CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma sp.)
May be Atlantic Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma doubledayi) -or-
May be Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)
Damselflies are predatory in both adult and larval stages.
Diet: insects, aquatic larvae such as mosquitoes
Learn: http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/FieldGuideAction.get/id/42985
Dorsal:
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Blue Dasher Dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Dragonflies are predatory in both adult and larval stages.
Range: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/insects/dfly/usa/400.htm
Diet: insects, aquatic larvae such as mosquitoes
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Primrosewillow (Ludwigia sp)
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio palamedes)
Seems to be particularly fond of red flowers for nectar.
Larval host: Red bay (Persea borbonia), swamp bay (Persea palustris), silk bay (Persea humilis)
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=2
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
I’m happy to see numerous bumblebees out by the Patridge Pea. This one stopped by some Beggarticks for a drink tho.
Learn: http://www.bumblebee.org/NorthAmerica.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Bluegill Fish (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegill is in the sunfish family. This guy was swimming along with a softshell turtle and was feeding on some native Mermaidweed (Proserpinaca pectinata) before he came to the top for a picture.
They are an important food source for larger fish predators, including bass and other larger fish, birds (waterfowl, herons), turtles, mammals…including humans.
Range: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=385
Diet: insects, smaller fish, aquatic larvae such as mosquitoes, vegetation
Learn: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bluegill.htm
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus)
Quick, sleek lizard. You can generally find them warming in the early morning sun. Juveniles have blue tails.
Note: This may be P. fasciatus although it seems their range ends in northern Florida; map: http://maps.iucnredlist.org/map.html?id=64227
Diet: beetles, wood roaches, grasshoppers and other insects
Preyed upon by large birds, (crows, kestrels, hawks), foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, shrews, moles, domestic cats, and snakes.
Learn: http://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/eumine.htm
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Georgia Satyr Butterfly (Neonympha areolata)
Brushfoot (Nymphalidae) family
Larval host: Sedge (Cyperaceae sp)
Learn: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Neonympha-areolatus
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
My take: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/where-native-plants-grow-butterflies-are-sure-to-follow.html
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Florida Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin Snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti)
VENOMOUS!! If bitten seek immediate medical care from a physician or hospital experienced in treating snakebite.
This guy (or gal) was on the patio. I have mixed feelings. Because I have dogs, it certainly isn’t welcome on the dog side of the property, but as you can see, it is beneficial. This one was eating an INVASIVE Cuban treefrog (YAY!)
Learn to identify the 6 species of venomous snakes in Florida. If you see one, don’t panic, just quietly move away from the area and whatever you do, DON’t try to kill it. You stand a better chance of avoiding a bite if you just move along and don’t interact with it. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/Agkistrodonpconanti.htm
Diet: fish, frogs, salamander, lizards, small turtles, baby alligators, birds, small mammals, and other snakes
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/my-hero-and-gardening-anxiety/
###
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Earwig (Doru sp.)
Can be pests, but also have MANY beneficial qualities: eliminate decaying organic materials from the environment. They eat algae, fungi, mosses, pollen as well as insects (aphids, caterpillars), spiders and mites both dead and live.
This one likely Lined Earwig (D. taeniatum), native to Florida.
Learn: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74102.html
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/dermaptera.pdf
Shown on Florida Native Plant: RATTLESNAKEMASTER (Eryngium yuccifolium)
My take: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/flipping-my-earwig.html
###
Central Florida Critter of the Day 