September 30, 2020

I am a Great Golden Digger Wasp

Notice my orange side spots

I'm the only Digger Wasp that is harassed by birds

Who try to steal bugs that I've caught. 

(Special thanks to my dad-in-law who found this and called me over to take a picture of it.)

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Great-Golden-Digger-Wasp

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 29, 2020

I am known as Katydid Wasp

Like the Spider Wasp, I'm named for my prey. 

I sting Katydids, leaving them paralyzed but alive

Leaving victims that can't get away

Which my larvae consume very slowly -

It can take about 10 long days.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2020/8/17/katydids-crickets-and-grasshoppers-beware-great-black-wasps-and-katydid-wasps-are-in-the-air-sphex-spp

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 28, 2020

This is a Red Morning Glory

Its flower is about the size of a penny

It's a food source for both song and hummingbirds

And is also pollinator-friendly.

Location: Hiawasee, GA

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-coccinea/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 27, 2020

I'm known as a Rainbow Scarab

I am a "tunneler" type of Dung Beetle

I create a tunnel under a dung pat, lay eggs, and

Make brood balls for my little poop eaters.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/BENEFICIAL/BEETLES/Phanaeus_vindex.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 26, 2020

I am a female Eastern Fence Lizard

I am considered a tree dweller

During breeding season males are bright blue underneath

Which is what I prefer in a feller. 

(For the next week I will be featuring critters and plants found at my inlaw's place in GA. Much thanks to them for their hospitality and patience with my bugs and other squirmy things:-)

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/sceund.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 25, 2020

I am a Downy Woodpecker

You might confuse me with the Hairy

But I have white spots on my outer tail feathers,

And they're bigger than me - if you're comparing.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/species-compare/68929231

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 24, 2020

I'm known as a Smooth Ox Beetle

I live in pine forests and am mostly nocturnal

I build a burrow, lay eggs and leave leaf litter

For my kids to eat when they hatch, how maternal!

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Ox-Beetle

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 23, 2020

I am known as a Spider Wasp

So named for what I eat

I paralyze a spider with my venom

And leave it for my babies to feast.

(I went out to see my beautiful garden spider, and was horrified to find this wasp attacking her. Besides the fact that it was already too late (see the last photo below) I understand that nature must take its course; wasp babies have to eat too.  I highly suggest getting a free JSTOR account and reading the article listed in the sources below for details of what the wasp does with the spider.)

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

Sources: Martins, R. (1991). Nesting Behavior and Prey of Poecilopompilus algidus fervidus and Tachypompilus xanthopterus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 64(2), 231-236. Retrieved September 20, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25085276

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 21, 2020

I am a Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly

Named after my favorite caterpillar food

As an adult I feed on honeysuckle and thistles,

But I'll check out Spotted Horsemint and Salvia too. 

Update: I was asked how to differentiate between a Spicebush and a Black Swallowtail. Check out this page which has great comparisons between similar butterflies, specifically, look at the ventral views: 

https://www.butterfliesathome.com/black-swallowtail-butterfly-comparison.htm

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-troilus

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 22, 2020

I am a Yellow Garden Spider,

Some people think my web looks like I'm writing

I make a vertical zig zag out of my silk

And catch bugs who think my web looks inviting. 

(I found this beauty in my native plant garden. Tune in tomorrow for the unhappy end of our brief relationship...)

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/SPIDERS/yellow-garden-spider.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 20, 2020

I am a Zebra Longwing, 

The Florida state butterfly

I am not sexually dimorphic -

only my mate knows if I'm a girl or a guy.

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/zebra_longwing.htm

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 19, 2020

I am a Tropical Checkered-Skipper

I live in the southern US and Cuba

My wingspan is from 1 to 1.5 inches, 

And my weight is far less than a tuba.

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

Sources: https://www.butterfliesofcuba.com/burnsius-oileus---tropical-checkered-skipper.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 18, 2020

I am a Marbled Grasshopper

You can find me along the eastern US coast 
I can also be found around the Great Lakes

And I stridulate whither I goest.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 17, 2020

I am a male Delaware Skipper, 

If I was female I would have darker markings

I like to drink nectar from flowers

So the air still smells sweet when I'm farting.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anatrytone-logan

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 16, 2020

I'm known as a Bumble Bee, 

In Florida 5 species are found

We are differentiated by the pattern of black and yellow

To ID for sure, you'd have to view all the way round.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/bumble_bees.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 15, 2020

I am a male Whirlabout butterfly

If I was female, I'd be dark brown

In the afternoon you can find me perched, waiting

For a girlfriend so we can dart around. 

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Polites-vibex

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 14, 2020

This is known as Pickerelweed

It's found on the banks of ponds and ditches

It is well loved by butterflies and other bugs

As well as duckies, reptiles and fishes.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources:  https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/pickerel-weed.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 13, 2020

I am known as a Common Nighthawk,
I'm cute and my feathers are spiffy
I'm hear to tell you today is quite special
David Simpson is officially fifty.

Special thanks to today's guest photographer and birthday boy, David Simpson. Be sure to wish him a very happy 50th birthday today! 

Location:  Everglades Agricultural Area, Palm Beach County

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Nighthawk/id

Photo © 2020 David Simpson,  text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 12, 2020

I am some type of a Horse Fly
Determining ID is pretty hard work
But when I bite your butt while you're trying to twerk
You will call me a big stinging jerk.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/deer_fly.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 11, 2020

I am known as a White Peacock butterfly,
I like to fly low to the ground.
My typical lifespan's only 1 to 4 months
So enjoy me while I am around.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 10, 2020

This is Tillandsia setacea
Commonly called Southern Needleleaf
In Florida, this plant is not threatened
Mexican bromeliad weevils have bigger things to eat.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/savebromeliads/floridas-bromeliads/Tillandsia-utriculata.html
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/savebromeliads/floridas-bromeliads/Tillandsia-setecea.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 9, 2020

I am known as a Blue Dasher,
Pachydiplax longipennis is my scientific name
That doesn't mean what you think it does -
"longipennis" means long-winged - for shame!

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://uwm.edu/field-station/blue-dasher-dragonflies-family-libellulidae/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 8, 2020

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike
I wear a black mask, like a robber
What I do to bugs involving barbed wire
Impresses the girls but looks somewhat macabre.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/id

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 7, 2020

I am a Carolina Saddlebags,
Sometimes also called "Dancing Glider"
When out on a date, for 10 minutes we'll mate
That's all the time that we require.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://uwm.edu/field-station/carolina-saddlebags/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 6, 2020

This is Southern Live Oak
It is the reason it's no longer Scrub Jay Season.
Although Scrub Jays really like peanuts
They think Acorns are much better eatin'

Note: It is illegal to feed peanuts (or anything) to Scrub Jays. Scrub Jay monitors are permitted to feed limited numbers of unsalted peanuts to Scrub Jays in order to facilitate banding only at certain times of the year. Which is good because at this time of year, they don't come for peanuts as readily since they far prefer acorns. 

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Florida_Scrub-Jay/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 5, 2020

I'm known as a Halloween Pennant
Because of my orange and dark brown coloring
You can find me by marshes, lakes and ponds
Eating bugs, resting and fluttering.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/odonata/Halloween_pennant.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 4, 2020

I am a female Brown Anole
I'm an invasive exotic (to give full disclosure)
I out-compete Florida Anoles for food
But sometimes, I can be quite the poser.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/smsfp/irlspec/Anolis_sagrei.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 3, 2020

I'm known as a Roseate Skimmer
I'm found in freshwater habitats
If I'm an adult male I'm red, if I'm female I'm brown
But we both can fly really quite fast.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://eol.org/pages/131204/articles

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 2, 2020

This is a plant known as Tall Elephant's-Foot,
It grows in many areas, including those ruderal
Its three hairy bracts form a triangular shape
And the small purple flowers are beautiful.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-elephantopus-elatus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_botanical_terms

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 1, 2020

I am known as a Southern Toad,
I'm an omnivore that mostly comes out at night.
You might mistake me for an invasive Cane toad
But I've ridges that end in large glands by my eyes.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/southern-toad/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson