December 7, 2019

Location: H L Bishop Park, Lake Placid

I am known as an Assembly Moth
Samea multiplicalis and I look much alike
Except I have a pale spot on my wing split by a black line
And on my fringe is a tiny dark spike.

Sources: Bugguide.net - Assembly Moth - Hodges#5150 (Samea ecclesialis)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 6, 2019

Location: Windy Point Boat Ramp Park, Lake Placid

I am a Long-tailed Skipper
They called me Bean Leafroller when I was young
As larva, I ate bean and soybeans leaves
If you saw rolled or chewed leaves, you know I was having some fun.

Sources: UF | IFAS Featured Creatures - Bean Leafroller

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 5, 2019

Location: Windy Point Boat Ramp Park, Lake Placid

I am a Leucauge argyra
Orchard Orbweaver is my common name
My genus name translates to "with a bright gleam"
And I won't hurt you, despite what anyone claims.

(Like all spiders, the Orchard Orbweaver has venom, but it is not medically significant to humans.)

Sources: UF | IFAS Featured Creatures - Orchard orbweavers 

Photo and text © 2019 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 4, 2019

Location: Windy Point Boat Ramp Park, Lake Placid

I am a Downy Woodpecker,
As woodpeckers go, I'm quite small
My voice is described by Cornell as
"...high-pitched.. with a descending whinny call"

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Downy Woodpecker 

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 3, 2019

Location: Windy Point Boat Ramp Park, Lake Placid

I am an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail,
When I was larvae, I looked like bird poo
I also had some eye spots back then
Then I metamorphosed,  and all that kid stuff - I outgrew.

Sources: UF | IFAS Featured Creatures - Tiger Swallowtail 

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 2, 2019

Location: Windy Point Boat Ramp Park, Lake Placid

I am an American Alligator,
On the top of my head are my ears.
They're behind a skin flap, so they don't get wet,
The better to hear you with, my dears!

(Note: The link below is highly technical but interesting reading. Another interesting thing - you can see me taking the picture in the reflection of his eye!)

Sources: Journal of Experimental Biology - Biophysics of directional hearing in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 1, 2019

 Location: Lake Okeechobee Park, Okeechobee

I am a Northern Harrier
My face is shaped much like an owls
It's common for me to have multiple mates
In more than one way, I am out on the prowl!

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Northern Harrier

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson