September 21, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Rails to Trails trail

This is known as Ceasar Weed
It's an exotic, but Florida's been invaded.
It spreads when it's seeds stick to clothing
So it's best to just walk around naked.

Sources: UF | IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - Urena lobata

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 20, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Rails to Trails trail

This used to be a Southern Short-tailed Shrew,
But he is no longer among the living.
Shrews have a crazy high metabolism
And eat like every day is Thanksgiving.

So how he died - I can't say for sure,
He might have been hungry and not found food.
Or he could have been attacked by a preditor
Who decided he wasn't in a shrew-eating mood.

 (Thanks to David Simpson for the ID on this - I have never seen a shrew before in my life.)

Sources: Florida Nature: Shrews

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 19, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, Little League Park

I am known as a Black Vulture
My legs look white, but they're not.
My legs appear white because I poop on them
To help me keep cool when it's hot.

In addition, because I eat dead stuff,
I come in contact with toxins and such.
My poop is acidic and kills bacteria
That might be on something I touched.

Sources: The Wildlife Center of Virginia - Vulture Facts

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 18, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, City Hall

I am known as a Lark Sparrow
You know I'm not a house sparrow cause my markings are different -
I have a chestnut cheek patch and a black spot on my breast
I'm different, but still quite magnificent.

But I am not native to Florida, I am
The only Lark sparrow here, but I'm not alone
I hang with House Sparrows, but we can't inter breed,
I am destined to live my life in the "friend" zone.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Lark Sparrow

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 17, 2018

Location: Location

I am a Anisota virginiensis
"Pink-striped Oakworm moth" is what I'm usually called.
When I'm a caterpillar I like to eat oak leaves
When I'm a moth I drink, but don't eat at all.

(Make sure you click the picture to enlarge this one, his little tiny feet grasping the pine needle are soooo freaking adorable!)

Sources: Butterflies and Moths of North America - Pink-striped Oakworm Moth

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 16, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Rails-to-Trails trail

This is known as a Whitemouth Dayflower
It is tiny and inconspicuous.
Except for the one day it flowers - 
Bright blue and white petals are hard to miss.

Sources: Wild South Florida - Whitemouth Dayflower

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 15, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, MY HAIR!

I am a Red-humped Caterpillar
Schizura concinna is my scientific name.
When I grow up, I will be a moth,
But for now, chowing leaves is the name of my game.

(Note: I actually found this in December, when I was putting up my holiday lights, but it took me a while to ID it. Special thanks to Jeffrey Eickwort on the Florida Entomology facebook page for the ID assistance. )

Sources: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes - Red-humped Caterpillar

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson