Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus)

Potter wasps can sting but are not aggressive and do not defend their nests. They use caterpillars as a host which they collect and place in brood pots created from mud.  Natural biocontrol at its best.

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

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-30_potter_wasp_eumenes.htm

Learn more: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Eumenes_fraternus/

Photos of nest pots: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/potter-wasp-eumenes-fraternus/

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/01/28/ooops-anatomy-of-a-potter-wasp-nest/

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Twilight Darner Dragonfly (Gynacantha nervosa)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY:  Twilight Darner Dragonfly (Gynacantha nervosa)

New to my buggy lifelist.  As the name indicates, this is one of the  dragonflies not often seen since it flies at dusk and dawn.  I was lucky because it came to rest on the patio overhead.

Family Aeshnidae – Darners

“Gynacantha nervosa is found in wooded swamps and low-lying woodland, even in garden pools; there is no minimal size for larval habitat.”

Read more: Learn: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/165013/0

Adult Key to the Odonate Families of Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in632

My take:

http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/a-dozen-dragonflies/

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Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) juvenile

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) [juvenile]

Also called writing spiders, banana spiders

The stabilimentum of adults is in a zig zag pattern. Juveniles stay within a circular “bullseye” stabilimentum and seem almost invisible until they acquire their coloring as they age.

These spiders are pest control machines. I’ve seen them eating grasshoppers on numerous occasions, some much larger than themselves. They also are my favorites because they capture May Beetles before they can fly into the house at night when the door opens.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-24_spider_blackandyellow_argiope.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/along-came-a-spider/

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Crab Spider (Mecaphesa sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Crab Spider (Mecaphesa sp.)

These spiders ambush prey as opposed to using a web to capture. Sometimes referred to as flower spiders. Wide variety of colors which often will match the color of the flower they are hiding on.

May ambush some bees, but overall considered beneficial as they are biocontrol for some pest species and food for those up the food chain.

Learn: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/spiders/crab/crab.htm

several in the crab spider family are very similar. You can distinguish them by the eye configurations.
Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/38099

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Poinsettia cyathophora)

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Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata fasciata)

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 aren’t fussy and will do in thrips and other insects that may achieve pest status if left unabated so considered quite beneficial.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-10_jagged_ambush_bug_(Phymata_sp.).htm

key: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/choate/phymatidae.pdf

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

photo with prey: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/jagged-ambush-bug-phymata-fasciata/

photo of immature: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/jaggedambushnymphironweedaug2013.jpg

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Syrphid Fly (Ocyptamus sp. possibly antiphates)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid Fly (Ocyptamus sp. possibly antiphates)

Family Syrphidae – Syrphid Flies
Subfamily Syrphinae
Tribe Syrphini
Genus Ocyptamus

These types of syrphids are also referred to as hover flies or flower flies.

They are beneficial. Larvae preys on softbodied insects including aphids.

Adults pollinate.

Learn: http://www.syrphidae.com/whatisasyrphidae.php

Learn more: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1644440/bgpage

general syrphid fly info: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/syrphid_flies.html

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Poinsettia cyathophora)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/aphids-are-good-wait-what/

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Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)

The unique shape of this raptor makes it unmistakable in flight. It builds nests in treetops of sticks such as cypress or pine, lined with lichen and spanish moss.

Diet: “primarily eat flying insects, but during the breeding season they also hunt small vertebrates, including tree frogs, lizards, nestling birds, and snakes. Less commonly, they also eat bats, small fish, and fruit.”

Learn: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/overview

My take: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/once-a-fan-this-week-not-so-much/

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Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca) male

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca) male

One of the Spotted Orbweavers.

Larval host: Ichneumon Wasp (Acrotaphus wiltii) source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/44031

Diet: insects

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1991

Learn more: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/495/mode/1up

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

My take:
Dont be Spooked by Spiders
http://web.archive.org/web/20150330133737/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/dont-be-spooked-by-spiders.html

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Black Stink Bug (Proxys punctulatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black Stink Bug (Proxys punctulatus)

“Although the black stink bug is a phytophagous species, it can also be predaceous, and has been found attacking insect larvae in cotton.” ( polyphagous: Feeding on many different kinds of food)

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bugs/black_stink_bug.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: WILD LIME; LIME PRICKLYASH (Zanthoxylum fagara)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/it-just-stinksor-does-it/

Mole Cricket Hunter Wasp (Larra bicolor)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Mole Cricket Hunter Wasp (Larra bicolor)

Photos of it using various nectar sources are at the link below under “my take”.

Introduced to the U.S. to control exotic mole cricket pests. Does not target native species, only the exotics.

Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/Larra_wasps.htm

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

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/when-an-introduced-species-does-the-job/

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with Sharpshooter Prey

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

appears to have snagged one of the Sharpshooters which feed on the plants.  Love when nature keeps things in balance.

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: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

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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Anchor Stink Bug (Stiretrus anchorago)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Anchor Stink Bug (Stiretrus anchorago)

A predatory stink bug. Beneficial. markings and color can be highly variable.

“feeds on the larvae of beetles, butterflies, and moths, incl. many pest spp. (notably Mexican Bean Beetle and Japanese Beetle)” source: Bugguide.net

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/stiretrus_anchorago.htm

Learn more: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Stiretrus_anchorago/

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

My take: It Just Stinks… or Does It?

It Just Stinks…or Does It?

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Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon bauri)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon bauri)

This fella (or gal) was hanging out next to the culvert.

I’ve had them dig and nest in the past but despite protecting and monitoring locations, haven’t seen any eggs hatch. These are a pretty shy bunch.  They shut themselves into the shell until you go away.

part of the Imperiled Species Management Plan in Florida.

Learn: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/freshwater-turtles/striped-mud-turtle/

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163429/97379931

Learn more: http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/kinbau.htm

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/10/26/in-the-garden-three-stripes-and-youre-out/

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Hanging-thief Robberfly (Diogmites sp. possibly neoternatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Hanging-thief Robberfly (Diogmites sp. possibly neoternatus)

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae – Robber Flies
Subfamily Dasypogoninae

predatory on other insects.

Learn: http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/Main%20pages/Diogmites%20frame%20page.htm

http://plaza.ufl.edu/dcollins/Robberflies/pages/IMG_6901.htm

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

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/i-was-robbed/

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Syrphid Fly (Dioprosopa clavata)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid Fly (Dioprosopa clavata)

Synonyms Pseudodoros clavatus

This beneficial pollinator uses aphids as a larval host and this one was laying eggs on southern beeblossom before settling in on the frogfruit for a drink.

photo of larvae: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/syrphid-fly-larvae-dioprosopa-clavata/

Also called hover flies or flower flies.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-28_hover_or_syrphid_flies.htm

Learn to identify: http://www.canacoll.org/Diptera/Staff/Skevington/Syrphidae/Baccha_Pseudodoros/Baccha_Pseudodoros.jpg

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TICKSEED (Coreopsis sp.)

My Take: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/who-are-you-calling-a-caterpillar/

Take 2: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/aphids-are-good-wait-what/

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Ground Beetle (Calleida sp. probably decora)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Ground Beetle (Calleida sp. probably decora)

New to my buggy life list.  Relatively small. Beneficial.

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

Predatory on small insects;

Adults minor pollination

Learn: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in604

Learn more: LIFE STORY OF A PREDATOR, CALLEIDA DECORA scentsoc.org/Volumes/JAE/v1/1/00011068.pdf

“an important biocontrol agent of pests of soybeans ” (source: http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Coleoptera2/Mike/carabid1.htm)

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

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

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Predatory Stink Bug (Perillus strigipes)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Predatory Stink Bug (Perillus strigipes)

New to my buggy life list. This is one of the predatory stinks bugs which feed on other insects so considered beneficial.

Infraorder Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily Pentatomoidea
Family Pentatomidae – Stink Bugs
Subfamily Asopinae – Predatory Stink Bugs

Learn: https://www.gbif.org/species/2079152

Stink bug field guide: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/30842/Field Guide to Stink Bugs.pdf

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

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/it-just-stinksor-does-it/

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Robberfly ( Lampria bicolor)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Robberfly ( Lampria bicolor)

New to my buggy life list.  Pretty excited since this seems to be an unusual find in Florida.
I am basing that on the fact that I-naturalist doesn’t have any documented sightings in the state. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61573-Lampria-bicolor

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae – Robber Flies
Subfamily Laphriinae

It does appear on the List of Florida Asilidae: http://plaza.ufl.edu/dcollins/Robberflies/frame2.htm

predatory on other insects.

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

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/i-was-robbed/

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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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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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