CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Paper Wasp Nest (Polistes spp.) 
Nest is being built in a salt bush (Baccharis halimifolia)
Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-01_paper_wasp.htm
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/03/06/the-wildlife-garden-fashionista/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Helmeted Squash Bug (Euthochtha galeator)
This member of the Family Coreidae (Leaf-footed Bugs) was flying by and appeared orange in flight. Landed in the grass. Can be a pest of ornamentals.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/flowers/euthochtha_galeator.htm
Bottom view:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans)
The blue/purple hue is a hint in the identification of this species.
Show on Florida Native Plant WINGED LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum)
Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/xylocopa.htm
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Peppered Jumper spider (Pelegrina galathea)
Teeny tiny. Shown on the petal of a black-eyed susan. From markings I’d say it is a male.
From the back he looks like the monopoly man to me. 🙂
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Red-banded Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea)
This sharpshooter (subfamily Cicadellinae) is associated mostly with Blackberry and Raspberry. I have a lot of Rubus spp. (Blackberry). They eat the xylem: the tissue in plants that provide support (think branches) and transmits water and nutrients from the roots.
This may be subspecies, G. c. quadrivittata, an inland species (as opposed to C.g. coccinea which is coastal).
This guy (sometimes known by the common name: Candystriped Leafhopper) is shown on Florida Native Plant BLADDERPOD (Sesbania vesicaria)
Learn: http://www.americaninsects.net/h/graphocephala.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox)
A new visitor to my pond. carnivorous: dining on fish, frogs, other amphibians, insects, and crustaceans
Learn: http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/apafer.htm
More photos and my take: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/reptile-roundup.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Flea Beetles (possibly Altica spp.)
Flea Beetles are Leaf beetles of the Alticini tribe. This guy is a more red metallic color than the photo depicts and I’m guessing at the genus based on the hostplant I found it on.
Although quite a pretty insect, they are a pest of ornamentals and can do noticeable damage to crape myrtle and Mexican heather, two plants not native to Florida.
Shown here on SOUTHERN BEEBLOSSOM (Gaura angustifolia) a plant that doesn’t seem to show signifcant damage from their presence. I liked his gray color eyes.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
likely female since males have a yellow square area on face. They carry pollen on their back (thorax)
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/xylocopa.htm
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tumbling Flower Beetle (Mordella knulli)
endemic to Florida (http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Coleoptera/Mike/mordell.htm)
Shown on Florida Native Plant PEPPERVINE (Ampelopsis arborea)
“Larvae are believed to eat plant material in decaying wood, etc. Some are leaf and stem miners. Some are predaceous. Adults visit flowers.”
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/144
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pig (Sus spp.)
Some neighborhoods get stray dogs, some get stray pigs. 🙂
Though we have wild boars in the area, this one seemed tame. I’m guessing a pot bellied pig or some hybrid. was noshing on grasses in the culverts.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Owlfly egg clutch (Ululodes spp.)
Fertile eggs (white) are in two rows, and Non-fertile eggs (“repagula”) are to the left. The trophic eggs are coated with an
ant-repellant substance and act to protect the fertile eggs from ant invasion. They also serve as the first food for
hatchlings to prevent them from eating each other.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/4129
My take: This Night Owl Doesn’t Give a Hoot
Adult From July 2010:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Thynnid Wasp (Myzinum sp. possibly quinquecinctum)
Note: name update due to taxonomic change in 2014 from Five-banded Tiphiid Wasp (Myzinum quinquecinctum)
The Thynnid Wasps are parasites of grubs so are beneficial. The adults are drawn to flowers, but in my yard I usually find them on near-dried sedge blooms.
This is a group of males who seem to have a gang mentality. You can tell the males by the curved “pseudostinger” at the end of the abdomen. It seems that they congregate in the evening.
Shown on Florida Native Sedge
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/got-grubs-help-is-on-the-way/
From July 2012 on Ludwigia sp.:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Gray Hairstreak Butterfly (Strymon melinus)
Larval hosts: Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), bush clover (Lespedeza spp.) clover (Trifolium spp.), Desmodium
Shown on Florida Native Plant WINGED LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum)
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=23
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris)
Diet: small invertebrates including beetles, earwigs, ants, cockroaches, mole crickets, and snails.
I find them hopping on my patio every night, keeping the interior of my home insect free 🙂
Learn: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/herps/Frogs_and_Toads/B_terrestris/b_terrestris.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Banded Pennant Dragonfly (Celithemis fasciata)
A skimmer who likes to land on dried vegetation over the water.
Learn: http://www.insectsofwestvirginia.net/d/celithemis-fasciata.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)
A diurnal moth. Rabbitbells (Crotalaria rotundifolia) is a larval host in my yard for the caterpillar larva of this beauty.
Shown on Florida Native Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
From May 2010, shown on larval host plant:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Leaf-footed Bug {Nymph} (Leptoglossus spp.)
Principal host plant is Thistle (Cirsium spp.), but can be a pest of some ornamentals or crops including citrus . To me, it would seem prudent to keep a thistle nearby to protect the others since my thistle showed no damage despite the many visitors of this species. On the good side is they do perform minor pollination duties and are food for birds.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/leaffooted_bug.htm
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly (Calycopis cecrops)
Only Florida butterfly to utilize detritus (leaf litter) as larval food from wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), sumac (Rhus spp.) and the highly invasive and prohibited (in FL) Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius).
Shown nectaring on Florida Native Plant: BUTTON RATTLESNAKEMASTER; BUTTON ERYNGO (Eryngium yuccifolium)
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=21
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Salt Marsh Moth Caterpillar (Estigmene acrea)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Blackberry (Rubus spp.). These guys move VERY fast. video: http://wildobs.com/PineLilyFNPS/13336-Speedy-the-movie
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/3242
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Great Southern White Butterfly (Ascia monuste)
Easily identified by the Turquoise antennal clubs. Larval host in my yard is Virginia Pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum).
Adults take nectar. Shown on Florida Native Plant Bidens alba
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=13
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 