{"id":6390,"date":"2023-08-25T15:54:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T13:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/?p=6390"},"modified":"2023-08-25T17:18:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T15:18:02","slug":"east-bohemian-sahara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/2023\/08\/25\/east-bohemian-sahara\/","title":{"rendered":"East Bohemian Sahara"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>According to one traditional saying, every coin has two sides. And everything has its sunny side and its dark side. Perhaps none of the nature lovers will look for something nice and positive on the masts of long-distance high-voltage power lines. They hide the landscape for kilometers and a wide strip of land below stays with no further use. Such a situation occurred many years ago in Eastern Bohemia near the village of \u010ceperka. In the years 1959\u20131960, the thermal power station Opatovice nad Labem was built not far from this place. A four-step power line headed west from this power station and cut a pine forest at the southern edge of \u010ceperka with an almost hundred-meter-wide gap. This forest was planted on very valuable location &#8211; the sands of Elbe river. So the unique biotopes specific for areas of bare sand and gravel disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig1\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-f31c3493839ec82fc900d35f88682d86 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig1-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/20230624_152709.jpg\" title=\"20230624_152709\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/20230624_152709.jpg\" alt=\"Czech Sahara\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Czech Sahara<br\/>20230624_152709<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For many decades, the administrator of the distribution network regularly cut and removed encroaching trees in this forestless area, where the original sand-loving species of plants and animals gradually began to return. The shock occurred in 2009, when they found out that energy workers had changed the technology of caring for areas under the high voltage, and instead of taking the cut material away or dumping it somewhere on the edge, they mulched it and spread it over the area. A real disaster for gerbil-loving communities. Thanks to the willingness of the administrator of the distribution network and the care of the land association of Velkojarom\u011b\u0159, the regular cutting of invasive trees was started. On this more than seven-hectare area, communities close to the original sands of Elbe river have been restored with the occurrence of a number of rare and endangered plants and animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig2\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-e0c63efd7f7db7e92434690dfa8d94dc jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig2-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1182tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A1182tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1182tit.jpg\" alt=\"Metallic-colored beetle Cryptocephalus androgyne\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Metallic-colored beetle Cryptocephalus androgyne<br\/>B12A1182tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I have been planning to visit this interesting place for a long time. I finally did it in June 2023. Since there were only macro lenses in my camera bag, my main photographic targets were members of the local insect kingdom. And I was definitely not disappointed. A warm, sunny location with a mosaic of mowed and unmowed meadows, framed by a mature pine and deciduous forest with many dug-out pools, provided suitable conditions for an abundant spectrum of insect representatives, some of which were willing to be models for me.<br>The most valuable finding was the first one.  The beautiful, metallic-colored beetle Cryptocephalus androgyne is classified as &#8220;threatened&#8221; in Czech republic. It tucks its head under the chest shield, and this is where its Czech and latin names come from. He was caught in his typical habitat, on yellow meadow flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig3\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-4fa3530aee78e074b3baa187d77fcf98 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig3-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/crop2tit.jpg\" title=\"crop2tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/crop2tit.jpg\" alt=\"Metallic-colored beetle Cryptocephalus androgyne\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Metallic-colored beetle Cryptocephalus androgyne<br\/>crop2tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>But a macro photographer can also enjoy far less rare entomological specimens. Especially when they show the photographer some interesting action. Like these fragile, but very lively little Long hoverfly \u00a0(Sphaerophoria scripta), which stood only because they were enjoying their intimate moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig4\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-8609ddddfbc04504e3e494565d030428 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig4-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1202tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A1202tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1202tit.jpg\" alt=\"Long hoverfly  (Sphaerophoria scripta)\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Long hoverfly  (Sphaerophoria scripta)<br\/>B12A1202tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The meadow under the high voltage wires was full of spring mood that day. Similar to the hoverfly, the strikingly yellow-colored small beetles <a>Cteniopus sulphureus <\/a>also enjoyed life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig5\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-267dd6024ec281cc4260bcf62f30e1ba jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig5-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1190tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A1190tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1190tit.jpg\" alt=\"Yellow-colored small beetles Cteniopus sulphureus\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Yellow-colored small beetles Cteniopus sulphureus<br\/>B12A1190tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, some types of butterflies, such as this Six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae), has completed their courtship and finished their biological role and deposited their eggs in safe places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig6\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-aa963420bbff8a960c269a8cd0b4a890 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig6-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/croptit.jpg\" title=\"croptit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/croptit.jpg\" alt=\"Six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)<br\/>croptit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On the sloping banks of several local ponds, sand wasp (Bembecinus tridens) have found suitable places for digging their nesting corridors. A human-entomologist-photographer could stand watching them fly, driving each other out of suitable habitats and searching for new suitable places for burrowing in moist, firmer ground all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig7\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-1370fb1b74c408e82a4c861e0e1de635 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig7-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1234tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A1234tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1234tit.jpg\" alt=\"Sand wasp (Bembecinus tridens)\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Sand wasp (Bembecinus tridens)<br\/>B12A1234tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The hot summer day was also marked by the activity of <a>longhorn beetles <\/a>(Cerambycidae). We found a mating pair of fairy-ring longhorn beetle (Pseudovadonia livida) in the meadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"jig8\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-df6fb088d20cb0789d6287a5a30ad0ee jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig8-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1136btit.jpg\" title=\"B12A1136btit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A1136btit.jpg\" alt=\"Longhorn beetle (Pseudovadonia livida)\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Longhorn beetle (Pseudovadonia livida)<br\/>B12A1136btit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The real jewels of this sunny corner of the world were cuckoo wasps. The southern edges of the forest with many dry tree stumps and the blooming meadow in the neighborhood represented an ideal environment for them, where they found both the opportunity to find their hosts for their parasitic way of life and plenty of food in the form of pollen on the flowers. We observed two species of these cuckoo wasps, Chrysis iris and Chrysis ignita, without determining the specific species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><div id=\"jig9\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-7e289e27809c7f04a675591919d6b221 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig9-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A6907tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A6907tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A6907tit.jpg\" alt=\"Cuckoo wasp Chrysis iris\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Cuckoo wasp Chrysis iris<br\/>B12A6907tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div><br><div id=\"jig10\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-381eb23d752adcaf2b5fc1b2f3028cf6 jig-preset-c3 jig-source-nextgen\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig10-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A6483tit.jpg\" title=\"B12A6483tit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/wp-content\/gallery\/sahara-1\/B12A6483tit.jpg\" alt=\"Cuckoo wasp Chrysis ignita group\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Cuckoo wasp Chrysis ignita group<br\/>B12A6483tit<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And as they also say in the Czech Republic, it doesn&#8217;t have to rain, it&#8217;s enough if it drips. In order to restore an interesting area and save a considerable number of rare and interesting animal and plant species, it is not necessary to immediately declare a national park or some other large-scale protected area. All you need is a good idea on the one hand and helpfulness on the other. And, of course, the willingness of many people to do something altruistic for nature with their own hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6393,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6390"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6399,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\/revisions\/6399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geoicon.cz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}