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Common drone fly The "bee" fly Although it resembles a bee, the Common drone fly (Eristalis tenax) is actually a Dipteran (a relative of flies) and belongs to the Syrphid family. Its appearance is similar to that of a common bee but can be distinguished by its plumper body, the lack of a constriction between the abdomen and thorax, and having only 2 wings instead of 4. The Common drone fly is probably the most common species of Syrphid in Europe and can be observed from April to October on flowers while feeding on nectar Did you know? The larvae [...]
Lady's bedstraw Lady's bedstraw (scientific name Galium verum) is a very graceful plant, which sways in the wind with its golden yellow flowering stems. 30-90 cm tall, belongs to the Rubiaceae family. The leaves are arranged in a star shape, both on the stems and on the side branches. The yellow flowers are arranged in dense and long panicles ; their pollination takes place mainly through flies and beetles . Throughout Europe yellow flowers were used in the past to curdle milk to produce cheese (hence the name "Galium", from the Greek gála = milk). Lady's bedstraw grows in arid [...]
Osmia cornuta A solitary wild bee Osmia cornuta belongs to the Megachilidae family and is one of the most common species of wild bees in Europe. It's a solitary bee that doesn't form colonies and doesn't produce honey. Each female lays her own eggs. It has thick hair and a black-rust coloration. It plays a vital role in pollinating many types of fruit trees because it's one of the first bees to become active, often starting in early March. Did you know? Osmia cornuta nests in holes in wood and walls, using dry stems as well. It can even nest [...]
Bitter willow The bitter willow (Salix eleagnos) is a small tree that grows to a height of 7-8 meters, sometimes reaching 15 meters. It lives along rivers and streams, occasionally even in the damp sands of riverbeds that are periodically flooded. It can be found from the plains up to 1800 meters in elevation. Its branches are long and slender, and its leaves are lanceolate, measuring 6-12 cm in length. It can be easily confused with other willow species. The flowers are inconspicuous and clustered in catkins, appearing in March-April, and they constitute one of the first sources of food [...]
Purple loosestrife Three different flowers The purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. During late summer, the banks of ditches light up thanks to its purplish-red flowers. This plant easily grows in damp areas where willows are particularly common: its leaves resemble those of willows, hence the species name "salicaria." The purple loosestrife can produce 3 different types of flowers that differ in the length of styles and stamens, but each plant carries only one type of flower. This feature was studied by Darwin. A bee that feeds on nectar from one type of [...]
Scarce swallowtail The Most Elegant Flight The Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius, Papilionidae family) is a beautiful butterfly, large and striking, with a distinctive and delicate flight. The background color is a pale yellow, with six thin black bands in a V shape. The Scarce swallowtail is very common and widespread, even in orchards and gardens. It is associated with mild climates and is rarely observed in Northern Europe. The caterpillar primarily develops on Rosaceae plants, such as peach, apricot, blackthorn, etc. Adult butterflies feed on nectar , playing an important role as pollinators. Did you know? The colorful spots on [...]
Common hazel A treasure trove of energy The Common hazel is a widely spread plant, it grows everywhere and is splendid in February, when it's completely covered with inflorescences . Its scientific name is Corylus avellana: Corylus comes from the Greek word "corys," meaning helmet , referring to the shape of the green bracts that cover the fruits; avellana comes from Avella, a town in Campania, known since Roman times for its flourishing hazelnut production activity. The male inflorescences are formed by numerous small flowers, the female ones are similar to buds. The core represents one of the first sources [...]
Clustered bellflower An enchanted flower Its scientific name, Campanula glomerata, describes the shape and arrangement of its flowers: "Campanula" refers to the bell shape , while "glomerata" indicates that the flowers are gathered in clusters at the top of the stems. The individual flower is up to 2 cm long and has 5 pointed lobes . This plant grows in meadows and dry, rocky places, up to an altitude of 1500 meters. It can reach a height of up to 70 cm, standing out among other vegetation with its beautiful blue-violet flowers, an irresistible invitation to pollinating insects . Campanula [...]
Mining bees Bees belonging to the Andrena genus (Andrenidae family) closely resemble honey bees. However, unlike honey bees, they are all solitary and build their nests in the ground, preferring soft and sandy soil. Sometimes, you can find many nests close to each other, but in reality, each female works alone, digging a small hole to lay her eggs. They are particularly common insects on flowers in the spring Andrena flavipes, in particular, is a champion in pollinating apple trees! Did you know? The mother doesn't tend to the eggs and shows no further interest in the nest after constructing [...]
