CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spotted Beet Webworm Moth (Hymenia perspectalis)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.com http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1103170
Larval hosts: beets, chard, potatoes, Amaranth, and various greenhouse plants.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/9728
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Bougainvillea Caterpillar Moth (Asciodes gordialis)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.com http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1103320
Came to light. Will be disappointed in my yard since I don’t have any of the non-native bougainvillea it needs for its young to feed on.
Larval hosts: Bougainvillea spp.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/343023
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Barred Yellow Butterfly Caterpillar (Eurema daira)
aka Barred Sulphur. Colors of adults vary by season.
Larval hosts: Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana), pencilflower (Stylosanthes biflora), and non-native perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata)
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=9
Learn more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/7689
Shown on Florida Native Plant: SHYLEAF (Aeschynomene americana)
Photo of adult:
Mating pair:
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Wedge-shaped Beetle (Macrosiagon cruenta)
New to my buggy life list. Lays eggs on flowers, and its larvae are parasitic on flower-visiting wasps such as Vespidae, Tiphiidae, Pompilidae, Crabronidae, Sphecidae and bees such as Halictidae and Apidae
Learn: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN106900.pdf
Learn more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/12439
Shown on Florida Native Plant: CLIMBING HEMPVINE (Mikania scandens)
Species list for Florida: http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Coleoptera/Mike/rhipiph.htm beetle list
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli)
Generalist whose larvae eat multiple crops so not a favorite with farmers. There are many native hosts and the larvae are parasitize by wasps and tachinid fly which are needed pollinators. Also preyed upon by the likes of damsel, big-eyed and pirate bugs making these moths have an important roll in the circle of life.
Larval host: include but are not limited to Florida native Rumex sp., Lactuca sp. and Plantago sp.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/yellowstriped_armyworm.htm
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
Larval host: carrot family (Apiaceae) including parsley (Petroselinium crispum), dill (Anthum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), mock bishop’s weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum)
In my yard they use Florida Native Plant WATER COWBANE (Tiedemannia filiformis) and this guy is shown eating that.
Despite having mock bishops weed in my yard, I have never seen this species use it.
Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=1
There are color variations in adults.
Learn more: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Papilio_polyxenes_a.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: WATER COWBANE (Tiedemannia filiformis)
eggs:
older instar larva:
photo of Adults:
on carolina redroot
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)
This beauty is a generalist choosing a variety of plant host species.
Larval host: Plantain (Plantago spp.), False Foxglove (Agalinis fasciculata), Florida Toadflax (Linaria floridana), Blueheart (Buchnera americana), Twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia), Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Learn: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/buckeye-common/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Variable Dancer Damselfly (Argia fumipennis)
As suggested by the name, very variable in coloring so much so that there is some debate about subspecies. Some would consider this particular insect a “Black” Dancer Damselfly (A. f. atra) or perhaps a “Smoky-winged” Dancer (A. f. fumipennis).
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/584
Shown on Florida Native Plant: SHYLEAF (Aeschynomene americana)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth (Anticarsia gemmatalis)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.com http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1103175
Very variable in coloring. pest of soybeans, but has many other legume larval hosts.
Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/field/velvetbean.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Eastern Grass-tubeworm Moth (Acrolophus plumifrontella)
Pretty fancy headdress.
Drawn to lights. Generally tubeworm moth larvae feed on soil detritus and the roots of grasses and other plants
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/18147
photo from August 2015:
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Delta Flower Scarab Beetle (Trigonopeltastes delta)
Adults take nectar/pollen. larva found in decaying wood. Usually I see these on flowers, but this one was hiding in some new leaf growth of blackberry.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2832
Shown on Florida Native Plant: SAWTOOTH BLACKBERRY; PENNSYLVANIA BLACKBERRY (Rubus pensilvanicus)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Cotton Stainer (Dysdercus suturellus)
aka red bug. “Currently, the cotton stainer is a minor pest of cotton, and then only in the southern part of the state.”
There are many hosts other than cotton.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/bugs/cotton_stainer.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: BLISTER BEETLE (Nemognatha nemorensis)
adults feed on flowerparts of Asteraceae (Rudbeckia, Bidens, Erigeron, Heterotheca, Eupatorium spp.)
larvae feed on eggs, larvae, and food reserves of ground-nesting bees
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/41093
Learn more: http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/blister_beetles.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Starbellied Orbweaver Spider (Acanthepeira sp. possibly stellata)
female. Blending in with the seeds.
It is exceedingly difficult to separate some Acanthepeira specimens from the southeastern United States and it appears that three species interbreed.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1994
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take:
New Spider in my Life
http://web.archive.org/web/20150330224710/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/new-spider-in-my-life.html
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium)
As name implies, they make their nests out of mud and lay their eggs on spiders. adults take nectar.
Learn: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio210/s2012/bain_mega/Index.htm
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take:
This Cuckoos Offspring Depend on a Mud Dauber Wasp
https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/this-cuckoos-offspring-depend-on-a-mud-dauber-wasp/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Dusky Herpetogramma Moth (Herpetogramma phaeopteralis)
New to my buggy life list. My encounter was submitted and accepted to add this species to the Osceola county Florida checklist at butterfliesandmoths.com http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1095846
A Crambid Snout Moth (Family Crambidae)
Larval host: leaves of grasses
aka Tropical Sod Webworm (larva)
considered a pest of golf courses and lawns, so get rid of your lawn and enjoy the pollination it provides.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/50433
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)
This one was the diameter of a pencil eraser so I suspect male which are substantially smaller than the females. Large web….luckily I was strong enough to escape 😉
Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/G_cancriformis.htm
Was hanging from Florida native plant: SOUTHERN BAYBERRY; WAX MYRTLE (Myrica cerifera)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata fasciata)
Predatory on other insects. They lie in wait for insects to happen by and then grab them. Although they sometimes grab other beneficials, they arent fussy and will do in thrips and other insects that may achieve pest status if left unabated so considered quite beneficial.
key: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/choate/phymatidae.pdf
Shown on Florida Native Plant: WATER COWBANE (Tiedemannia filiformis)
photo with prey: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/jagged-ambush-bug-phymata-fasciata/
photo of immature: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/jagged-ambush-bug-phymata-fasciata-2/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Horsefly (Chlorotabanus crepuscularis)
only green tabanid in North America. This one is likely male so no worries on the biting thing.
larva predaceous. Female adults bite mammals. Flies are pollinators too.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/17583
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spotted Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris)
New to my buggy life list. This ladybug gal was laying eggs earlier in the morning.
native ladybird beetle (source: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1653/0015-4040%282006%2989%5B85%3ADTRAFO%5D2.0.CO%3B2)
preys on aphids
Learn: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in327
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
spotted ladybug laying eggs on Bidens alba
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 