December 25, 2025

I am known as a Common Sieve Tortoise Beetle

My life history is somewhat whack

When I was young

I wore a shield made of dung

To keep predators off of my back.

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN246

https://entomologytoday.org/2016/08/30/from-turtle-shell-to-poop-umbrella-this-is-one-unusual-group-of-beetles/

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 24, 2025

I am known as a Smoky Tetanolita Moth

I'm mottled dark gray with two yellow wing marks

I'm predated by Bolos spiders who attract me by

Releasing pheromones that smell like my mate's naughty parts.

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02040201

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 23, 2025

I am an adult Cucumber moth

Notice my butt looks like a tiny string mop

I wasn't so cute as a caterpillar

I ate and destroyed cucurbits crops.

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ppp/text/web_full/entities/cucumber_moth_033.htm

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 22, 2025

I am a Cypress Emerald

If there are Cypress trees, I might be around

If it's warm out I'll be green with white markings

But if it's cold I might be pink and brown.

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/moths/view.php?MONA_number=7029

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 21, 2025

Happy Winter Solstice! Today is my favorite day of the year, when earth begins to resume it's proper tilt. No matter how bad things seem in the world right now, at least there will be a little more sunshine every day for the next 6 months. 

We are known as Striped Grass Loopers

As caterpillars we ate lawns and sports fields

As moths we lay up to 400 eggs

And when closed, our wings look like etched shields.

Location: Hallstrom Farmstead Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://pest.ifas.ufl.edu/pest.html?194

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 20, 2025

This is a Dune Sunflower

It grows well in the sun and on dunes

For many native bees their pollen

Is an offer they can't refuse.

Location: Hallstrom Farmstead Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hede4

http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 19, 2025

This is the fruit of a plant in the Genus Selenicereus

It's a cactus that only blooms at night

It's flowers are large and fragrant

And usually are colored white.

Location: Hallstrom Farmstead Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/plant/cactus

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.