Sunday 6 May 2018
Saturday 5 May 2018
Friday 4 May 2018
Thursday 3 May 2018
Cleopatra or Cleopatra butterfly - Gonepteryx cleopatra (Linnaeus, 1767) - Cyprus
Gonepteryx cleopatra, the Cleopatra or Cleopatra butterfly, is a medium-
sized butterfly of the family Pieridae
sized butterfly of the family Pieridae
Gonepteryx cleopatra is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 50–70 mm (2.0-2.8 in). It is a sexually dimorphic species - the female has pale yellow or greenish wings, the male is darker yellow with an orange patch on the forewing. Both sexes have a forewing apical hook and brown dots in the center of each wing, and the underside of wings is light greenish yellow. The greenish color, the shape and the pronounced venation on the hindwings give to these butterflies a good camouflage, making them resemble just leaves
The Cleopatra butterfly inhabits open woodland and scrub. The flight period is from May to August in most parts of its range, except Spain, where it is double brooded and may fly almost all year. The adult hibernates in evergreen trees and shrubs. The caterpillars feed on the buckthorns Rhamnus alaternus. When the green caterpillars are prepared to pass to the pupal stage, they tie themselves through a silk belt to the host plant, on the underside of a leaf. The green chrysalis became gradually yellow and red, revealing the colors on the wings of the adult close to flutter.
This species is native to the Mediterranean region (Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia).
Photos Nicosia,Geri 3/5/2018 by George Konstantinou
Ricinus communis L. - Κουρτουνιά - Ρίκινος - Cyprus
Ricinus communis, the castor bean or castor-oil-plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. The evolution of castor and its relation to other species are currently being studied using modern genetic tools. It reproduces with a mixed pollination system which favors selfing by geitonogamy but at the same time can be an out-crosser by anemophily (wind pollination) or entomophily (insect pollination).Its seed is the castor bean, which, despite its name, is not a true bean. Castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, but is widespread throughout tropical regions (and widely grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant).
Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed also contains ricin, a water-soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricinus
Photos Nicosia 14/11/2014 by George Konstantinou
Wednesday 2 May 2018
Episkopi Pafou - Επισκοπή Πάφου - Επισκοπή Μωρού Νερού - Cyprus
See also
Ο Βράχος της Επισκοπής αποτελεί ένα από τα πιο όμορφα γεωλογικά μορφώματα του νησιού...
Δεκατέσσερα χιλιόμετρα βορειοανατολικά της πόλης Πάφου, δεσπόζει στο μικρό χωριό της Επισκοπής, ο περίφημος βράχος του χωριού. Με ύψος 70 μέτρα και μήκος 250 μ., έχει χαρακτηριστεί ως τα «Μετέωρα της Κύπρου», αφού πρόκειται για τον μεγαλύτερο μονόλιθο όγκο της Κύπρου.
Photos and video by George Konstantinou 29/4/2018
Tuesday 1 May 2018
Monday 30 April 2018
Gyrinus dejeani - Cyprus
Gyrinus is a genus of small aquatic whirligig beetles in the family Gyrinidae native to the Palearctic (including Europe), the Near East, the Nearctic and North Africa.Photo and video Paphos by George Konstantinou
Sunday 29 April 2018
Saturday 28 April 2018
Myrmecophilus (Myrmophilina) cyprius Stalling, 2017 - Ant crickets - Ant-loving cricket - Cyprus
See also
Family: Myrmecophilidae
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| Male |
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| Female |
The family Myrmecophilidae
The ant-loving crickets are rarely encountered relatives of crickets, and are obligate inquilines within ant nests. They are very small, wingless, and flattened, therefore resembling small cockroach nymphs. There are a few genera, containing fewer than 100 species. Ant Crickets are yellow, brown, or nearly black in color. They do not produce sound, and lack both wings and tympanal organs ("ears") on the front tibia. Text from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant_cricket
Ελληνικό Κείμενο
Το Myrmecophilus cyprius Stalling, 2017 είναι ένα ενδημικό είδος γρύλου στην Κύπρο. Το είδος αυτό ανήκει στην οικογένεια Myrmecophilidae. Αυτό το είδος περιγράφηκε το 2017 από δείγματα που βρέθηκαν σε φωλιές του μυρμηγκιού Messor structor (Latreille, 1798). Το είδος ανήκει στο υποείδος Myrmophilina Silvestri, 1912. Τα άτομα που φωτογραφήθηκαν, βρέθηκαν επίσης σε φωλιές του Messor structor.
Η οικογένεια Myrmecophilidae περιλαμβάνει κυρίως είδη που ζουν μέσα στις φωλιές των μυρμηγκιών. Είναι πολύ μικρά, χωρίς φτερά και πεπλατυσμένα, οπότε μοιάζουν με μικρές νύμφες κατσαρίδων. Υπάρχουν λίγα γένη, που περιέχουν λιγότερα από 100 είδη. Το χρώμα τους μπορεί να είναι κίτρινου, καφέ ή σχεδόν μαύρου. Δεν παράγουν ήχο και δεν έχουν τόσο φτερά όσο και ακουστικά όργανα ("αυτιά") στην μπροστινή κνήμη.
Photos at Lakatamia, October 2017 by Michael Hadjiconstantis.
Friday 27 April 2018
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