Lucanus Cervus - Romania

The Danube River forms the largest river delta in continental Europe. The delta lies primarily along the Romanian coast, but it does reach north to the Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea. The area covers about 5,100 square kilometers and serves as an important European wetland area and wildlife refuge. 

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Lucanus cervus - There are over 1,200 species in the Lucanidae family with Lucanus cervus being the better known. Females lay their eggs in decaying trees and the hatched larvae feed on the rotting wood as they go through several stages before becoming pupae. After 4 to 6 years, the adults emerge and take to the air during the brief mating season; adults only live for one month. Females are smaller than males and lack the oversized mandibles, an important feature males use in courtship displays and to fight other males.

Marsh Marigold - Romania

Caltha palustris - The marsh marigold is a perennial and flowers from March through September. It is usually the first flower to bloom in announcing the arrival of spring. It is common in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere. The flowers produce a generous amount of nectar to attract birds and insects. The marsh marigold is poisonous if ingested and can cause dermatitis through prolonged handling with bare hands. Each of the 1,700 species in the Ranunculaceae family is poisonous.

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The Kingdom of Romania came into existence in 1881, after the Turkish defeat in the Russo-Turkish War. Carol I was proclaimed king and established a dynasty lasting until 1947. Romania entered World War I on the Allied side and was rewarded with Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina. The brief period between the two world wars was referred to as the “Greater Romania” era. This period lasted until 1940, when Romania had to cede its recent gains to Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Soviet Union.