Φράγμα Καλοπαναγιώτη - Kalopanagyotis Dam - Cyprus

See also

List of dams and lakes of Cyprus

Χωριό Οίκος Μαραθάσας - Oikos village - Cyprus

Thanks to my son Chrysantho Konstantinou for his drone footage  29/12/2019 Cyprus

Marathassa Valley  is a beautiful and fertile valley in the Troödos Mountains of Cyprus. It takes its name from the plant Marathos  a type of fennel which grows in the area.

The area is known for its splendid cherries. The valley is about a 65 km drive from Limassol. It is to the north of Mount Olympus and it extends into the administrative territory of both Nicosia and Limassol district.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Η κατασκευή του υδατοφράκτη Καλοπαναγιώτη χρειάστηκε τρία χρόνια.  Λειτούργησε το 1966, έχει χωρητικότητα 363 χιλιάδες κυβικά μέτρα και ύψος 40 μετρα. Αρδεύει έκταση περίπου 500 σκαλών κατά μήκος, του ποταμού Σέτραχου, μέχρι τον υδατοφράκτη Λεύκας.

Παραπλεύρως του υδατοφράκτη Καλοπαναγιώτη, από το 1969 λειτουργεί κυβερνητικό ιχθυοτροφείο, στο οποίο εκτρέφονται κυρίως πέστροφες, τόσο για εμπλουτισμό άλλων ιχθυοτροφείων, όσο και για εμπορικούς σκοπούς και ερασιτεχνικό ψάρεμα.

Photos by George Konstantinou

Φράγμα Καλού Χωριού Κλήρου - Kalo chorio Klirou Dam - Cyprus

See also

List of dams and lakes of Cyprus

Μικρό φράγμα που οικοδομήθηκε το 1947 στην πορεία του ποταμού Φαρμακά (Ακάκι).

Έχει χωρητικότητα 82 χιλιάδες κυβικά μέτρα νερού.  και έχει ύψος 9 μέτρα.

Photo by George Konstantinou

Thomisus citrinellus (Eugène Simon, 1875) - Crab spider - Cyprus

Family: Thomisidae

Thomisus is a genus of crab spiders (family Thomisidae) with around 142 species described. The genus includes species that vary widely in their ecology, with some that are ambush predators that feed on insects visiting flowers. Like several other genera in the family Thomisidae, they are sometimes referred to as flower crab spiders, from their crab-like motion and their way of holding their front legs, reminiscent of a crab spreading its claws as a threat.

 Photos at Fasouri & Nicosia, 8/11/2014, by George Konstantinou

Common hairy field spider - Neoscona subfusca (C. L. Koch, 1837) - Cyprus

Family: Araneidae

Colour and markings very variable.

Female 5 to 11.5 mm.

Abdomen yellow-brown, brown or grey with a dark leaf-like pattern. This pattern is not always clearly visible.

Carapace yellow-brown, brown or gray with a broad light median band.

Legs and palps light-dark annulated.

Male 4 to 6.5 mm.

Markings and colours almost identical to the female.

HABITAT

Mainly in citrus trees. In addition, also in other trees and shrubs in warm, dry areas.

DISTRIBUTION

Common in the Mediterranean area. From https://www.arachnophoto.com/en/araneidae-2/neoscona-subfusca/#Description

Photos Athienou 8/11/2014 by George Konstantinou

Photo M. Hadjiconstantis (male)

Wolf spider - Lycosa praegrandis (C. L. Koch, 1836 ) - Cyprus

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Female to 28 mm.

Abdomen light grey with a not very clear cardiac mark and black and white chevrons. Ventrally black with an orange hem.

Carapace dark grey with a light grey median band which is slightly wider at the front and white bands along the side. Sternum black.

Legs on top light grey, very clear black and white annulated on the bottom.

Palps light grey with dark spots.

Male to 18 mm.

Markings and colours almost identical to the female.

HABITAT

Dry, warm and rocky areas and steppes.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs in the Eastern Mediterranean area and Eastern Europe. From https://www.arachnophoto.com/en/lycosidae-2/lycosa-praegrandis/#Beschrijving

Lycosa is a genus of wolf spiders. More than 200 species are found, represented throughout most of the world. Often (incorrectly) called the "true tarantula", Lycosa can be distinguished from common wolf spiders by their relatively large size. This genus includes the European Lycosa tarantula which was once associated with tarantism, a dubious affliction whose symptoms included shaking, cold sweats, and a high fever, asserted to be curable only by the traditional tarantella dance. There is no scientific substantiation of that myth. In fact, the venom of wolf spiders is much less harmful to humans than, e.g., that of the European widow spider of the Theridiidae family.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Athienou 18/3/2014 by George Konstantinou

Mediterranean black widow, also known as the European black widow, or steppe spider -- Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) Μεσογειακή μαύρη χήρα, ή ευρωπαϊκή μαύρη χήρα - Cyprus

The Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus), also known as the European black widow, or steppe spider, is a species of widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus. It is commonly found throughout the Mediterranean region, ranging from Portugal to southwest and central Asia, hence the name. Specimens from central Asia are also known by the binomial name Latrodectus lugubris; that name, however, is considered obsolete, though it is still commonly found in the literature. Latrodectus tredecimguttatus used to be considered a Latrodectus mactans subspecies.
L. tredecimguttatus is black in color, similar to most other widow species, and is identified by the thirteen spots which are found on its dorsal abdomen (the species name is Latin for "with thirteen spots"). These spots are usually red in colour, but may also be yellow or orange. It is otherwise similar to other species in the genus Latrodectus. The Mediterranean widow primarily lives in steppes and other grasslands, and can be a significant problem in areas where grain is harvested by hand. The female of the species has a body length of about 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in), while the male is smaller and reaches 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) at best. Only the female spider's bite is dangerous (either for humans or cattle) as the male cannot penetrate the relatively thick epidermis.

Like all Latrodectus species, L. tredecimguttatus has a painful bite that is fatal in rare cases. They are not in close association with humans generally, and epidemics of bites have been reported There are many reports of Ukrainian farm workers receiving bites while working in the fields. The LD-50 of L. tredecimguttatus venom has been measured as 0.59 mg/kg,^[4] and separately again as 0.59 mg/kg (with a confidence interval of 0.33–1.06).

In Kazakhstan, there are reports of this species biting and killing camels.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Nicosia,Athalassa 5/11/2014 by George Konstantinou

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

mating

Egg sack

Hatchling

Hatchlings

male

male

male

Subadult female

Subadult female

Subadult female

Subadult female

Subadult female

© Michael Hadjiconstantis. Photos at Analiontas 2021

Gibbaranea bituberculata (Walckenaer, 1802) - Cyprus

Gibbaranea bituberculata is a species of 'orbweavers' belonging to the family Araneidae subfamily Araneinae.

This species is present in most of Europe.

The adult males of these spiders reach 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in) of length, while females are 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in) long. They can be encountered in sunny habitats on shrubs, edges and low plants, where they can make their webs near the ground.

Their basic color is very variable, but usually it is brownish, with whitish shades. The cephalothorax (prosoma) is quite broad, with lying down hair. In the female the abdomen (opisthosoma) is large and spherical, with two small holes. They have eight eyes, with four relatively large eyes in the middle. Chelicerae are short and powerful, with teeth on the inside. The legs are moderately long and quite powerful.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Nicosia, 14/12/2014 by George Konstantinou