May 12, 2026

We are both Spotless Lady Beetles

Though I (in photo 1) posed with my head down

And with macrophotography I look like a peach

But not Jame's*, which was big as a town. 

* As in Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391240608_Eye-spot-only_Ladybird_Beetle_Cycloneda_sanguinea_Linnaeus_in_New_Countries_and_Islands_while_declining_in_abundance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_and_the_Giant_Peach

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.

May 11, 2026

We are Southern Green-striped Grasshoppers

We can be seen in brown or green phases

Scientist argue if we are Chortophaga viridifasciata

But just live in different places.

(To clarify, these are both Southern Green-striped Grasshoppers [Chortophaga australior], which have two distinct color phases. In question is whether or not Southern Green-striped Grasshoppers are a different species from the Green-striped Grasshoppers [Chortophaga viridifasciata] found outside of the southeastern US.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/orth/view.php?checklist_number=79.0

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.

May 10, 2026

We are instars of the Tobacco Budworm moth

We are considered pests due to what we eat:

Tobacco leaves

Which contain nicotine,

Which is harmful to all human beings.

(I'm not sure why they were all over the thistle - perhaps the anti-smoking messages are getting out into the wild!)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/chloridea-virescens

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco

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.

May 9, 2026

We are all Blister Beetles 

Though the specific species is hard to tell

We are mostly variations of orange and black

And are all fairly small and svelte.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN323

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.

May 8, 2026

This is Purple Passion Vine

It can climb or just sprawl on the ground

Its petals sport a wavy fringe

Reminiscent of that 60's hippie sound.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=pain6

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.

May 7, 2026

This is a Florida Pricklypear

It's a favorite food for many creatures

It's a beneficial plant in the environment

But hurts if it gets in your sneakers. 

(Not that I know from experience or anything...)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2025/06/05/exploring-floridas-natives-the-prickly-pear/

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.

May 6, 2026

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk

I am Dee's 4000th iNaturalist observation,

We encourage you to learn iNaturalist yourself

Observation greatly helps conservation!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: Dee's video series about how to use iNaturalist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw7UG4BcJDK3fhZ7G7rLaO6-jgju5P8Rc

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.