Searching for insects in winter

December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 www.Visual-Nature.deBaden-Württemberg, fibulata, Freiburg, Germany, Heteroptera, Holcogaster, LIstspinne, mirabilis, Nursery web spider, Pisaura

Doesn’t sound like a typical activity, does it? Yesterday I actually tried. What drove me to do that? The sun was shining, I wanted to use the macro lens and I think I even dreamed of a hoverfly – very motivating. Whatever – armed with an umbrella, I visited the airfield in Freiburg. I shook a few branches with little success. From a blackberry I shook a nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis).

Nursery web spider – Pisaura mirabilis – Listspinne, Germany (Freiburg)

When I shook the branch of a mountain pine (Pinus mugo mugo), an unknown bug from the Pentatomidae group fell into the umbrella. After some photos I put it back into the tree. What a surprise when I tried to identify it at home: It seemed to be Holcogaster fibulatus. In Germany, this species has been detected only once before (in Nordrhein-Westfalen; Hamers, 2018).

Holcogaster fibulata, Germany (Freiburg), December 2019. 2nd record for Germany

Typically, it occurs further south but it is said to be nowhere common (Sauer, 1996). Due to the global warming, more and more species from the Mediterranean are reaching Germany. And Freiburg is located close to the Belfort Gap, through which various southern species have reached Germany in recent years. Nevertheless, it remains a surprise and it is a pleasant result for an hour of nature observation on the outskirts of the city.

Holcogaster fibulata in a Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo mugo), Germany (Freiburg), December 2019. 2nd record for Germany

Literature:

Hamers, B. (2018): Nachweis von Holcogaster fibulata (GERMAR, 1831) in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Heteropteron 51:14-15.
Sauer, F. (1996) Wanzen und Zikaden, Fauna-Verlag, Karlsfeld

BWE: The horsehead seal

June 16, 2015June 16, 2015 www.Visual-Nature.deAtlantic, Germany, Grey, grypus, Halichoerus, Helgoland, Horsehead, North Sea, Seal

There have been just two blogposts in the last weeks. So quickly few photos of the quite rare Horsehead Seal (also named Grey Seal) in the North Sea. You can see it mainly on Helgoland. The other places are not that easily acessible.

Horsehead Seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Beautiful Wild Europe (BWE) – The project

January 1, 2015March 18, 2015 www.Visual-Nature.deAlpen, Alpenbock, Alps, Beautiful Europe, Berge, Bialewiz, Biebrza, BWE, Deutschland, Durmitor, Europe, Finland, Forest, Frühling, Gentian, Germany, Herbst, Highlands, Ibex, Kiefernschwärmer, Krähenscharbe, Longicorn Beetle, Meer, Montenegro, Moth, Mountains, National Park, Nationalpark, Neuwerk, Norway, Norwegen, Pine Grosbeak, Poland, Polen, Ptarmigan, Red Fox, Schneehuhn, Schottland, Scotland, Sea, Shag, Shepherd, Slovakei, Slovakia, Slovenia, Slowenien, Sommer, Spain, Spanien, Summer, Tatra, Turkey, Wadden Sea, Wald, Wattenmeer, Winter

Thailand, USA, Australia, New Zealand… some typical holiday destinations for many people. It is hip to go there, to be able to talk with the others who have been there. Reasons to visit these countries are often the amazing landscape and nature. At the same time, few people are aware of the beautiful wilderness in Europe, of the breathtaking landscapes, of the very special animals and the beautiful flowers.

For this reason, I thought about a project for a long time: I want to show this beauty, to make people aware, that it is not really necessary to travel always that far. To show that the beautiful places are right in front of our door or not far away. And to show, what we lost already and what we will loose, if we proceed in our way of life.

Within the scope of this project, I will present different areas in Europe, special animals or plants or just special places. I already started with some posts – and I will proceed.

Maybe, you get inspired by these places and next time, it is not Vietnam but the Balkan you travel to!

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