July 3, 2022

I am a Wingless Meadow Katydid

I have small simple eyes called ocelli

I eat plants in the Xyris genus

And I have ridiculously long antennae. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://eol.org/pages/502614

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 2, 2022

I am called "Common Eastern Velvet Ant"

But I'm actually a wasp that can make you go "OW!"

My venom isn't actually that toxic*

And it's a myth that I can kill a cow. 

*As with other bees and wasps, for most people the sting will hurt but not kill you. However, some people are allergic to certain venoms and can die from a sting, just as some people are allergic to peanuts or shellfish.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A536999730/HRCA?u=googlescholar&sid=googleScholar&xid=b699e504

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 1, 2022

I am an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

I'm a venomous pit viper that some people dread

I have a rattle on the end of my tail that gets

A new segment each time that I shed.

(Note: Click to enlarge the photos - the scales are quite amazing. In the close up of the rattle, you can count 11 segments, so because they shed their skin 3-4 times per year, this snake is about 3 years old.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Crotalus_adamanteus/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 30, 2022

I am known as a Green Heron

I need wetlands to live in

I blend in quite well with my surroundings

But if you don't see me, just stop and listen.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/sounds

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 29, 2022

I am an Orange-Winged Grasshopper

I like to hang out in areas that are sandy

I can both crepitate and stridulate*

But in general my noisemaking is somewhat scanty.

* To quote the article linked below, "Sound production may occur on the ground (stridulation) or in flight (crepitation), but this is not a particularly noisy species."

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/ghopper/band.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 28, 2022

I am a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

I eat crustaceans and can be found on the coast

I have a small white patch on the side of my face

And a harsh squawk's my idea of a witty riposte.

Thanks to today's special guest  photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Lantana Nature Preserve, Birds,

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-crowned_Night-Heron/sounds

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 27, 2022

This phenomenon known as a rainbow is caused by

Sun, rain, dispersion, refraction and reflection

The sun must be lower in the sky than 42 degrees

For you to make a rainbow connection.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.phenomena.org/weather/rainbow/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS5fTzMP_mg

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson