Living in & Around HO

The Complete Guide to Wasps and Hornets of Almería. Part 1

Meet the Wasps of Southern Spain Mention the word wasp, and most people immediately think of painful stings, ruined picnics and insects that seem determined to spoil a pleasant afternoon by the pool. For many people moving to inland Almería, one of the first wildlife surprises is just how many different wasps and hornets they…

Carpenter Bees, Big, Bold and Beautiful

Learn how to identify the Carpenter Bee in Almería. Discover where it nests, whether it can sting, why it’s important, and how to attract this gentle giant to your garden.

Geckos – Gravity defying house guests

If you’ve recently moved to Spain or you’re visiting for the first time, there’s a decent chance you’ll have your first gecko encounter sooner rather than later. We have several around the house and outbuildings, the smooth Mediterranean House Geckos tend to be found close to the house, the lumpy Moorish Geckos spend their time…

Snakes in Almería

If you’re new to Almería or thinking about moving here, the word snake can trigger all sorts of unnecessary panic. Snakes exist in Almería, but they’re not a daily danger, and the vast majority are harmless. This is a dry, warm province with plenty of scrubland, rocky hills, farmland and irrigation channels, perfect snake habitat….

Scorpions in Almería – Don’t panic!

Scorpions are native to the region and have been here long before humans built houses. Almería’s dry climate, rocky ground, and rural landscape make it ideal scorpion territory. That said, most people go years without ever seeing one, and many never encounter one at all. What Types of Scorpions Are Found in Almería? The most…

Processionary Caterpillars – A real danger

If you live in Spain, or you’re thinking of moving here, there’s one creature you really need to know about, the pine processionary caterpillar. They look odd, move in long lines like something out of a horror film, and they can be dangerous to humans and deadly to pets, especially dogs. Every year, people get…

The Mystery of the Spanish Cicadas

If you’ve recently moved to Almería, or you’re on holiday in the area, there’s a good chance you’ve heard a deafening buzzing noise coming from the trees and wondered what on earth is making it. Welcome to the world of the cigarra or the cicada, one of the defining sounds of summer in southern Spain….