Cleopatra Disguised... as a leaf The Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) is an elegant butterfly belonging to the Pieridae family. The male has brightly yellow-colored forewings with a wide orange spot. However, the flashy appearance disappears when the butterfly is at rest: with closed wings, it resembles a pale withered leaf ; the pronounced wing veins enhance its camouflage. On the other hand, the female has softer colors, with a greenish hue. Adults spend the winter in a kind of hibernation; it is one of the first butterflies to appear in spring. Did you know? The Cleopatra can be considered a indicator [...]

The spindle Autumn Red The spindle (scientific name Euonymus europaeus) is a small tree or large shrub that grows in woods and hedges, on hillsides and in medium mountain areas. For much of the year, this plant is inconspicuous; its flowers are tiny and greenish, but in the autumn, it flaunts its striking dark red or red-pink leaves . Even the fruits, with their peculiar four-lobed shape, turn red or dark pink when mature and open up to reveal seeds of a vibrant orange color. Spindles, along with other species, are well-suited for the construction of rural hedges and noise-blocking [...]

Hairy-footed flower bee A solitary bee The scientific name of this species is Anthophora plumipes, from the Apidae family. It resembles a small bumblebee, but it is actually a solitary bee. The males are distinguished from the females by tufts of long hair on their legs (from which their name comes) and a white snout. The females are dark in color. With their long and slender proboscis, they feed on flower nectar, preferably those with deep corollas. They have a swift flight and can also feed while hovering in place These bees appear at the beginning of spring and prefer [...]