CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spined Oak Borer (Elaphidion mucronatum)
New to my buggy life list.
One of the long-horned beetles. Came to patio light.
Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/26093
Learn more: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00022895/00001/4x
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Pygmy Chafer Beetle (Strigoderma pygmaea)
Family Scarabaeidae – Scarab Beetles
Subfamily Rutelinae – Shining Leaf Chafers
Tribe Anomalini
Adults in the Subfamily Rutelinae (Shining Leaf Chafers) feed on foliage and fruit. Larvae feed on roots and decaying vegetation. http://bugguide.net/node/view/12432
Shown on Florida Native Plant:: Bidens alba
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Broad-headed Bug Nymph (Alydidae Family)
Too young to identify to species.
Suborder Heteroptera – True Bugs
Infraorder Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily Coreoidea – Leatherbugs
Family Alydidae – Broad-headed Bugs
One of the leatherbugs which are plant feeders and appear to like unripened fruit.
Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1724273
Key to Florida Alydidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) and selected exotic pest species. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303722336_Key_to_Florida_Alydidae_Hemiptera_Heteroptera_and_selected_exotic_pest_species [accessed Jun 17 2018].
Shown on Florida Native Plant: BLACKBERRY (Rubus spp.)
I’ve identified adults of Alydus pilosulus and also Hyalymenus sp. at my place in the past. They both are members of this family.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Blue Dasher Dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Dragonflies are predatory in both adult and larval stages. Leave some taller, dry plant debris from your Florida native plants as perches which they use in addition to tall native plants.
Diet: insects, aquatic larvae such as mosquitoes
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/a-dozen-dragonflies/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fuscopunctatus)
New to my buggy life list. This VERY LARGE! female attracted my attention when she flew by me and landed on the front of my car in the driveway.
Feeds on mammals. Not particularly inclined to bite humans, but should you get bit you will know it. More a pest of livestock.
Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Infraorder Tabanomorpha
Family Tabanidae – Horse and Deer Flies
Subfamily Tabaninae – Horse Flies
Tribe Tabanini
Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/82093
Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/deer_fly.htm
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginensis)
Sometimes the common name is given as American (Painted) Lady; True “painted lady” butterfly (V. cardui) has different laval hosts and eyespot count is one key to identification. See composite photos for identification: http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368
Range: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-virginiensis?quicktabs_8=0#quicktabs-8
Larval host: cudweed aka Everylasting. In my yard: Delicate Everlasting (Gamochaeta antillana) a Florida native cudweed. (syn. Gnaphalium spp.);
Other possible hosts: pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), plantain-leaved pussy toes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), wormwood (Artemisia), ironweed (Vernonia), and burdock (Arctium).
Learn: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/american-painted-lady/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: TURKEY TANGLE FOGFRUIT; CAPEWEED (Phyla nodiflora)
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/make-a-butterfly-everlasting/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Grass-like Mantid (Thesprotia graminis)
Came to light at night. Thin, praying mantis. I saw it fly so it must be male. males have long wings; females don’t fly.
Diet: small flying insects and crickets
Learn: https://web.archive.org/web/20090530211957/http://www.usamantis.com/grassmantis_species.html
Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/MISC/grass_mantid.html
KEY to Florida Mantids: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/mantid_key2_03.pdf
My take on Praying mantids: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/praying-or-preying-mantis-or-mantids/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Red-spotted Aster Mirid (Polymerus sp. likely basalis)
New to my buggy life list.
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Cimicomorpha
Superfamily Miroidea
Family Miridae (Plant Bugs)
Subfamily Mirinae
Tribe Mirini
Florida has several species in this genus, but this one seems to be the closest match and is said to feed mostly on asters so fleabane would qualify.
Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/245393
Shown on Florida Native Plant: OAKLEAF FLEABANE (Erigeron quercifolius)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Scentless Plant Bug (Harmostes sp. likely reflexulus)
New to my buggy life list.
Infraorder Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily Coreoidea – Leatherbugs
Family Rhopalidae – Scentless Plant Bugs
Subfamily Rhopalinae
Tribe Harmostini
“phytophagous insects associated with goldenrods”
Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/rhopalidae.pdf
Shown on Florida Native Plant: BLACKROOT (Pterocaulon pycnostachyum)
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
Smaller than its more common cousin, the Eastern Cottontail, this bunny swims so will be found where there is water habitat. I have a healthy reproducing population of these cuties who apparently make use of the pond at night although I’ve yet to see them swim.
Diet: They enjoy Florida Native Plants including, but not limited to: cranesbill, plantain or bidens alba, hawkweed leaves, gallberry leaves and elephant foot leaves.
Learn: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sylvilagus_palustris/
Learn more: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/marsh-rabbit/
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/04/21/hippity-hoppity/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Yellow-margined Leaf Beetle (Microtheca ochroloma)
Tiny little thing.
If you concern yourself about the aggressive nature of Pepperweed, this is Mom Nature’s control agent.
native to South America. Pest of crops in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. Can be pretty destructive if left unchecked.
Learn: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1049
Shown on Florida Native Plant: VIRGINIA PEPPERWEED (Lepidium virginicum)
preyed upon by spined soldier bugs.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)
a diurnal moth.
Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/leps/bella_moth.htm
Larval host: (Crotalaria spp.) which in my yard is the Florida native RABBITBELLS (C. rotundifolia)
Caterpillar: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/ornate-bella-moth-caterpillar-utetheisa-ornatrix/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: OAKLEAF FLEABANE (Erigeron quercifolius)
Another photo when it hopped on over onto BLACKBERRY (Rubus spp.): https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/bellamothblackberrymar2020.jpg
My take: Whats in a day?
Take 2: Half Hidden Beauty in the Garden
Take 3 is about the caterpillar: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/we-dont-all-eat-leaves-you-know/
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Grape Flea Beetle Larvae (Altica sp.)
Hard to get this genus down to species. May be A. torquata or A. chalybea which are said to feed on Vitis sp. in Florida. source: UF/IFAS
Makes “swiss cheese” of leaves but the plants survive. “Although these species may become pests because they feed on economically important plants, some flea beetles in this genus may be considered beneficial because of their significant use for bio-control…”
Family Chrysomelidae – Leaf Beetles
Subfamily Galerucinae – Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea Beetles
Tribe Alticini – Flea Beetles
Shown on Florida Native Plant: MUSCADINE {GRAPE} (Vitis rotundifolia)
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/03/02/the-good-in-grapevines/
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 
