In 2010 and 2011 as my last post for the year I have shown a critter or plant that was a special encounter or a photographic moment for each month of the year at my place. Once again I will keep with tradition and do the same. May I present to you, Two-thousand and twelve:
January: Milkweed Assassin Bugs (Zelus longipes). A nymph doing its thing.
February: Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis). I love when a new species just appears in my yard. This popped up in the margin of the pond.
March: Carolina Saddlebags Dragonfly (Tramea carolina)
April: Ivory Millipede (Chicobolus spinigerus) is detritivores, breaking down both dead plant and animal matter returning the nutrients to the soil.
May: Mockingbird takes on Red Shouldered Hawk. Those mocks are really tough birdies.
June: I think this may be a Grass-carrying Wasps (Isodontia spp.) shown on snakeroot, a plant native to Florida. They bring grass to nest and paralyze katydids (or similar) to lay eggs on.
July: The first cicada I encountered since moving to Florida.
August: Southern Flatcoil Snail (Polygyra cereolus), a native to Florida helps in decomposition and are a food source for turtles and birds such as doves. I’ve seen hundreds of the shells around, but this is the first time I ever had the actual snail peak out so I could get a good look.
September: Bee Killer (Mallophora spp.) lives up to his name. In the robber fly family, they mimic bees and while the adults kill wasps and bees (not such a good thing), the larvae parasitize soil-dwelling scarab beetle larvae which family includes “june bugs” so it’s a winner in my book.
October: Caterpillar à la mode? Double whammy for this poor caterpillar; first, it is dealing with parasitic wasp eggs hatching along its side, and now the Green Lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) is going in for the kill of both species.
November: Food preparation: I always appreciate a good love story even if it involves grasshoppers. Grasshoppers often get a bad rap, but keep in mind that the nymphs are a primary food source for baby birds.
December: Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) is one of several beautiful butterflies that are often seen during the winter months in Florida.
Here is looking forward to 2013 being the most biodiverse year in all your gardens. Happy New Year!
© 2012, Loret T. Setters. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Loret T. Setters
Loret, thank you for the most refreshing re-cap of a year that I have ever had the pleasure to see! You have done so much to promote biodiverstiy both at home and abroad, so to speak. Well done!
sue dingwell recently posted..A Year in Virginia
Wow! Thanks Sue! We need to thank my wonderful Florida ecosystem that I was so lucky to find to live within! I appreciate your kind thoughts but Mother Nature has a lot more to do with it than I
Loret T. Setters recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
Wow! What a “biodiverse” year in your garden. I love that you take time to observe it all. It must be truly rewarding. Very inspiring for those of us with young gardens who are just now beginning to see wildlife, and for those who are just beginning to rip out the lawn. Can’t wait to see what moves into your garden this new year! Happy New Year!
Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern recently posted..December Observations: Winter Wonderland
Thanks Kathy! I’m still amazed that every day can be a new adventure at my place. I’m lucky in that my place is a habitat relatively unaffected by man except for the clear cutting by the former property owner. Most everything really came back on its own, once I let the natural growth begin to facilitate restoration. The rewards are endless. Happy 2013 to you. Sounds like your garden is well on its way under your guidance!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
Lovely recap, Loret. Your garden looks.. crowded, LOL! Thanks for sharing your always wonderful photos~
Kathy Vilim recently posted..This Magical Season
Thanks Kathy! Was fun to stroll through my year of photos. When it comes to bug gangs, there is always room for more
Loret T. Setters recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
Loret your fabulous encounters have inspired me through the year to slowly observe and relish the smallest of these encounters! Happy New Year
Donna Donabella recently posted..Simply The Best-December
Awww, thanks Donna! Sometimes the smallest thing is the most interesting! Happy New Year to you and yours also.
Loret recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
What great pictures and what a great tradition. Thanks for sharing and letting us walk through the year with you and your biodiverse garden.The snail picture is really cool!
Ellen Honeycutt recently posted..Life Up Close in the Garden
Thanks Ellen! I always enjoy scrolling through the photos for the year to be reminded of the fun encounters. Those snails are so tiny AND ellusive…..was THRILLED to capture that one! Been several years of trying to finally get it!
Loret recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
Loret, I’m impressed and inspired. Great idea and great photos. Thanks for sharing.
Betty Hall recently posted..Winter solstice and winterberries
Thanks Betty. Here’s to more of the same in 2013!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
Loret, I just love your yearly recaps of your wonderful wildlife garden! Gorgeous photos, and what an amazing array of life you’ve got sharing your space with you. Wishing you a very Happy New Year
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..The Holiday Wildlife Garden
Thanks Carole! It’s nice to have this forum to share the annual reprisals. Here’s to 2013!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..A substitute White Christmas!
I love all your posts, but this was a bonus. I love that you can identify and impart interesting info on all the creatures in your garden.
Garden Girl in South Africa recently posted..Plant Labels
Thanks so much garden girl. I do try to research the value of each critter and plant to our world. I learn quite a bit as I go. The internet clearly has expanded my knowledge of nature. Thanks for your visit
LORET recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!
Thank you so much for all your garden stories! Looking forward to next year! -:)
My pleasure Janice. Appreciate your kindness and interest. Hope I can keep it interesting in 2013
LORET recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!