The Netherlands
Argiope bruennichi (Wasp spider-Wespspin) is a species of orb-web spider distributed throughout central Europe, northern Europe, north Africa, parts of Asia, and the Azores archipelago. It should be noted, however, that the distribution towards northern Europe started about half a century ago, with the first published sighting in my country (The Netherlands) in 1980. And it was only in the 21th Century that the distribution of the species proceeded quickly toward the northern and western parts of The Netherlands. The image shows a female spider, close to her egg sac and was made in september 2010 in a wildlife garden in Zaandam. © Tom Kisjes

Tags:   Wasp spider Wespspin Argiope bruennichi spin spider entomofauna fauna Nederland Holland The Netherlands heemtuin wildlife garden heemtuin Zaandam Zaanstad

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The Netherlands - Polder Westzaan
The image shows the caterpillar of Euthrix potatoria (The drinker-Rietvink), an orange-brown moth of the family Lasiocampidae. The species' common and scientific names derive from the larva's supposed drinking of drops of dew. This species can be found in Europe, is fairly common in my country (The Netherlands), and is most frequently found in moist habitats like marshy places, fens and riversides, with reed beds or tall grasses. Image made in July 2011 in Westzijderveld, part of Polder Westzaan. © Tom Kisjes

Tags:   The drinker Rietvink Euthrix potatoria vlinder butterfly moth caterpillar rups entomofauna fauna Nederland Holland The Netherlands Westzijderveld Polder Westzaan Zaanstad

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The Netherlands - Polder Westzaan
Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva-Kleine rode weekschild) is very common in Europe. Adults feed on aphids, and also eat pollen and nectar and are therefore significant pollinators. They are active between the months of June and August, spend much of their short lives mating and can often be seen in pairs. The species is commonly found in grassland, woodland, along hedgerows and in parks and gardens, on open-structured flowers, in this case on flowering Water mint. Image made in August 2011 in Westzijderveld, part of Polder Westzaan. © Tom Kisjes

Tags:   Common red soldier beetle Kleine rode weekschild Rhagonycha fulva kever beetle insect entomofauna fauna Nederland Holland The Netherlands Westzijderveld Polder Westzaan Zaanstad

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The Netherlands
My neighbor's dog, coping with the heat, his vigilance and his age, at the same time. Zaandam, August 2011. © Tom Kisjes

Tags:   Nederland Holland The Netherlands Zaandam hond dog huisdier pet dier animal

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The Netherlands
Common scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis - Echt lepelblad) grows mainly in the coastal regions of Europe. In my country (The Netherlands), it prefers saltmarshes and coastal areas. Brackish habitats in The Netherlands -and certainly in my region- became less numerous and the same applies to this species. Fifty years ago the collars of reed in Polder Westzaan turned warm white because of flowering Cochlearia, in the months April and May. Those days are over, with the rapidly declining salinity of our surface water. Common scurvygrass was once used as a cure for Scurvy (scheurbuik), as the plant contains Vitamin C. Image made in April 2012 in Polder Westzaan. © Tom Kisjes

Tags:   Common scurvygrass Echt lepelblad Cochlearia officinalis wilde plant wild plant bloem flower flora Nederland Holland The Netherlands Polder Westzaan Zaanstad

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