Author Topic: Walking around corfu  (Read 341443 times)

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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #300 on: October 13, 2019, 10:45:00 AM »


HI
Cockchafer

NEIL NO

You will see this insect early spring and early summer

The cockchafer, colloquially called May bug or doodlebug, is a European beetle of the genus Melolontha, in the family Scarabaeidae.
Once abundant throughout Europe and a major pest in the periodical years of "mass flight", it had been nearly eradicated in the middle of the 20th century through extensive use of pesticides and has even been locally exterminated in many regions. However, since an increase in regulation of pest control beginning in the 1980s, its numbers have started to grow again.
 The adults are a common sight in the spring and early summer evenings as they habitually fly into lamps and windows only to fall to the ground beneath.
Adults of the common cockchafer reach sizes of 25–30 mm; the forest cockchafer is a little smaller (20–25 mm). The two species can best be distinguished by the form of their tail end: it is long and slender in the common cockchafer, but shorter and knob-shaped at the end in the forest cockchafer. Both have a brown colour.
Male cockchafers have seven "leaves" on their antennae, whereas the females have only six.
Adults appear at the end of April or in May and live for about five to seven weeks. After about two weeks, the female begins laying eggs, which she buries about 10 to 20 cm deep in the earth. She may do this several times until she has laid between 60 and 80 eggs. The common cockchafer lays its eggs in fields, whereas the Forest Cockchafer stays in the vicinity of the trees. The preferred food for adults is oak leaves, but they will also feed on conifer needles.
Life begins as an egg laid around June – July, hatching into a white grub which lives underground. Grubs can spend 3 years underground (up to 5 years in colder climates) until they pupate. As grubs they munch on roots and tubers until they reach around 4cm. This is the point when they pupate, emerging as an adult beetle (or imago) in the spring. They live as adults for a mere six weeks during which time the female can lay as many as 80 eggs.
The cockchafer is sometimes known as the doodlebug. Because of the buzz of its flight, this nickname was used for Germany's V-1 flying bomb in World War II. Cockchafers are also called May bugs because of the time of year when they tend to emerge.
They are active in late evening and enter buildings through open windows or down chimneys. They do not bite or sting and are not a danger to health. ... Put up fine mesh over door and window to stop them entering your home. We do not provide pest control treatment for Cockchafers as they only live up to six weeks.
HABITAT
Adult Cockchafers are found on and around trees and shrubs in gardens, parks, field hedgerows and woodland margins, feeding on leaves and flowers. The larvae, sometimes called rookworms, live in the soil and eat the roots of vegetables and grasses.

Ther are currently no insecticidal products licensed to treat cockchafers. Control is biological with the use of nematodes, which are watered into the soil and attack the cockchafer grub. Control: Cockchafers were once very abundant, before the advent of pesticides took them to near extinction in some parts of Europe.
In ancient Greece, young boys used to catch the unwitting cockchafer, and tether it by tying a thread around its feet, amusing themselves by watch the poor chap fly aimlessly around in spirals.
 A German newspaper from Fulda from the 1920s tells of students eating sugar-coated cockchafers.





Cockchafer soup is a European dish made from the cockchafer insect.
 

Fried Cockchafer Bug   Thai Food


Roasted Cockchafer Grubs in Paper
Take a handful of freshly harvested cockchafer grubs and season them with salt and pepper.

Roll the grubs in a mixture of flour and fine bread crumbs.

Butter some pieces of baking paper, or aluminium foil. Feel free to use lots of butter, this is a French recipe.

Roll up your floured grubs inside the paper or foil, and bake them in the hot ashes of your wood fire (or, your oven). Take them out when crispy.
Something different for sunday dinner

Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #301 on: October 13, 2019, 10:12:48 PM »
Well , Kevin , dunno wot to say about a roasted cockchafer served in paper, or even sugar coated "chafers" - Wot ever I say could be deemd as a .......,,,,,,,,,"cock (chafer) up.!!
Maybe yer aving a laff with yer chaff?? - Who knows??
Cheers
Negg

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #302 on: October 14, 2019, 09:23:14 AM »


HI

Neil i thought you was going to say you see a lot of cockchafer on the north beach haha

Most of you would have seen this animal aroud Arillas or Corfu

Donkey

Equus africanus asinus is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years.
A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet;
Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC, probably in Egypt or Mesopotamia,
There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. Working donkeys are often associated with those living at or below subsistence levels. Small numbers of donkeys are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries.
They continue to fill important roles in many places today. While domesticated species are increasing in numbers, the African wild ass is an endangered species. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.
Family:   Equidae
Genus:   Equus
Species:   E. africanus
Subspecies:   E. a. asinus
Donkeys are able to carry up to twice their own body weight,
They are more independent than horses and harder to train
China has more donkeys than any other country in the world.
In the U.S., donkeys are kept as pets or to breed mules.
Mules are actually a very special mix - they have a donkey father and horse mother, and they often inherit the best qualities of both
For example, they can be faster than donkeys and more intelligent than horses
They can also live for a very long time
Mules born from a donkey mother and horse father are known as hinnys and tend not to be as strong as mules
Donkeys live up to 40 years if given proper care.
In developed countries where their use as beasts of burden has disappeared, donkeys are used to sire mules, to guard sheep, for donkey rides for children or tourists, and as pets. Donkeys may be pastured or stabled with horses and ponies, and are thought to have a calming effect on nervous horses. If a donkey is introduced to a mare and foal, the foal may turn to the donkey for support after it has been weaned from its mother.

Uses
During World War I John Simpson Kirkpatrick, a British stretcher bearer serving with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and Richard Alexander "Dick" Henderson of the New Zealand Medical Corps used donkeys to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield at Gallipoli
The donkey is the cheapest form of agricultural power in poorer countries in the world
 In Italy, which has the highest consumption of equine meat in Europe and where donkey meat is the main ingredient of several regional dishes, about 1000 donkeys were slaughtered in 2010, yielding approximately 100 tonnes of meat
In China, donkey meat is considered a delicacy with some restaurants specializing in such dishes, and Guo Li Zhuang restaurants offer the genitals of donkeys in dishes. Donkey-hide gelatin is produced by soaking and stewing the hide to make a traditional Chinese medicine product. Ejiao, the gelatine produced by boiling donkey skins, can sell for up to $388 per kilo, at October 2017 prices
In Arillas at the wine festival brining in the grapes
In films
In the pits coal mines


https://www.corfu-donkeys.com/



Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #303 on: October 14, 2019, 06:32:41 PM »
Love Donkeys , Kevin , and I have made a friend with a local one.

I call him "Ho-Tey" and I am sure every one has heard of "Donkey Ho-Tey" -  There was a book once , I remember!
Cheers
Negg
and................ good to see you good 'ole guys keeping the Forum interest going. - BRAVO!!!!

and.... what is this part of your post that says "An African Wild Ass" ???? - Don't think my pacemaker could handle that!!!

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #304 on: October 14, 2019, 06:42:00 PM »


Hi Neil

I think everyone has gone over to Facebook I am not on F/B
There is only a few now what contribute now

Kev

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #305 on: October 15, 2019, 09:40:48 AM »


HI

Ginger

Zingiber officinale  a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of leaves) about a meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades. The inflorescences bear pale yellow with purple flowers and arise directly from the rhizome on separate shoots.
Family:   Zingiberaceae
Genus:   Zingiber
Species:   Z. officinale
Ginger originated from Island Southeast Asia. It is a true cultigen and does not exist in its wild state.The most ancient evidence of its domestication is among the Austronesian peoples where it was among several species of ginger cultivated and exploited since ancient times
From India, it was also carried by traders into the Middle East and the Mediterranean by around the 1st century CE. It was primarily grown in southern India and the Greater Sunda Islands during the spice trade, along with peppers, cloves, and numerous other spices.
Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers. Because of its aesthetic appeal and the adaptation of the plant to warm climates, it is often used as landscaping around subtropical homes. It is a perennial reed-like plant with annual leafy stems, about a meter (3 to 4 feet) tall. Traditionally, the rhizome is gathered when the stalk withers; it is immediately scalded, or washed and scraped, to kill it and prevent sprouting. The fragrant perisperm of the Zingiberaceae is used as sweetmeats by Bantu, and also as a condiment and sialagogue.

Hedychium coccineum Is the hardy ginger plant edible?:   Like its cousin, the culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale), ginger lilies have edible roots...but, they do not have much flavor and just because they are edible does not mean you'll like to cook with them. However ginger lily flowers produce essential oils that are very tasty. Both the flower buds and open flowers can be used in cooking, much like its other cousin, the mioga ginger, Zingiber myoga. You can grow this plant in the UK

Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae, to which also belong turmeric (Curcuma longa), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), and galangal. Ginger originated in Island Southeast Asia and was likely domesticated first by the Austronesian peoples. It was transported with them throughout the Indo-Pacific during the Austronesian expansion (c. 5,000 BP), reaching as far as Hawaii. Ginger was also one of the first spices exported from Asia, arriving in Europe with the spice trade, and was used by ancient Greeks and Romans. The distantly related dicots in the genus Asarum are commonly called wild ginger because of their similar taste.
Ginger produces a spicy, fragrant spice.
Ginger beer is one of the traditional Corfu products, τσιτσιμπύρα (tsitsibira) in greek. Introduced by the British, this refreshing drink with a unique taste is still very widespread all overthe island http://chimarios.com/







NONE


Uses  They are often pickled in vinegar or sherry as a snack or cooked as an ingredient in many dishes. They can be steeped in boiling water to make ginger herb tea, to which honey may be added. Ginger can be made into candy or ginger wine.Mature ginger rhizomes are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from ginger roots is often used as a seasoning in Indian recipes and is a common ingredient of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and many South Asian cuisines for flavoring dishes such as seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes.cakes,
Shampoo,ginger ale,gingerbread, cookies, Ginger oil,


Ginger Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea, Especially Morning Sickness. ...
Ginger May Reduce Muscle Pain and Soreness. ...
The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Can Help With Osteoarthritis.
Lower Blood Sugars and Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors
 Treat Chronic Indigestion
Reduce Menstrual Pain
Lower Cholesterol Levels
Help Prevent Cancer
Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease
Help Fight Infections


Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #306 on: October 21, 2019, 10:45:36 PM »
So , here's one for the Arillas Gardener. - (Capital G on gardener means respect)
What , pray is this fungus???

Cheers
Negg

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #307 on: October 22, 2019, 08:22:14 AM »


HI Neil

On the job looking for the fungi

when i find him it will be a laugh haha

Kev

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #308 on: October 22, 2019, 09:24:20 AM »



HI

Sandflies

Have you been bitten on the beach or near the beach by flies and it makes you jump

Phlebotomine Known as sand flies,Sandfly, sand gnat, sandflea, granny nipper, chitra, punkie, or punky.
Sand flies occur throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, as well as in temperate zones. Phlebotomus spp. occurs in Africa, where it is an important vector in certain regions, Europe (particularly the Mediterranean region the Middle East and Asia particularly the Indian subcontinent
 A number of sand fly species are present in Europe, and in recent years, their range has increased.
The island of Corfu is an endemic area of human leishmaniasis, mainly visceral and secondly cutaneous. In August 1996, a survey of phlebotomine sandflies was conducted throughout the whole island. Using castor-oil paper traps, a total of 2,615 sandflies were caught.The temperature in northern Europe is likely to become milder and precipitation will increase. In addition, winter temperatures will increase at higher altitudes. These climatic changes are predicted to lead to an expansion in the range of phlebotomine sand flies in Europe, as they will be able to survive in areas that are uninhabitable today, including large areas of north-western and central Europe and at higher altitudes in regions where they are already established . It is predicted that should climate change result in suitable temperatures, sand fly species could rapidly establish in countries currently on the edge of their range, including inland Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as along the Atlantic coast
HABITAT
Sand flies need humid environments and, as their name implies, prefer sandy areas around beaches, lagoons and mangroves. The females will also lay eggs in moist soils around ponds, creeks, streams, lakes and dripping air conditioners.
Bites from sandflies (also known as blackflies) are a familiar nuisance during the warmer months. As with mosquitoes, it's only the females that bite and they use the extra nutrients from blood to produce more eggs. ... Sandflies don't just feed on humans but will attack other mammals and birds too.
In general, sand fly bites are painful and may cause red bumps and blisters. These bumps and blisters can become infected or cause skin inflammation, or dermatitis. Sand flies transmit diseases to animals and humans, including a parasitic disease called leishmaniasis. ... There are no vaccinations to prevent leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis is a treatable and curable disease, which requires an immunocompetent system because medicines will not get rid of the parasite from the body, thus the risk of relapse if immunosuppression occurs. All patients diagnosed as with visceral leishmaniasis require prompt and complete treatment.
Over-the-counter repellents with high concentrations of DEET or picaridin are proven to work, but may not be suitable for some people, e.g. people with sensitive skin and pregnant women. However, the effectiveness of DEET and picaridin products seems to differ among individuals with some people reporting better results with one product over another while other people finding neither product effective for them. This may be partially due to various species living in different areas.
A particular extract of Lemon Eucalyptus oil (not the essential oil) has now been shown to be as effective as DEET in various studies.
Most information on repellents focuses on mosquitoes, but mosquito repellents are effective for sandflies and midges as well.
Lavender Oil Spray or Candles – Lavender Oil is repellent for sand gnats. You can also spray or burn them to keep sand flies away. Orange Peel Extracts – This a homemade remedy. You can keep orange peel extracts at windows, balcony, terrace, doors, or any other entry or exit to keep the biting midges away.








Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #309 on: October 22, 2019, 03:51:28 PM »
Thanks Kevin , Don't think I'll ever go on the beach again. - Being attacked by Zombies is a better option (Although the bite is a tad bigger!)
Cheers
Negg

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #310 on: October 23, 2019, 09:35:18 AM »



HI

Corfu Snakes

If you been lucky or not to see one of Corfu snakes lovely reptiles.
I have seen a large snake at Kassiopi and a very large snake on north beach [Neil i know what you are thinking BUT NO] the snake must have fell from the top the grass and shrubs area


Four-Lined Snake

Named so because of the four black lines visible along the length of its body. This snake can grow to 2.5 metres in length.  It is a non venomous and fairly placid snake and although it can bite it very rarely does and has been known to be handled easily – although
     

Nose-Horned Viper

Caution is the keyword if you come across one of these snakes as they are venomous and very dangerous with a particularly long strike. They are easily identified because of pronounced horn near the tip of their noses. They grow to around 2 to 3 feet in length. As with all snakes it will avoid coming near to humans if at all possible and will only be aggressive if it feels threatened, however i would advise viewing at a distance of 10 metres at least and never corner them.
   

Montpellier Snake

Another fairly large snake that is typically 1.5 to 2 metres in length when fully grown. This snake can be aggressive if cornered and may even rear up. Although not deadly they can exact a fairly painful bite so best viewed as always at a safe distance.
   


Caspian Whip Snake

Another fairly aggressive, but non venomous snake that again will bite if threatened. This snake grows to approximately 2 metres in length. They are usually identified by a brownish back and cream coloured belly.
   

The Sand Boa

 The Sand Boa is also known as the Javelin sand boa. It is a species of snake in the Boidae family, or Giant Snakes.
It can reach a length of plus minus 80 centimeters, so it's the kid brother of the Boa Constrictor, which can be 5 meters in length. Most visitors of Corfu consider that as a benefit.
The coloring varies quite. It's back is mostly sand colored, but can also be grayish, tawny, brownish, or reddish, with darker blotches or bars in an irregular patchwork. It usually has a dark streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth. The belly side is whitish or yellowish. It is heavy-bodied and has a short blunt tail.
     

Characteristics
The Sand Boa lives preferably in dry, sandy areas, definitely not in forests or meadowland. His aversion for abundant vegetation lies in the way it hunts. The snake digs itself in and waits in ambush for prey to come. Because of its camouflage it will not be noticed by many of his favorite snacks. When a small mammal, a bird or a lizard comes by, not aware of the danger, the snake comes up with the speed of a skyrocket and grabs this tasty bite. Is it a small portion it will be swallowed alive. When the victim is bigger than, let's say, a hamster, it will be strangled before it will sink into eternal darkness.

Leopard Snake

Also known as the European Ratsnake. This is a species of the non venomous Colubrid, or smooth scaled snake.
The Leopard Snake is mostly gray coloured with dorsal reddish/brown transverse blotches with black borders. On each side is a series of smaller black spots, alternating with the dorsal blotches. The underside is white, checkered with black.
Adults Leopard Snakes may attain 90 cm in length. They experience the sunny side of life, lying on stoney places and cairns enjoying the heat. They love the summers on Corfu, just like most people.
Their natural habitat is shrubby vegetation, pastureland, plantations, and rural gardens. There they prey on small mammals and birds, killing them by strangulation.
The propagation of the Leopard Snake is, from our point of view, bizar. When mating, the male bites the female in the head or neck. Then, as an atonement, he wraps his body around his wife. How sweet!
   

Grass snake

This snake is sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake. It's a non-venomous and harmless snake which rarely bites. Sometimes it will rear up if threatened. Defending method is to play dead with its mouth open.
It is often found near water. That's probably the explanation, Natrix is probably derived from the Latin expression "to swim". It's typically dark green/brownish in colour with a characteristic yellow collar behind the head. That might explain the alternative name Ringed Snake. The belly is whitish with irregular blocks of black. The larger copies can reach up to almost 2 meters in length, but this is pretty rare. Females are considerably larger than males (approximately 50 centimeters) when fully grown. Grass snakes prey mainly on amphibians, they love toads and frogs. You can often find this snake on watersides, searching for prey. They use their sight and sense of smell to catch their prey. Occasionally the Grass Snake eat small mammals and even fish. But it's a picky character: dead prey items are never taken.
Grass snakes are strong swimmers and can be found close to lakes, ponds and brooks. Though most of 'm prefer to be in open woodland.
   

Glass Lizard

The Glass Lizard or Glass Snake is a so called Ophisaurus (from the Greek word snake-lizard). Officially it is not a snake, it's a reptile species that resemble snakes, but are actually lizards. Although most species have no legs, their head shapes, movable eyelids, and external ear openings identify them as lizards.
These animals are also known as jointed snakes. They reach lengths of 1 meter or more, but that's only because they have a very long tail (approximately two-third of the total length).
utubeThe name Glass Snake is because their tails are easily broken, just like lizards. The tail can break into several pieces, like glass. When attacked by a predator, they drop off a part of the tail, and away they go, leaving the assailant in confusion. Bye sucker!
The Glass Lizards diet consists primarily of arthropods, snails and small mammals as well as insects, spiders, small reptiles, and young rodents.
Some Glass Lizards give birth to live young, others lay eggs. That's weird
   

Dice Snake

This is a European non-venomous snake belonging to the family of Colubridae, the so called Smooth Scaled type. It is not only found in the Balkan and mainland Greece, among others, but on Corfu too.
Dice snakes prefer water as a home. With their slender body and a triangular, flat head with pointed snout, they can swim very fast. Which is a benefit for the hunt. Not weird that They usually eat fish, although sometimes they eat amphibians like frogs, salamanders and toads. Who wouldn't when you're able to get them for free?
But they are ambhibious so sometimes you can see them in woodland or at a plain. As long as there is some water nearby.
Preferably they stay into dry holes next to the water. The colours are olive green to dark brown (almost black), although it can be greenish gray too. Males will be less than a meter, females can grow up to 1.3 meters in length.
It's a shy species, so they definitely won't visit you at your apartment or hotel, nor will they bother you when you are walking. Still you can meet them sometimes but it won't bite. They have different ways to defend themselves. One of the tactics they use for defense is playing dead. Another way is to let out a very bad smell when chased or attacked. So you better not grab a 'dead' Dice Snake or you will be avoided for the rest of you Corfu holidays.
     

Dahl's Whip Snake

This snake lives among others in Mediterranean areas. So you will find it on Corfu.
This beautiful snake is an elegant and slender type with a length up to one and a half meter. The color of the dorsal side is light brownish with a reddish tinge. The front of the body is a bit dark, with bluish/gray spots with white edging. The ventral side is pale yellow.
This is a fast-moving snake, doing its activities by day. It feeds on lizards and small rodents. The breeding period is in May/June. The Young ones hatch in August or September. Their habitat is found in dry, stony or rocky environments with sparse grass and shrubs, sparse forests. Commonly found in walls of ordinal stone, like a fortress wall and more.
   

Cat Snake
This snake belongs to the family of smooth scaled snakes (Colubridae). When mature they reach a length of one meter.
When looking it in the eyes, you know right away why it's called a Cat Snake. The striking large eyes have vertical pupils, just like the Felix Domesticus. If it starts to purr when you pet it is not known. Despite they are not venomous for humans, you better not try to find out.
This species is not aggressive, it's not even shy for humans. They like to crawl around through gardens and meadows, enjoying the grass and the flowers. They will start to hiss if you try to step on them. Sportive, no?
The colour of the skin is brownish with symetric dark spots on the back. The Cat Snake loves heat, so you will find it at rocks and cairns, lying in the sun, working at their tan. They love Corfu, that's for sure!
It feeds on lizards and gecko's. As opposed to most of his congeners, the Cat Snake hunts at night. It is helped by some kind of a heat detector with which it can track down pray. Remarkable: It won't catch rats or mice. The venom that's injected will not kill rodents, just lizards and gecko's. So humans don't have to fear the Cat Snake because of its venom.
     

Balkan Whip Snake

 This is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. Its natural habitat is shrubby vegetation, pastureland, plantations and rural gardens.
The Balkan whip snake is slender with smooth scales. Usually the're under a metre long, only by exception they reach a length of 125 cm. The head and front of the body are olive-grey or yellowish-brown with dark spots separated by paler areas. There are small white spots on some of the scales. The Balkan Whip Snake eyes are prominent in the head with round pupils.
The Balkan whip snake lives by day, sleeps at night, so it got some human behaviour. It prefer to stay ground level, although they don't mind to do some climbing through low vegetation to get something to eat. This fast and agile snake feeds on lizards, insects such as grasshoppers, tiny birds and mammals.
During wintertime it stays in rock fissures, animal burrows or abandoned buildings. It's a social, or shall we say, economic snake, often it will share their hibernating site with other snakes.
     


Snakes will not harm you only if threaten or stepped on

Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #311 on: October 24, 2019, 04:39:12 PM »
Kevin
That's the best pic, I can get , of that fungi.
Nearest tree is around 7 metres away.
Cheers
Negg

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #312 on: October 25, 2019, 09:03:31 AM »


HI
This fungi is not easy there are Around 120,000 species of fungi have been described by taxonomists, but the global biodiversity of the fungus kingdom is not fully understood. A 2017 estimate suggests there may be between 2.2 and 3.8 million species. In mycology, species have historically been distinguished by a variety of methods and concepts.
I have aasked Roger Phillips i am hoping he will reply  [Roger Phillips is one of the world's leading mushroom specialists with over 40 years' of expertise of studying fungi in the wild. Roger's book, 'Mushrooms', first published in 2006 has been hugely successful with more than 2 million copies sold worldwide in 7 European languages.]
I think it is a jack-o-lantern mushroom but others look like it as well some you can eat others you you be wearing a wooden box

https://www.google.com/search?q=jack-o-lantern+mushroom&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB864GB864&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjilY7Z2bblAhVUSsAKHSqtC_cQ_AUIEigB&biw=1267&bih=872

Online Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #313 on: October 25, 2019, 09:35:19 AM »
Kevin
I think you could be right, there.
Cheers
Negg

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #314 on: October 27, 2019, 02:05:25 PM »


HI

Tortoise

I have not seen a Tortise in Arillas i have been reading you can get them on Corfu

Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni ) is a species in the genus Testudo. Two subspecies are known: the western Hermann's tortoise (T. h. hermanni ) and the eastern Hermann's tortoise (T. h. boettgeri ).
Corfu is host to Hermans Tortoises (Testudo Hermani) which are found mainly in the undergrowth. They eat mainly flower, herbs and weed. They are now a protected species so please don't consider taking one home as a pet. They are actually freely available in Pet Shops across the UK from home grown licensed breeders.
Hermann's tortoises are small to medium-sized tortoises from southern Europe. Young animals and some adults have attractive black and yellow-patterned carapaces, although the brightness may fade with age to a less distinct gray, straw, or yellow coloration. They have slightly hooked upper jaws and, like other tortoises, possess no teeth just strong, horny beaks.Their scaly limbs are greyish to brown, with some yellow markings, and their tails bear a spur (a horny spike) at the tip. Adult males have particularly long and thick tails, and well-developed spurs, distinguishing them from females.
The eastern subspecies T. h. boettgeri is much larger than the western T. h. hermanni, reaching sizes up to 28 cm (11 in) in length. A specimen of this size may weigh 3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lb). T. h. hermanni rarely grows larger than 18 cm (7.1 in). Some adult specimens are as small as 7 cm (2.8 in).
When you are walking though long Vegetation you could be treading on them
The subspecies T. h. hermanni includes the former subspecies T. h. robertmertensi and has a number of local forms. It has a highly arched shell with an intensive coloration, with its yellow coloration making a strong contrast to the dark patches. The colors wash out somewhat in older animals, but the intense yellow is often maintained. The underside has two connected black bands along the central seam.
The coloration of the head ranges from dark green to yellowish, with isolated dark patches. A particular characteristic is a yellow fleck on the cheek found in most specimens, although not in all; T. h. robertmertensi is the name of a morph with very prominent cheek spots. Generally, the forelegs have no black pigmentation on their undersides. The base of the claws is often lightly colored. The tail in males is larger than in females and possesses a spike. Generally, the shell protecting the tail is divided. A few specimens can be found with undivided shells, similar to the Greek tortoise.
On They eat mainly flower, herbs and weed. Tortoises and Turtles They are now a protected species so please don't consider taking one home as a pet.
Early in the morning, the animals leave their nightly shelters, which are usually hollows protected by thick bushes or hedges, to bask in the sun and warm their bodies. They then roam about in search of food. known to eat dandelions, clover, and lettuce, as well as the leaves, flowers, and pods of almost all legumes.
Around midday, the sun becomes too hot for the tortoises, so they return to their hiding places. They have a good sense of direction to enable them to return.  In the late afternoon, they leave their shelters again and return to feeding.
In late February, Hermann’s tortoises emerge from under bushes or old rotting wood, where they spend the winter months hibernating, buried in a bed of dead leaves. And commence courtship and mating
Courtship is a rough affair for the female, which is pursued, rammed, and bitten by the male, before being mounted. Aggression is also seen between rival males during the breeding season, which can result in ramming contests.
Between May and July, female Hermann’s tortoises deposit between two and 12 eggs into flask-shaped nests dug into the soil,[6] up to 10 cm (3.9 in) deep. Most females lay more than one clutch each season. The pinkish-white eggs are incubated for around 90 days and, like many reptiles, the temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines the hatchlings sex. At 26 °C, only males will be produced, while at 30 °C, all the hatchlings will be female.Young Hermann’s tortoises emerge just after the start of the heavy autumn rains in early September and spend the first four or five years of their lives within just a few metres of their nests. If the rains do not come, or if nesting took place late in the year, the eggs will still hatch, but the young will remain underground and not emerge until the following spring. Until the age of six or eight, when the hard shell becomes fully developed, the young tortoises are very vulnerable to predators and may fall prey to rats, badgers, magpies, foxes, wild boar, and many other animals. If they survive these threats, the longevity of Hermann’s tortoises is around 30 years. One rare record of longevity is 31.7 years. Compared to other tortoises (e.g. Testudo graeca), the longevity might be underestimated and many sources are reporting they might live 90 years or more.




   


 


 

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