You may remember our last trip to Spain where Monkey got to see lots of interesting mini beasts with Guru Gramps. Well, we weren’t going to miss the opportunity to go on another bug hunting trip when we visited Spain again recently. We were off bug hunting in the Campo with Guru Gramps again.
The weather in Southern Spain has been rather erratic lately and Dad has really noticed how late the wild flowers have been in coming out. This has had a dramatic effect on the butterflies and moths he’s been spotting in his walks in the Campo. Normally at this time of year he would expect to see upwards of 15 different species in a 2 hour walk. He’d been experiencing walks with no sightings at all.
We arrived in Spain on 28th February, it was sunny in warm in Malaga, it wasn’t where my parents live in the mountains! It was windy and rather cold. Over the next few days we had torrential rain and more rain. Not ideal bug hunting weather, so we’d been off exploring different places. Finally we had a bright, sunny morning and the wind had dropped. It was time for some bug hunting in the Campo! Mum and Dad are so lucky to have the Campo (countryside) literally on their doorstep, within a couple of minutes we’d got the magnifying glass out (a Christmas present from home) and we were on the look out for mini beasts!
It didn’t take long before we came across the most amazing sight. At first glance it looked like huge spiders webs across the verges – hundreds of them. But Guru Gramps was on hand – they were in fact masses of Spanish Tiger Moth caterpillars. We were all stunned by the quantities of them. As we walked further along the track, we saw more and more clumps, caterpillars of various stages. Monkey was enthralled.
The photographs really don’t do the scene justice, they were everywhere. I’d never seen that amount of caterpillars in one place. Guru Gramps promised to show us an example of the Spanish Tiger Moth when we got home.
We continued our walk, even I could tell that the flowers were few and far between and, although we did see some butterflies on our walk, it was nothing compared to other trips. But we were out in the Campo on a lovely sunny morning, Monkey had his stick in hand for most of the time. When we weren’t bug hunting we spotted the odd tractor, and even a hare (you can just make it out in this photo).
I never tire of walking in the Campo, there’s always something new to look at, Monkey loves it. He can really explore. Bug hunting in the Campo is turning into a big adventure. It takes me back to my childhood, my brother and I madly trying to catch butterflies in our nets. We never did quite get the flick of the wrist action my Dad has! Maybe Monkey will get that gene passed on – I hope so.
Before I forget, the caterpillars will turn into these lovely Spanish Tiger Moths!
I’m linking this post up with Country Kids this week.
I love butterflies and totally appreciate moths like these – my other half has a phobia though, he’d hate it! 😀
One of my friends freaks every time I
dragtake her around our local butterfly house – my kind of heavenI think Euan would rather chew his own hand off. There is NO way he’d go in there 😀
Hee hee, takes all sorts to make the world go round 🙂
I love butterflies and moths too, we have an amazing array of them in this country which so many people never see. The campo looks amazing, how lucky your parents are to live there, and you are to visit them.
Sadly they are drastically in decline here, I can’t imagine a garden without butterflies.
Ooooh that’s a lot of bugs!! I’m not sure I’m looking forward to bug hunting when my two are bigger … eugh creepies! x
I grew up surrounded by bugs so it’s the norm for me, but put me in front of a snake – uurgh!
It looks so beautiful there, and what brilliant bug findings!
I love rural Spain, so diverse and where my parents live is so peaceful
Wow, those caterpillars! Look like a fab bug hunt but think I’d have been happier with the scenery! #countrykids
I like both! But it was wonderful seeing Monkey’s expression every time we found another cluster
Wow, some great nature finds, just beautiful! We love butterflies and moths.
I’ve grown up surrounding by them, it’s lovely to see my son getting excited by nature too.
Wow, those clumps of caterpillars are amazing! Fabulous bug hunt x
They were amazing and apparently they are all going their separate ways – wish we could see that.
What great findings and they are such stunning pictures.
Thank you, we had a wonderful walk
How very beautiful and what a great adventure for you, a bug hunt with Guru Gramps! However, I will admit that the sight of those clumps of caterpillars did sent a shiver down my spine but how very fascinating. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
We’ve had an update from Guru Gramps – today the caterpillars are separating and crawling across the track – can you imagine that sight? My Dad doesn’t do camera’s – such a shame
WOW! those moths are amazing, they look like they would give you a bit of a shock if you saw one that big in England though?
You do get them that size Tina, but you only really see them at night
Amazing scenery and great finds. It must be so nice for Monkey to be able to visit and experience these different environments.
He’s very lucky, but sadly probably won’t appreciate it until he’s my age!