Photos of Local critters that I hate. Sometimes hate is good

[FrommerStop]

My first candidate is the banded leaffooted bug. A garden and orchard pest. It stinks when you kill them.

 

[FrommerStop]

In Florida, the name yellow fly is commonly used to describe a group of about a dozen different yellow-bodied biting flies in the Tabanidae family. However, Florida tabanid experts recognize only one species, Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), as the true yellow fly.

 

[FrommerStop]

Last oct 30 my pup was running and then jumped to side and I walked over to see what he avoided as it was getting dark. It was this rascal crawling up from the nearby wetlands looking for a den for the winter.

 

[FowlHunter13]

Last oct 30 my pup was running and then jumped to side and I walked over to see what he avoided as it was getting dark. It was this rascal crawling up from the nearby wetlands looking for a den for the winter.

View attachment 87316

Looks like this guy may be deformed in some way. Lead poisoning maybe?

 

[FrommerStop]

Looks like this guy may be deformed in some way. Lead poisoning maybe?

It was evening and it crawled into a very shaded area at the base of a tree that it blended with very well. Could not see its head and no way was I going to let it escape into a nearby bush pile. I just shot the snakes body up. Not visible, the neck was badly shot up also. A 9mm hp bullet wound through the body of a moccasin will cause it to die.

 

[jettjon]

My first candidate is the banded leaffooted bug. A garden and orchard pest. It stinks when you kill them.
View attachment 87295

Note that both leaffooted bugs and wheel bugs are very common in NW FL and can be mistaken for one another. And while leaffooted bugs are a mild, stinky annoyance, wheel bugs are awesome to have in the garden. Just don't try to pet 'em.

wheel bug, Arilus cristatus (Linnaeus)

entnemdept.ufl.edu

 

[FrommerStop]

Note that both leaffooted bugs and wheel bugs are very common in NW FL and can be mistaken for one another. And while leaffooted bugs are a mild, stinky annoyance, wheel bugs are awesome to have in the garden. Just don't try to pet 'em.

wheel bug, Arilus cristatus (Linnaeus)

entnemdept.ufl.edu

 

[jettjon]

Here's a wheel bug taking down some sort of bee in my backyard. They usually prey on caterpillars and whatnot.

 

[FrommerStop]

Many of the wasps do similar things. Except they often paralyze their prey and lay eggs on them. Some of the wasps also prey upon beneficial arthropods like spiders that is not good.

 

[FrommerStop]

Lady on next dr found this near her bird feeder taking a nap.

I almost stepped on this day before yesterday. My cat was about 2 ft. away from it. It was curled up under my bird feeders I suppose waiting on birds.

 

[Molon Labe]

Lady on next dr found this near her bird feeder taking a nap.



View attachment 89290

What kind of telephoto lens were you using?

 

[SAWMAN]

Have seen several of the cow killer ants (hornets) in my yard in the last couple weeks.
Them bastards are what you DON'T wanna be stung by. --- SAWMAN

 

[War-Buff]

Lady on next dr found this near her bird feeder taking a nap.



View attachment 89290

pardon my ignorance but what kind of snake is that?

 

[SAWMAN]

Water( cottonmouth) moccasin I believe. They come in several colors round cheer. --- SAWMAN

 

[War-Buff]

Thanks. the shape of the head caught my attention. I really hate snakes and have a hard time identifying them.

 

[FLT]

Me too, if I know for sure it’s harmless then I leave it alone but if there’s any doubt————————.

 

[FrommerStop]

Thanks. the shape of the head caught my attention. I really hate snakes and have a hard time identifying them.

The older water moccasins often become darker as they age, but not always. When very young they can be mistaken for a copper head. Note the yellow on the tail of the very young moccasin.
As they get older the tail abruptly transitions to a small diameter and often stumpy appearance. Usually even the darker ones will still have the faint remnants of bands, but do not count on it. If in doubt to not mess with the snake.

Check the ventral scales. This is for pit vipers and not coral snakes. usually just a single row of post anal scales and they will have fangs.

 

[War-Buff]

Did I mention that I really hate snakes?

 

[jettjon]

Definitely a moccasin - venomous. Triangular head is the giveaway. In the pic below, on the left harmless (but can still bite you) black racer vs. moccasin on the right.

 

[FrommerStop]

Definitely a moccasin - venomous. Triangular head is the giveaway. In the pic below, on the left harmless (but can still bite you) black racer vs. moccasin on the right.

It is not just the shape of the head, but the narrow neck of the moccasin that accentuates the head shape. Some non-poisonous snakes will flattened their heads when agitated.