Box tree moth,
Cydalima perspectalis

Native to Asia, it has been invading Europe since the 2000s and increasingly the United States in recent years. It has no natural enemies in Europe and has already contributed to the loss of entire forest areas. The caterpillars are poisonous. In its homeland in Asia, the Asian hornet is a natural predator. Although the Asian hornet is also spreading more and more in Europe, this is also a problem, because the Asian hornet also hunts bees and the European bees are not as defensive as the Asian bees.

The appearance and disappearance of individual species can have far-reaching consequences not only for wildlife but also for human livelihoods.

A dancing caterpillar of the brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea). 🐛🎵
It's German name is Goldafter. 💩💰😅 Hairs from those caterpillars are toxic for humans. They cause an itchy rash! ☠ At the moment, there are many in the bushes along the railway tracks, which they eat bare.
Music: "Shrimp Rich" by septahelix (2019 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0)

I haven't seen many animals on my way from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes. It already was dusk when I almost reached my destination. That's the time of owl butterflies! They are pretty large (65 - 200 mm). The name comes from those eye spots on their wings. Do you know the purpose of those spots?

Hummingbird hawk-moth,
Macroglossum stellaratum
(06/2017 in Oberursel, Germany)

Although we don't have hummingbirds in Europe, some are spotted sometimes. Due to their fast wing movements this diurnal moth looks very big in flight. The moth performs hummingbird-like flight maneuvers and makes an impressive sound. They are migratory butterflies and spend the summer in northern Eurasia. In winter, they fly to southern Eurasia and North Africa. There are also transition areas with permanent habitat. However, the borders are shifting due to global warming.

Messengers
(Created 11/2007)

Virtual Butterfly Effect
(Created 06/2008)