Some impressions of the area around Berlaar. Isn't it wonderful?☯️

Turnhouts Vennengebied is an important heathland in Flanders with moors, heaths and meadows. The nature reserve covers an area of more than 500 ha. Many animals can be seen, including magical moments with grazing sheep in the woods.✨

🌲🌾🐑🌲

It is important that some areas are kept free through grazing so that the unique habitats are not lost due to bush and forest cover. In 1999 a nature development project started to restore the landscape. Land was exchanged in consultation with farmers. Particularly sensitive areas were renovated in this way.

European collared dove,
Streptopelia decaocto
(03/2021 in Berlaar, Belgium)

The original distribution of this pigeon species reached from Turkey to Japan. It has been spreading very quickly in Europe since the 1930s. The European collared dove appeared in Germany in 1945, in Belgium in 1950 and in Great Britain in 1953. In 1974, fewer than 50 doves escaped captivity in the Bahamas. They spread to Florida and now they are found in almost every state in the U.S. as well as in Mexico.

European collared doves are not migratory, but strongly dispersive. They breed close to human habitation. Almost every nest is within 1 km of inhabited buildings. They avoid forest areas, but need trees to breed (preferably conifers).

Green shield bug,
Palomena prasina
(07/2021 in Oberursel)


Little stinker in its fourth instar. Two moults remain until adulthood. It's a very common European species. You can find them from North Africa across Europe to Central Asia. It prefers to live on deciduous trees (linden, alder), bushes, nettles and thistles. I found this one below a linden tree. In German we call them Grüne Stinkwanze (green stink bug). My friends from North America have a very similar bug with that name (Chinavia hilaris). But they differ much in color in their larval stage and have a few small differences as adults. Both species are member of the Pentatomidae family, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. They have in common that they release a pungent defensive spray when threatened, disturbed or crrrrushhhhed.💚

Clogmia albipunctata
🚽 Bathrom 🦋 moth 🦟 midge!

This cute member of the Psychodidae family can reach a length of 3-5 millimeters. It only lives about 12 days as an adult. If it doesn't slurp water or flower nectar, it just hangs on some walls or trees.✌️

It's distribution is worldwide in tropical and temperate areas. The origin of their distribution is unknown.

Their larvae live in aquatic environments and take about 18 days to turn into a pupa, which develops into an adult after 5 days.

Because of their fine water-repellent hairs, adults and larvae are difficult to drown and are not affected by contact with most water-borne toxins. They can also handle very high temperatures.

African Penguin
(Spheniscus demersus)
2004 @dallaszoo 🏙️

The only penguin species of Africa. 🌍

It's expected to be extinct in the wild in a few years.⚰️

I wish we could just put a band-aid on everything... 🩹

Check @sanccob 🌠

Great banded furrow bee (male)
Halictus scabiosae

(20.06.2020 in Oberursel, Germany)

Yesterday, on a rainy summer night, somewhere between kindergarten and cemetery, I met these two friends.😁

The snail is a garden snail (Cornu aspersum). A globally invasive species originally native to the Mediterranean region. It used to be assigned to the Roman snail, but represents a genus of its own. Like the Roman snail, this species is also bred as a food snail. Even to a greater extent than the Roman snail.🐌

The isopod is a common striped woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum). A very widespread species of woodlice in Europe. Because it can run exceptionally fast, it is called the fast woodlouse.💨

Both species have a beautiful eel line.❤️

Looks like the snail is the big boss (Jabba) and the isopod is his nimble sidekick who tells him the latest news from the neighborhood.🤣

Oh Jim! You are so...
- My name is Jeff!
Oooh, Jeff! 💦💕

Sorry, I can't only post photos of flowers and bees.
🐝💐😇😜

🐝 Bee wild and sweet! 🐝

Who can help me with the species? I thought of a male Halictus scabiosae (20.06.2020 in Oberursel, Germany).