European buckthorn A shrub for butterflies European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is a shrub with a compact and dense crown, featuring twisted branches that end in thorns. It grows in hedgerows and the edges of forests, but also on cliffs and riverbeds, up to 1200 meters. It is a pioneer species, suitable for consolidating rocky and dry lands. The flowers are inconspicuous, very small with 4 green-yellow petals. The fruits are round drupes, arranged in clusters, which turn black when ripe. Buckthorn is a host species for certain butterflies such as the common brimstone (Gonepterix rhamni), which lays its eggs only [...]

Colletes hederae Ivy Bee This medium-sized solitary bee belongs to the Colletidae family and was discovered in 1993. Colletidae have very specific dietary preferences and generally collect pollen from one or a few species of plants. For example, Colletes hederae feeds almost exclusively on ivy, so it is observed only in autumn when the plant blooms Colletes hederae nests in cavities in sandy soils. Although it is a solitary bee, it can nest in large numbers with tens of thousands of nests close together. Did you know? Colletidae line the walls of their cells with a transparent membrane... that resembles [...]

Permanent Meadows and Pollinators: An Engaging Visit to the Bastions of Palmanova Amidst History and Biodiversity On June 1, 2024, as part of the FAI days for biodiversity, the Biodiversity Service of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, in collaboration with FAI-FVG and the "Amici dei Bastioni di Palmanova", organized a walk titled "Prati stabili e impollinatori". The route wound through the permanent meadows of the Bastions, the Napoleonic and Venetian fortifications, and the first interventions to create flower strips within the lunettes and along one of the moats surrounding the star-shaped city. About twenty people participated in the initiative, showing [...]

Greater celandine The plant... of swallows The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus, family Papaveraceae) is a perennial plant often found on ruins, along hedgerows, and in cool, shady places. It belongs to the poppy family and also contains toxic alkaloids. The flowers are golden yellow and bloom from May to September; they have four petals arranged in a cross that attract pollinating insects . The plant contains within its green parts a pungent yellow latex that was used to remove calluses and warts. The name celandine derives from the Greek word chelidôn, swallow, perhaps because, according to ancient legends, swallows would [...]

Seven-spot ladybug A lion in the garden... This ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) is one of the most well-known beetles for its color, its round shape, and its 7 black spots. Despite its cute and harmless appearance, ladybugs are fearsome carnivorous predators, especially of aphids and scale insects, making them a valuable natural pest control. Additionally, they play an important role as pollinators Did you know? Due to their voracity, the entomologist Giorgio Celli called these insects "the lions of the garden" : a ladybug can eat 100 to 150 aphids a day! LIFE Programme #LIFEprogramme #LIFEproject #EUpollinators #Natura2000 #ladybug #Coccinella #pollinators [...]