Podarcis liolepis liolepis (BOULENGER, 1905) feeding on Lantana camara LINNAEUS, 1753

MARTEN VAN DEN BERG, August 2011

Lantana camara, also known as Bandera Española (Spanish Flag), is a flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many tropical and sub-tropical areas.

On the 9th of August 2011, in a residential garden at Sa Punta in the municipality of Begur (Baix Empordà, Catalonia, Spain), I witnessed a female Podarcis liolepis liolepis tearing of a petal of this flower and digesting it.

Image 1. Female Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

Image 2. Female Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

Image 3. Female Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

Image 4. Female Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

Image 5. Female Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

www.lacerta.de - Original article - published online: 2011-08-20. Author: MARTEN VAN DEN BERG, Purmerenderweg 141, 1461DH Zuidoostbeemster, The Netherlands, E-Mail: martenvdberg@tiscali.nl