Tuesday, May 31, 2022

May 31, 2022

I am known as a Brown Stink Bug
I'm pretty, but an agricultural pest
I damage many seed, grain, nut and fruit crops
And during droughts, I think fruit is the best!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/bean/brown_stink_bug.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, May 30, 2022

May 30, 2022

I am a Florida Predatory Stink Bug
My friend the Large Four-spotted Scoliid Wasp said she'd give me a ride
My momma warned me that I never should trust them
But I don't.. huh.. that's funny... I don't feel my back side....

(Wasps like this sting their prey to paralyze them, then carry the prey back to their nest alive. When their eggs hatch, their larvae eat the still alive prey. This way, they have a fresh meal waiting for them when they hatch.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/IN/IN745/IN745-Dohpvimb1t.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, May 29, 2022

May 29, 2022

I am a Spotless Lady Beetle
I look innocent and harmless enough
But am being studied to see if I cause soybean root rot By dispersing pathogens found in my midgut.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5799320/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, May 28, 2022

May 28, 2022

I am an Eastern Meadowlark,
But despite my name I'm not a lark at all
I'm in the same family as blackbirds and Orioles
But compared to me, their singing is abysmal.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, May 27, 2022

May 27, 2022

I am known as a Squirrel Tree Frog
Because of the raspy call that I make
It's not unusual to hear me screech
But especially when it rains!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://wec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/hyla_squirella

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, May 26, 2022

May 26, 2022

This is what's known as a Longleaf Pine
It's coming out of of it's grass stage
In a few years it will become a great pine tree
And for snakes to woodpeckers it will be all the rage!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/longleaf-pine.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

May 25, 2022

I am a Seaside Dragonlet
I can eat insects as big as damselflies
I'm the only dragonfly that breeds in salt marshes
And me and my wife oviposit in mats of algae.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/3826

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

May 24, 2022

This plant is known as  Coffee Senna
It's smooth, hairless, and has quite a stench
It is known to be toxic to livestock.
And can make a poor cow retch.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://rangeplants.tamu.edu/plant/coffee-senna/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, May 23, 2022

May 23, 2022

I am a Western Honey Bee
I carry pollen in pollen pellets
When I fly, they add 30% to my weight
And attractiveness quotient to nectar zealots.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.science.org/content/article/honey-bees-fill-saddlebags-pollen-here-s-how-they-keep-them-gripped-tight

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, May 22, 2022

May 22, 2022

I am known as a Large Paper Wasp
I live in the southeastern Atlantic west coast
My venom will hurt if I sting you,
Unless you are allergic, in which case, you're toast!

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.gbif.org/species/7217904/treatments

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, May 21, 2022

May 21, 2022

I am a Southern Carpenter Bee
I gather pollen via “buzz pollination” -
I use my thoracic muscles to make a vibrating sound
That releases pollen from anthers from my sonic dance interpretation.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/carpenter_bees.shtml

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson




Friday, May 20, 2022

May 20, 2022

We are Xylocopa micans
Also known as Southern Carpenter Bees
We like to nest in coniferous woods
And can be seen on Rainy Days and Mondays.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/xylocopa.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Thursday, May 19, 2022

May 19, 2022

This is known as a Butterfly Pea
It's a larval host plant for a few butterflies
It grows in the south all year long on vines
That can be one foot tall by six feet wide.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/centrosema-virginianum

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

May 18, 2022

I am a Great Southern White butterfly
When I was young the Mustard family's what I ate
Now I'm grown up and only drink nectar
I have far more discriminating taste.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Ascia-monuste

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

May 17, 2022

I am a Spinybacked Orbweaver
Shown here from the top and the bottom
Below, you can can see my spinneret
It isn't an "innie" belly button.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/g_cancriformis.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Monday, May 16, 2022

May 16, 2022

This is Yaupon Holly
Later in the year it will have bright red berries
The flowers attract bees, and the fruit attracts birds
And its usage in landscaping varies.

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST311

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, May 15, 2022

May 15, 2022

This plant is known as a Sea Grape
The dangly things are known as racemes
Eventually it will have white flowers then grapes
Which are the food of bird and squirrel dreams.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST175

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, May 14, 2022

May 14, 2022

I am known as a Sanderling
I like to run up and down the beach
Unless there's a Peregrine Falcon around, 
Then I fly erratically to stay out of reach.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, May 13, 2022

May 13, 2022

I am known as a Ruddy Turnstone
My legs and feathers contain shades of ochre
One thing I don't have is a horrible stench -
I am not a filthy, polluting, jerk smoker.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Thursday, May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022

I am a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
My tail's much longer than you would imagine
My back and head are grey, my tummy is white
And my flanks are pale shade of salmon.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Hazel Bazemore Park, Corpus Christi TX

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Scissor-tailed_Flycatcher/photo-gallery/302140191

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

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

May 11, 2022

I am a Collared Peccary
Also known as a Javelina
You might mistake me for a pig or a boar
But never for a ballerina.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Hazel Bazemore Park, Corpus Christi TX

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

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

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022

I am known as a Green Jay
I'm the only green bird in this photo
I'm found in south Texas, but nowhere in Florida,
Not in the Keys, Tallahassee or Ft. Desoto. 

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson who took this photo on a recent trip to Texas.

Location: Hazel Bazemore Park, Corpus Christi TX

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

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

Monday, May 9, 2022

May 9, 2022


I am known as an Io Moth
My spines serve multiple purposes
They repel some of my natural predators
And can painfully sting epidermises.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Heather Elko.

Location: Private residence, Melbourne

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/io_moth.htm

Photo © 2022 Heather Elko, text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, May 8, 2022

May 8, 2022

We both belong to the family Thomisidae 
Also known as the Crab Spider family
Our 2 sets of front legs are bigger than the back
We don't hurt humans, but we eat bugs quite handily.

Location: My yard, Fellsmere

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1957

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Saturday, May 7, 2022

May 7, 2022

I am a Palmetto Skipper
As an adult I like flowers including Pickerelweed
As shown here, I'll also eat Thistle
Even one that's partially gone to seed.

Special thanks to guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euphyes-arpa

Photo © 2022 Jessica Sodano and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, May 6, 2022

May 6, 2022

We are Ghost Bulimulus
Also called Bulimulus bonariensis and Land Snails
We are exotics from the West Indies
And most likely got here via the rails.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2021/05/05/edrr-invasive-species-of-the-month-bulimulus-sporadicus-obrigny-1835/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson





Thursday, May 5, 2022

May 5, 2022

This is an Ohio Spiderwort
Also known as Bluejacket
But it's purple and looks nothing like a spider
Botany? I don't think I can hack it. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

May 4, 2022

This was a male Sculptured Pine Borer,
You can tell he was male by the "V" notch on his tummy
They are large bugs and harmless to humans
Unfortunately, they find Pine trees quite yummy.

Location: Fellsmere Trailhead Preserve

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Sculptured-Pine-Borer-Beetle

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Tuesday, May 3, 2022

May 3, 2022


This is a tale of two Peregrine Falcons
Starting with a female who lost her mate
Fortunately, she has found a new friend
With whom she can copulate.

And if everything goes according to plan
They won't be alone anymore
They'll have no conflicts
And raise a few chicks
For the first time in Alabama since 1954!

Here's the full story from Greg Harber (edited for space): The story behind these falcons is that the female of this pair has been in Birmingham for several years now with her mate, who was found dead last May. When her mate died, we wondered what might become of her. I had read that the birds often remain faithful to their nest site should anything happen to the mate, so I had hopes she 
would stay and attract another mate. 

I observed her multiple times last summer and up until late fall, and then I didn't see her again until about three weeks ago.  A day or two later I caught a passing glimpse of what I suspected was another falcon, but it wasn't until I snapped these first three photos that I could say with certainty that it was indeed another Peregrine Falcon I had been seeing.  A friend who lives in North Alabama used to monitor peregrine nests on the west coast and she confirmed, based on the plumage characteristics, that the male is a bird that was hatched last year. 

Of keen interest to me and the other who have been following these birds is the fact that peregrines have not successfully nested in Alabama since 1954 (Paint Rock, in north Alabama). Thus, the hope that this will be the year!

(Thanks to very special guest photographer, Greg Harber! To see more of Greg's photos, visit his art shop at https://www.calvinwildphotography.com/?page_id=734)

Location: Birmingham, AL

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

Photo © 2022 Greg Harber and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson




Monday, May 2, 2022

May 2, 2022

This plant is known as Whitetop Sedge
Its bracts are white and green
It evolved colored bracts
Mainly to attract
Pollinators to small flowers that are hard to see.

Location: Fellsmere Trailhead Preserve

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rhco7

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, May 1, 2022

May 1, 2022

I am known as a Mason Bee
I'm solitary and a good pollinator
Thistle is one of my favorite plants
And I'm a very good propagator. 

Location: WW Ranch Road, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Sebastian 

Sources: https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Osmia+chalybea


Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson