Sunflower Spittlebug (Clastoptera xanthocephala)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Sunflower Spittlebug (Clastoptera xanthocephala)

These are smaller than a pencil eraser.  A clue to knowing they are around is the white, foamy “spittle” found on the plant.

Suborder Auchenorrhyncha – Free-living Hemipterans
Superfamily Cercopoidea – Spittlebugs
Family Clastopteridae

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/666226

Research paper on insects found on goldenrod in gainesville FL indicates this species is common, larva and adults, stem, sucking, P = Polyphagous: feed also on families other than Asteraceae. source: http://journals.fcla.edu/flaent/article/view/59040/56719 page 6

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

photos from 2016: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/sunflower-spittlebug-clastoptera-xanthocephala/

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with prey

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with prey

This lucky gal captured a syrphid fly (Toxomerus sp.).

These spiders do not construct a web capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant: : Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

New to my buggy life list.  This VERY LARGE! female had landed on the trash can.

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/71919

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/deer_fly.htm

Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

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Colorful Foliage Ground Beetle (Lebia viridis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Colorful Foliage Ground Beetle (Lebia viridis)

Colorful Foliage Ground Beetle (Lebia viridis)

This pretty blue beetle is relatively small. Beneficial.

Family Carabidae – Ground Beetles
Subfamily Harpalinae
Supertribe Harpalitae
Tribe Lebiini
Subtribe Lebiina

genus Predatory on small insects; some parasitize leaf beetle larvae (http://bugguide.net/node/view/12464)

adults in this genus feed on eggs and early instar larvae of prey

More on predatory behavior:
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00102043/00001/5?search=lebia (pg 16)

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00102043/00001/3

Adults minor pollination

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/12464

florida species in this genus http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Coleoptera2/Mike/carabid1.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/meet-the-beetles/

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Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly (Perithemis tenera)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly (Perithemis tenera)

Male

There were several dancing around the Bidens alba and I had hopes of perhaps catching a mating photo, but it was not to be.

Quite small. Dragonflies are beneficial as they are predatory on pest insects in both the adult and larval stages. Larval state is aquatic and helps control mosquito larva.

Learn: http://web.archive.org/web/20170719001808/http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/FieldGuideAction.get/id/47478

Learn Key to Florida Dragonflies: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in632

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

Female

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