CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Ocola Skipper Butterfly (Panoquina ocola)
with exotic honeybee flying in
One of the grass skippers.
Learn: https://alabama.butterflyatlas.usf.edu/species/details/105/ocola-skipper
Larval host: grasses
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/09/12/skip-skip-skip-to-my-lou/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
I don’t generally think of an American Sycamore as a “sap tree”, but this guy (or gal) has enlightened me.
They are frequent winter visitors to my place in Central Florida but breed far north in the upper United States and Canada.
Learn: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-bellied_Sapsucker/id
Shown on Florida Native Plant: AMERICAN SYCAMORE; AMERICAN PLANETREE (Platanus occidentalis)
My take: Solving Garden Mysteries
Closeup photo of a different bird of this species on a laurel oak in October 2017
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) female
Beautiful bird with distinctive call. The males are bright red, the females (shown above) a more subdued reddish brown.
Learn: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id
Male Shown on Florida Native Plant: AMERICAN ELDER; ELDERBERRY (Sambucus nigra L. subsp. canadensis)
My take: Gardening Payoff
https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/gardening-payoff/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea)
This one is male. Color can vary from all white to spotted, as shown. Larvae feed on multiple species of plants.
Larva fed on by wasps, tachinid flies and an important food source for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) whose population is in decline.
See also, photo of caterpillar on Florida Native Plant: BALD-CYPRESS (Taxodium distichum): https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/fall-webworm-moth-caterpillar-hyphantria-cunea/
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/453
My take: The Worms Crawl In but Do They Swim?
https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/the-worms-crawl-in-but-do-they-swim/
Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea) male
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus)
Potter wasps can sting but are not aggressive and do not defend their nests. They use caterpillars as a host which they collect and place in brood pots created from mud. Natural biocontrol at its best.
Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)
Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-30_potter_wasp_eumenes.htm
Learn more: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Eumenes_fraternus/
Photos of nest pots: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/potter-wasp-eumenes-fraternus/
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/01/28/ooops-anatomy-of-a-potter-wasp-nest/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Dark-marked Wave Moth (Scopula compensata)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.org
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1282364
Was resting on the wall above the stove.
I derived the common name from listing at Inaturalist. Other sites refer to it as the small frosted wave.
Larval hosts: I haven’t found any information.
Superfamily Geometroidea – Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths
Family Geometridae – Geometrid Moths
Subfamily Sterrhinae
Tribe Scopulini
Learn More: https://bugguide.net/node/view/173457
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southern Emerald Moth (Synchlora frondaria)
Adult sighting is new to my buggy life list. I’ve seen many caterpillars in this genus over the years.
My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.org
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1281569
Landed on the window so likely drawn to the light overnight.
Larval hosts: Bidens, Chrysanthemum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Pluchea odorata source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/index.dsml
Superfamily Geometroidea – Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths
Family Geometridae – Geometrid Moths
Subfamily Geometrinae – Emeralds
Tribe Synchlorini
Learn More: https://bugguide.net/node/view/21305
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Yellow-Winged Pareuchaetes Moth (Pareuchaetes insulata)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.org
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1279298
Three of these had landed on the window so likely drawn to the light overnight.
Larval hosts: Eupatorium odoratum, Hernandia sonora, Vernonia cinerea source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/index.dsml
Superfamily Noctuoidea – Owlet Moths and kin
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Arctiinae – Tiger and Lichen Moths
Tribe Arctiini – Tiger Moths
Subtribe Phaegopterina
Learn More: https://bugguide.net/node/view/42727
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pearly Wood-Nymph Moth (Eudryas unio)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.org
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1279294
Landed on the window so likely drawn to the light overnight.
Larval hosts: Evening-primrose, grapes, hibiscus, and willow-herbs. Source: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eudryas-unio
Family Noctuidae – Owlet Moths
Subfamily Agaristinae
Learn More: https://bugguide.net/node/view/3057
Additional hosts in the following genus: Epilobium; Epilobium; Lythrum; Oenothera; Vitis source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/index.dsml
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pale-edged Selenisa Moth (Selenisa sueroides)
Beneficial: larval host for several parasitic Wasps including Ichneumon, Chalcid and Braconid.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/28378
Can damage irrigation systems so not exactly welcome by the citrus industry: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3495191?uid=3739600&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104756444967
Range: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Selenisa-sueroides?quicktabs_8=0#quicktabs-8
Larval host: Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana), and other members of the pea, spurge and grass families
From Oct 2012:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Gaudy Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha labruscae)
New to my buggy life list. Found hanging out by the patio light. It landed on an ant bait station.
Family Sphingidae – Sphinx Moths
Subfamily Macroglossinae
Tribe Macroglossini
Learn: https://www.sphingidae.us/eumorpha-labruscae.html
Larval hosts:
“In Florida larvae have been found on Possum Vine (Cissus sicyoides). Cissus incisa, Cissus verticillata, Eupatorium odoratum, Ludwigia, Magnolia, Parthenocissus and Vitis vinifera are all reported hosts.” source: http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/Sphinx/elabrlab.htm
“Caterpillar Hosts: Grape (Vitis), vine (Cissus), and Christmasbush eupatorium (Eupatorium odoratum).” source: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eumorpha-labruscae?region=45711&sort_by=field_recorddate_value&sort_order=DESC
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Band-winged Dragonlet Dragonfly (Erythrodiplax umbrata)
Male
Learn: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/49254239/49255913#habitat-ecology
Learn more: https://bugguide.net/node/view/3483
Landed on a dried brush pile
My take on dragonflies: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/a-dozen-dragonflies/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Bagworm Moth Caterpillar likely Abbot’s Bagworm Moth (Oiketicus abbotii)
bagworms are merely moth caterpillars dress in twigs or other plant materials.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/MISC/MOTHS/bagworm.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/its-in-the-bagin-the-garden/
Take 2: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/15/barbecued-bagworm-moths/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Twilight Darner Dragonfly (Gynacantha nervosa)
New to my buggy lifelist. As the name indicates, this is one of the dragonflies not often seen since it flies at dusk and dawn. I was lucky because it came to rest on the patio overhead.
Family Aeshnidae – Darners
“Gynacantha nervosa is found in wooded swamps and low-lying woodland, even in garden pools; there is no minimal size for larval habitat.”
Read more: Learn: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/165013/0
Adult Key to the Odonate Families of Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in632
My take:
http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/a-dozen-dragonflies/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Scentless Plant Bug (Harmostes serratus)
Order Hemiptera – True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies
Suborder Heteroptera – True Bugs
Infraorder Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily Coreoidea – Leatherbugs
Family Rhopalidae – Scentless Plant Bugs
Subfamily Rhopalinae
Tribe Harmostini
The Rhopalidae Family eats seeds of herbaceous plants, but some are arborea
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/665725
Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/rhopalidae.pdf
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southern Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus sp. likely propinquus)
Taxonomic status is listed as “valid” at ITIS. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=658486#null
Bugguide treats this as a synonym of Red-legged Grasshopper (M. femurrubrum) https://bugguide.net/node/view/151116
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
Subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Tribe Melanoplini
DONT THINK PEST, THINK BIRD FOOD! Nymphs of grasshoppers are an important food source for birds especially fledglings who cannot eat seed.
If you maintain a balanced garden and don’t use pesticides which can kill the beneficial insects, damage should be minimal to ornamentals.
Tachinid flies (Tachinidae family) are parasites of grasshoppers
Predators: Birds, lizards,mantids, spiders, and rodents eat grasshoppers. (source: http://web.archive.org/web/20150920015140/http://insected.arizona.edu:80/ghopperinfo.htm)
Positive Impact on the Ecosystem:
As herbivores, grasshoppers link plants to the rest of the ecosystem. Frass (droppings) contribute to nutrient turnover by returning nutrients as fertilizer for the plants. They provide food for birds and other arthropods. (ibid.)
Learn more about grasshoppers in Florida: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00066916/00001
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take nature’s control of grasshoppers via fungus: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/12/07/night-of-the-living-dead/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) [juvenile]
Also called writing spiders, banana spiders
The stabilimentum of adults is in a zig zag pattern. Juveniles stay within a circular “bullseye” stabilimentum and seem almost invisible until they acquire their coloring as they age.
These spiders are pest control machines. I’ve seen them eating grasshoppers on numerous occasions, some much larger than themselves. They also are my favorites because they capture May Beetles before they can fly into the house at night when the door opens.
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/along-came-a-spider/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Crab Spider (Mecaphesa sp.)
These spiders ambush prey as opposed to using a web to capture. Sometimes referred to as flower spiders. Wide variety of colors which often will match the color of the flower they are hiding on.
May ambush some bees, but overall considered beneficial as they are biocontrol for some pest species and food for those up the food chain.
Learn: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/spiders/crab/crab.htm
several in the crab spider family are very similar. You can distinguish them by the eye configurations.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/38099
Shown on Florida Native Plant: PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Poinsettia cyathophora)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly (Eurytides marcellus)
The only regularly-occurring Kite Swallowtail in North America.
Larval host: Pawpaw (Asimina spp.)
Learn: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/zebra-swallowtail/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/zebra_swallowtail.htm
My take:
Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly: What Pizzazz
http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/09/07/zebra-swallowtail-butterfly-what-pizzazz/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Versute Sharpshooter (Graphocephala sp. likely versuta)
New to my buggy life list.
Superfamily Membracoidea – Leafhoppers, Treehoppers and Aetalionids
Family Cicadellidae – Leafhoppers
Subfamily Cicadellinae – Sharpshooters
Tribe Cicadellini
So small, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at on the plant. When I brought it up on the computer screen it looked quite similar to a Candystriped Leafhopper (G. coccinea) but it was so tiny that I investigated further and am pretty sure it is G. versuta).
May be considered a pest.
Learn more: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/584297056
https://bugguide.net/node/view/10022
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 