February 12, 2026

I am known as a Graceful Twig Ant

I'm non-native and sometimes will sting

But only if I'm a worker ant - 

And if you harass me or some other mean thing.

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

Sources: https://bioone.org/journals/florida-entomologist/volume-93/issue-4/024.093.0410/Worldwide-Spread-of-the-Graceful-Twig-Ant-Pseudomyrmex-Gracilis-Hymenoptera/10.1653/024.093.0410.full

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 11, 2026

This is known as a Pine Witches' Broom

Phytoplasma pini has affected this pine

Phytoplasmas are similar to bacterial cells

But don't have a cell walls or distinct nuclei

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

Sources: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10887288/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 10, 2026

I am known as a Common Raccoon

I'm seen throughout the American continent

I was introduced in Asia and Europe

Where I am widely distributed and predominant.

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 9, 2026

This plant is Resurrection Fern

In the wild, it can grow on trees, logs or rocks

At home you can grow it in hanging baskets

Or on driftwood or cork on a box.

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pleopeltis-polypodioides/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 8, 2026

I am a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I drill two different types of holes:

My rectangular holes are shallow, so the sap flows out

Round holes are deeper - I suck sap out of those.

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-bellied_Sapsucker/overview

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 7, 2026

I am a Broad-tipped Conehead Katydid

My fastigia ("cone") is wider than it is long

Based on season and sex I can be brown or green

I rub my wings together to make a calling song.

Location: Walgreens, Roseland/Rte 1

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1115

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 6, 2026

[In memory of Catherine O'Hara]

We are a pair of Sandhill Cranes

Wandering about, we've nothing better to do

I feel like we are forgetting something...

Oops! I'm missing an egg or two!

(No eggs were harmed in the making of this blog entry... she got back to her nest before a predator did. Although I'm pretty sure I heard the mom yelling "KEVIN". )

Location: Micco Scrub

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/overview

Photo and text © 2026 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.