| This collecting trip was too short, therefore the next one was planned shortly after. --> See Syria2 |
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| COLLECTING TRIP SYRIA 2000 26 May - 09 June with Daniele Baiocchi, Gianluca Magnani, Gianfranco Sama |
| During my 2nd UN-Mission on the Golan Hights, the three Italian Entomologists and me went for a collecting trip to Syria - Bludan, Hermon Area (with a special permission to visit the UN Area of Separation), and Slenfeh in the Alloite Mountains / North Syria. Very interesting was the 'Wadi Manshura' in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, right hand side of Sergaja and above Bludan a touristic village. At that time the Wadi and the surrounding area were completely intact, whereas only one month later the whole slopes were completely ploughed up for a reforesting programme and cherry plantagions --> see Wadi Manshura |
| The slopes of the Anti-Lebanon above Bludan are vegetated by various fennel plants, nutritient for many 'Phytoecini', a group of the beetle family 'Cerambycidae' (Long Horn Beetles). During our trip, Daniele caught the first of a new 'Semnosia' species, therefore named after him: Semnosia baiocchi Sama, 2000. |
| Semnosia baiocchii Sama, 2000 (not on it's host plant!) |
| Mallosia imperatrix (on host plant) |
| Here I discovered for the first time the wonderful rock formations, which became my favourite climbing sites later on. --> see Climbing in Syria A valley totally integer, the only noise one can hear from time to time are goat and sheep herds with their nomad sheperds passing by. In summer the nomads place their tents high up in the valley, which is accessible only via donkey, tractor or a good 4x4 vehicle. |
| The vegetation there seemed very European already, with giant oak trees and on top of the mountain range compact stands of old fir trees. But also typical East Mediterranean elements were represented in the vegetation, such as the Lebanon Cedar. We did not only find various interesting beetles, also Lacerta media, a large Tarantula spider and a viper served as interesting photo objects :). |
| For our 4x4 UN-vehicle, a Toyota 4-Runner, the terrain was no problem. |
| After Bludan, our collecting trip ended in North-West Syria, where in the Alloite Mountains another touristic village became our base camp, Slenfeh. |