Mimosa pudica, also known as bashfulgrass, touch me not, the sensitive plant, and the zombie plant: the compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, defending themselves from harm, and re-open about half an hour later. Click here to see a video of the leaves folding when touched, and then re-opening in time…
Images
Iberian Colts
Two Iberian horse colts playing at Silver Moon Iberians, Ocala, FL.
Sumac Flea Beetle
The best way to really get an understanding of how many beetle species there are in the world is to try to identify one. Behold, the sumac flea beetle (Blepharida rhois), whose Wikipedia article consists of four entire sentences. This was a BUGGER (pardon the pun) to identify.
Greenhouse Millipede
A greenhouse millipede (Oxidus gracilis). (Centipedes have a lot of extra, flaily spikes all over their front and back regions, and generally look much more pointy.) About 3/4 of an inch long; eats decaying plant matter.
Saltmarsh Moth Caterpillar
This little fellow is (very probably) a Saltmarsh Moth caterpillar (Estigmene acrea), but again this is one of those “identifications” wherein this could also be any one of a number of closely related species. Below, an earlier instar salt marsh moth caterpillar does an amazing yoga pose: The just-hatched caterpillars are mostly yellow, with little…
Milkweed Assassin Bug
A handsome milkweed assassin bug (Zelus longipes), wandering along one of the tombs in St. Louis Cemetery No 1 in New Orleans. These brightly-colored, long-legged insects are ambush hunters, believe it or not, which stroll idly along foliage, reaching out to grasp prey with their front legs. Most species of Zelus seem to be cryptically…
Burrowing Mayfly
One of New Orleans, Louisiana’s many mayflies — this one is perched on the Cafe du Monde.
Broad-tipped Conehead Katydid
Slender, untapered antennae and nearly round eyes distinguish this broad-tipped conehead katydid (Neoconocephalus triops) from some very similar-looking toothpick grasshoppers. About three inches long, and apparently they make some pretty funky noises. This is very probably a male; the ovipositors on the females are very distinct. That top photo was taken with my little mirrorless…
American House Spider
Maybe an inch long if she stretched out. The freeform, “messy” web is characteristic of the species.
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Almost four inches long, these massive insects come in a variety of colors from light yellow to almost black. Photos taken at Oakland Nature Preserve, Florida.
Air Potato Leaf Beetle
The air potato beetle, Lilioceris cheni. This dainty beast is used to help control toxic air potato vines (Dioscorea bulbifera), which are invasive in Florida.
Succulent
A closeup of a succulent at Florida Cactus, Inc., in Apopka, FL.
Sunset at Lake Apopka
Sunset on Lake Apopka. Florida builds some spectacular sunsets, helped by its zillions of tiny (and not so tiny) lakes.
Orlando Wetlands Park
Panorama shot of Orlando Wetlands Park, in Christmas, FL.
Quarter Horse
Chestnut quarter horse with a white blaze.
Cattle
These three juvenile beef cattle all wanted to know if cameras were edible.