With the return of sunny days, we like to go out into the garden to listen to the gentle chirping of the birds and the reassuring buzzing of the bees. Many species also take advantage of the arrival of spring to show the tip of their snouts, and it would not be surprising if you came across one of these specimens while passing a daisy.
Asp Viper
A protected species which protects us from the small rodents that it puts on its menu, the asp viper is found throughout France in bushes and dry stone walls.
Recognizable by its flat triangle head and vertical pupils, it only bites if surprised, generally preferring to flee. Its bite is only fatal in the event of anaphylactic shock but still requires seeing a doctor.
Hoverfly
Often confused with bees or wasps because of their yellow and black stripes, the hoverfly is actually a Diptera from the fly family. This tiny insect is an excellent ally for gardeners. Its larvae devour aphids, and the adult hoverflies, which feed on nectar and pollen, are wonderful pollinators.
To attract them to the garden, plant poppies, mint or even daisies.
Gray Wagtail
The gray wagtail belongs to the passerine family. It is easily recognized with its black and white plumage with variations of gray, its large thin tail edged in white and its long legs with fingers equipped with large claws.
An insectivore, the gray wagtail lives in open areas, both in urban wastelands and on the edges of ponds.
Swallow
It is the emblem of spring and one of the most elegant birds of our country, with its blue-black plumage and forked tail which gives it the impression of being in evening dress. The swallow is today an endangered species whose population is in decline, due in particular to intensive agriculture which causes its prey to disappear and the destruction of its habitat when it nests along facades.
Also read: Which birds announce spring?
Marten
Unlike its companion the marten, the marten, a solitary animal, rarely comes near homes. To see it, you have to go to the forest, its natural habitat, at nightfall.
The marten has large rounded ears with yellow edges, a chocolate brown coat, and it has an orange-yellow “tie” on the thorax which allows it to be distinguished from the marten. Carnivorous, it also likes to indulge in fruits and insects in summer.
Butterflies
Butterflies, which belong to the large Lepidoptera family, are represented by nearly 5,000 species in France. They can be recognized by their three pairs of legs and their two pairs of wings covered with scales of varied patterns and colors. A coat that owes nothing to chance, because it allows them to regulate their temperature, scare away predators, attract partners and camouflage themselves if necessary.