.
Flowers appear from June to July
Habitat: Coastal as well as inland: Along roadsides, cliffs, rocks, walls, dry stony areas and prefers to grow on calcareous soils.
Mediterranean region: Spain to Portugal, Balkan Peninsulas, Morocco and as far East to Syria and Israel.
Sedum sediforme, is a robust perennial succulent herb. It has smooth leaves and the flowers are hermaphrodite (meaning both male and female organs).

Isodontia mexicana (Saussure, 1867) Grass-carrying Wasp.
Length:18 to 20mm
Flight Season: June to September.
Family: Sphecidae.
Isodontia mexicana is a species of wasp that originates from the North America countries, it has now expanded its range mainly around the Mediterranean countries; apparently this species is an accidental introduction from the USA.
Habitat: Sandy soils, scrub land, wherever they can find their prey.
Preying mainly on grasshoppers, bush and tree-crickets. The adult wasp will paralise a small orthoptera (which is an order of insects, including grasshoppers, locusts and crickets) to feed their emerging larvae.
Nests are mainly found in hollowed branches and various natural cavies. Will also take advantage of using nests of other species, they line the inside of their nests with grass, hence the name, Grass-carrying wasp.

© All Rights Reserved

(Conops Flavipes description follows below)
Senecio jacobaea. (Common ragwort).
Widespread plant and can be found along roadsides and hedges, meadows, grazing land, sand dunes, waste grounds and open woods. A very popular plant for a vast range of insects including butterflies, more than 200 species of invertebrate have been recorded on its flowers.
Concerning when growing on grazing land, as it is very poisonous (as with all ragworts) to livestock and is dangerous if included in hay.
Flowers from June to October and grows up to 1.5m tall. The plant is usually a biennial (living only two years and flowering in its second year), produces large numbers of seeds which are dispersed by the wind. Many different Insects are attracted to this wild flower.
Conops Flavipes (Linnaeus, 1758) body length 8-12 mm
Family… Conopidae- Thick Headed Flies.
Many species have wasp-like colouring and markings, they can be seen regularly feeding (and mating) on flowers; are also good pollinators.
Thick-headed flies are parasitic insects and the larvae feed on adult bumble bees and wasps, can also occasionally attack, solitary bees, crickets and grasshoppers etc. They wait on flowers for a host to arrive, (normally Bumble bees) whilst holding on to the bee they inject an egg into the abdomen. The egg hatches and the larva feeds on the bee's abdominal contents for about ten days. The bee eventually dies and the larva then pupates and emerges the following summer.
Habitat... Wherever the prey lives, although woodland edges, hedgerows, meadows and clearings seem to be favourite. Adults prefer warm sunny areas with attractive nectar sources.

© All Rights Reserved

Size varies: males on average are slightly smaller, females up to 18mm in body length.
Family: Sarcophagidae (the word itself derived from the Greek words meaning “flesh-eating”).
Widespread throughout Europe, although less common in parts of Spain

Flight period: All year round. More frequently seen in April to October.

Habitat: Various habitats are favoured where carrion is present, the adults also feed on fluids from animal bodies, nectar, decaying vegetable matter, sweet foods, fluids from animal waste and various organic materials.

Unusually instead of laying eggs, the female “Flesh Fly” lays small larvae on rotting carcasses or dung. The larvae (maggots) typically feed on decaying meat and also the bacteria and other small organisms living in the carrion that may get in the way, very quickly reaching full size in just a few days; they then burrow into the soil to pupate. Late in the year when the larvae are laid, they will pupate throughout the winter months; then in the spring they will emerge as adult flies.

© All Rights Reserved