CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Phaon Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes phaon)
Low flying
Larval host: frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=32
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Clouded Crimson Moth Caterpillar (Schinia gaurae)
looks like an anorexic Monarch caterpillar
Larval host: Gaura spp.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/26702
Shown on Florida Native Plant: SOUTHERN BEEBLOSSOM (G. angustifolia)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Largemouth Bass {fish} (Micropterus salmoides)
Florida native fish.
Diet: small fish, insects, mosquitoes, blackfly larvae, mayfly nymphs, worms, adult insects, mussels, crayfish, snails, tadpoles, frogs, small fish, salamanders, mice, turtles
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/LargemouthBass/LargemouthBass.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Beautiful bird with distinctive call. The males are bright red, the females a more subdued reddish brown. This male spent a considerable amount of time snagging insects from the Dog Fennel.
Diet: insects, seeds
Learn: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id
Shown on Florida Native Plant: DOGFENNEL (Eupatorium capillifolium)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) with prey
My arachnid friend snagged this Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) and wrapped it up like a burrito for lunch.
Ok, I realize that the majority of people would prefer that Mrs. spider had grabbed hold of a leaf-footed bug or some beetle but remember the food chain. No one defended the poor Partridge Pea Plant that the sulphur caterpillars munched up. That’s NATURE!
Shown on Florida Native Plant: CORAL HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera sempervirens)
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/along-came-a-spider/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) Mating
Larval host: maypop (Passiflora incarnata) and other Passiflora spp.
Learn: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/gulf-fritillary/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/fritillary-butterfly-gone-rogue/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid fly Larvae (Dioprosopa clavata) 
BENEFICIAL. Can easily be mistaken for caterpillars. In the larval stage shown, they are voracious eaters of Aphids (shown). As flying adults they are important pollinators.
syn. Pseudodoros clavatus
Shown on Florida Native Plant: SOUTHERN BEEBLOSSOM (Gaura angustifolia)
My take: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/who-are-you-calling-a-caterpillar/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Square-headed Wasp (Liris sp.)
Family: Crabroninae
This guy was zipping up and down the stems of the plant, probably seeking honeydew. Preys on crickets to feed larvae.
Learn: http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2012/03/wasp-wednesday-liris.html
Shown on Florida Native Plant: PARTRIDGE PEA (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
These graceful birds are 3-4.75 ft tall. This one was just hanging out, fishing for dinner in my pond. Those in the rural areas tend to be skittish and will take off at any sight of a human.
Diet: fish, frogs, reptiles, small mammals, insects, birds
Learn: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/lifehistory
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 