CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Red-marked Pachodynerus Mason Wasp (Pachodynerus erynnis)
Use caterpillars as larval hosts. A.K.A. Red and Black Mason Wasp
Shown on Florida Native Plant QUEEN-DEVIL (Hieracium gronovii) aka Hawkweed.
Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-39_red_and_black_mason_wasp.htm
My take: Spring Nesting Season Isn’t Just for Birds
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Florida leatherleaf slug (Leidyula floridana)
Mollusc in Class Gastropoda. This guy/gal (“Most slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female sex organs”) was walking across the patio during the night.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/gastro/slugs_of_florida.htm
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/07/11/feeling-sluggish/
Bottom:
Contracted State:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tropical Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora ravilla)
This guy (gal?) had built a huge well-constructed web over the driveway last Night. When I pulled the car in the lights reflected it.
Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/tropical_orb_weaver.htm
Bottom:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca)
Shown on BASTARD FALSE INDIGO (Amorpha fruticosa)
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/39293
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Long-tailed Skipper Butterfly Caterpillar (Urbanus proteus)
This guy is looking in at a protective resting place which they make by “gluing” together leaves.
Larval hosts: Several species in the Pea Family (Fabaceae)
Shown on Desmodium spp.
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=46
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Gray Hairstreak Butterfly Caterpillar (Strymon melinus)
Larval hosts: Species in the Pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families.
Shown on Desmodium spp.
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=23
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tiphiid Wasp (Tiphia spp.)
Parasitoids of White Grubs (larva of japanese beetles) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Goldenrod (solidago spp.)
Learn: http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/faculty/rogers/11RogersandPotter2004c.pdf
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Ichneumon Wasp (Trogomorpha trogiformis)
Described as “twitchy” which is very accurate. Always has some kind of motion.
Larval Host: Lepidoptera: e.g., skippers
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/358491
Host database of wasps: http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/biota/ichneumon_wasps.php
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Jumping spider (Phidippus clarus)
Hiding in Florida Native Plant Carolina Redroot
Learn: http://www.jumping-spiders.com/index_wiki.php?id=3534
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Waxmyrtle Wave Moth (Cyclophora myrtaria)
This little fellow was resting on the house in the dark. Given the common name, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the larval host must be myrica cerifera
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/154510
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Shown snagging an acorn from Florida Native Plant Laurel Oak Tree
Learn: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider with egg sac (Peucetia viridans)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Bidens Alba
Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm
My take: http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Shield-backed Bug (Symphylus caribbeanus)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Myrica cerifera (bayberry), its larval host
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/240665
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
diet: fish
STATUS: Endangered U.S. Breeding Population;
Learn: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/birds/wood-stork/
My take: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/odd-duck.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Dictyopharid Planthopper (Rhynchomitra microrhina)
Larval Host Plants: Cephalanthus occidentalis L. (buttonbush, Rubiaceae), Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees (weeping lovegrass, Poaceae), Hibiscus moscheutos L. (crimsoneyed rosemallow, Malvaceae)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Sedge.
Key: https://sites.udel.edu/planthoppers/key-to-families-of-planthoppers-north-of-mexico/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Barred Yellow Butterfly Caterpillar (Eurema daira)
Larval Host Plants: Plants in the pea family including Pencil flower (Stylosanthes biflora), Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana)
and Sticky Jointvetch (Aeschynomene viscidula)
Shown on Florida Native Plant Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana)
Learn: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eurema-daira
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthemis ferruginea)
Learn: http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/FieldGuideAction.get/id/47384
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pinewoods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis)
easily identified if you have it “in hand” by the yellow dots along the thigh. They are quite cooperative. This guy let me photograph is dots, then I put him back on the plant. He quickly jumped back on my hand…I think he liked me.
Shown on Florida Native Plant INKBERRY; GALLBERRY (Ilex glabra)
Learn: http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/frogs/pinewoodstreefrog.shtml
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pale-edged Selenisa Moth Caterpillar (Selenisa sueroides)
larval host for several parasitic Wasps including Ichneumon, Chalcid and Braconid.
Shown on Florida Native Plant Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana), one of the larval hosts which includes members of the pea, spurge and grass families
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/28378
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Baldcypress Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Isoparce cupressi)
New addition to my life list. Larval host Baldcypress
Shown on Florida Native Plant BALD-CYPRESS TREE (Taxodium distichum)
Learn: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Isoparce-cupressi
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 