Let's see your yard critters

CJ, the only name I am sure of is the Species, because it has the word next to the name. All other names (20 of them) are a mystery to me.
I created a file for the Beetle, lets see if Kennedy gets back to me with corrections. (Again)
I also submitted the Y&B spider, thanks for paving the way for me.

I don't have the patience to do searches, or I don't know how to do it right. I tried to find a specific Skipper and got lost after 15 minutes, frustrating.

Here is a nasty looking thing I snapped this morning. A Weevil ?
Andy P

CJ, I was corrected on a couple fields for the Beetle. So frustrating.
I found out what the above bug is with help at BugGuide. I submitted that to BugFiles, too. Lets see if that went through 'error free'.
Andy P

I got a shot of another butterfly yesterday. I think it's a Gulf Fritillary. I love having all the butterflies!

-- Vicky

And also just look at the number of Eastern Swallowtail caterpillars on my fennel! I'm glad they took the fennel this time and not the parsley -- I like to cook with the parsley!

-- Vicky

Andy - Some of us can take wonderful pictures; some of us are better at searches. I'd rather be able to take those pictures!

This photo is a leaf-footed bug, probably one instar short of being an adult. Do you see those wings in the making? Only adult insects have wings. I believe it is Acanthocephala terminalis in the Family Coreidae. It is a true bug (all bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs) so it is in the Order Hemiptera. I think that's all they require on Bug Files. Will have to go take another look.

The problem with immatures, is that it is hard to find photos. And they change so much as they grow. It doesn't fit all of the adult charactersitics of any of the leaf-footed bugs I've seen, but the "stripe" around the edge makes me think it is terminalis. As an adult the tips of the antennae would turn red, as would sections of the legs. If it is terminalis......

vcb1 - I've never seen that many BST caterpillars in one place! You must not have red wasps or assassin bugs.

Oh - Looked at my passion vine to see how the cat was doing and there's not one single leaf left! I hope there were enough for the cat to pupate.

This message was edited Aug 8, 2006 2:41 PM

Andy, Ah - declivis! You did better than I did! That would have been a good one to get from the side, showing that hump. Did you ever get your milkweed leaf beetle done? I can give you that info if you still want it..

I think the thing that is confusing to you is that there are sub listings for the insects. Just ignore those and go straight to the Order, Family, Genus, Species - that's all tha Bug Files is asking for.

When you want to enter a photo, first check to see if the insect is in the files by clicking on the green bar - "search for bugs". If it isn't listed yet, then click on "add a new bug to the database." That's when you have to fill in the Order, Family, Genus, Species, and Common Name. After that is submitted then go to the new file you've just created and download your photo.



This message was edited Aug 8, 2006 3:24 PM

CJ, My problem (one of them) is knowing which name goes with which category.
Yes I did submit the Milkweed beetle to BugFiles and was corrected on 2 fields. Kennedy is very patient with me.
I posted the 'Leaf footed bug' on BugGuide and was directed enough to find it exactly. It is now on BugFiles http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/552/ I haven't been corrected on it, yet. LOL. I have 4 pics of this one, this is the side shot. I have a 'full frontal' shot but it's not clear.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Andy P

Andy P, I have trouble knowing which label goes with which word too. I also have the same problem with plants! I'm hoping someone clarifies this here.... cj? And when I do research on a bug or plant the sites don't seem to list all the categories -- like for bugs -- order, family, genus, etc.

-- Vicky

This spider is in my window as I type. I will have nightmares tonight after blowing up the photos I took. I've no idea what the spider is, I think the wasp is a yellow jacket.

Vicky, try this. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/631887/#top
Go down to Aug 7 at 3:34. I asked the same question.
Andy P

This message was edited Aug 8, 2006 6:31 PM

OK everybody. When you are done voting for your favorite banner we can get back to our own yard critters.
Here is one from yesterday.
Andy P

Andy, he looks like he has already found lunch! Wonderful close up. My DH would probably want to know what you were using to shoot it.

Look at that blood-engorged mosquito! Looks like it's already eaten lunch! I agree - what camera? How do you get those extreme closeups of flying, moving insects? Man, they're gone before I can even find my camera, let alone focus it!!!

better yet..whose arm Andy??? I bet he made a mess when you were done taking the picture!

I use a basic $150 Fuji camera that I bought at Brooks pharmacy last Summer.
The mosquito was on the basement bathroom mirror when I shot this, I impaled it on the end of a wire bristle 'paint brush cleaner' brush. Easy to clean, lol.
I snapped this Dragonfly on the clothes line yesterday.
Andy P

Are you sure it's not an exterrestrial checking you out?

Anita, this is more SciFi.
My little Mantises are getting bigger.
The wings are growing, no more green color. This is the easiest one to find but not the largest. Only one is still green.

Andy P

I had to nudge that one out of the way today so I could get a good shot of my Spider.
It moved a few days ago, I was despondent thinking I had lost it. I found it this afternoon in a much better location for me to get nice and close.
Andy P

Those are neat spiders. I don't have them by, as far as I know, but I did see them down in the Outer Banks, NC. I couldn't believe how big they were!!

I opened up my umbrella today and I found this guy perched up inside on the pole. I have no idea what kind he is but he's kind of cute!

-- Vicky

Very cool, Vicky.

You may look at this link and find the species. I would try under tree frogs since he has those neat toes! LOL! http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps/amphibid/anura_s.htm#hyla

Vicky, I'm guessing Cuban Tree Frog... they do not have a good rep in Florida as they're wiping out the native tree frogs.

Which doesn't mean they're not cute, just cute with a nasty appetite. ;)

And the state asks that they be humanely euthanized if you find one. There's a thread somewhere (wish I could remember) which gives the method to use.

Loving everyone's photos.
The mosquito wins!
We haven't had any this year even tho we had plenty of rain this spring. Very few flies either. A few no seeums just starting to bite!

Oh my gosh! I had no idea these were invasive -- this is the first one I've seen. Thank you fellow Floridians so much for letting me know. I found this good link to a number of types of invasives that may be helpful to others: http://pcb2441.ifas.ufl.edu/list%20of%20species.htm.

Does anyone know how I can tell if the tadpoles in my hot tub and barrel ponds are from cuban tree frogs? I have a lot of then.

I did some research and found the info on killing these guys. Here's what the state says:

Purchase a small tube of benzocaine ointment, which is used in humans as a pain-killer for toothaches. There are several well-advertised brands as well as much less expensive store brands (generic brands). Simply take a strip of ointment about 1 inch long (perhaps more for larger frogs) and spread it down the midline of the neck and back of each frog. In 5-10 minutes the animal will be groggy; in 15-20 minutes it should be unconscious, and in about 30-40 minutes it will be close to dead or dead. At this point, put the frog in a plastic container and freeze it for 3 days. Why? Because we want to ensure that the frog dies -- we don't want a heavily drugged frog to be buried and later wake up 2 feet underground. That would not be humane. After 3 days, dispose of the carcass by burying it deep enough so that a pet or wild animal will not dig it up, or place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash.

Now I'm going to have to keep my eyes open for him.

-- Vicky

This groundhog got to an ear of corn I was going to grind and put in the compost bin before I did. I usually don't see him/her during the day.

Fatboy # 4 out of 10 so far. It and it's extended family have eaten all of my watermelons. This was taken shortly before biting the bullet.

Bikernurse - my sympathies - watermelons take so long to grow and to have them destroyed this late in the season... woo, I feel your pain. People who say 'you need to plant enough to share' - grrrrr - don't realize it is the animals who won't share. They just take it ALL.

Sterling (I finally got fresh peaches this summer - winning the battle against the squirrels!!!)

Well folks, I opened my umbrella again today and there was my Cuban tree frog sitting on the pole just like yesterday. He is now a goner and is buried near my pony tail palm. Sorry guy!

-- Vicky

PotEmUp,
That's a black widow isn't it? Yikes! I've been obsessing over them this summer after learning we have so many of them. Our dirt dauber nests are full of immature black widows, paralyzed and waiting to be eaten by the baby daubers. The black widow is the dauber's favorite food. At least they are eating all those spiders that would otherwise become adults. Watch out - their bite is nasty.
Debra