Insects in Florida
In Florida, insects thrive. Here are photos and descriptions to help you identify insects and spiders in Florida.
Limpkin
Chestnut-brown with white spots, the limpkin has a curved beak much like an ibis. It is one of Florida’s more rare birds, and has been listed on the protected species list. Its diet consists mostly of the apple snail.
Little blue heron
Few wading birds sound genuinely upset when you walk past them, but the little blue heron sure kicks up a fuss - and usually moves away quickly, no matter how softly you walk.
Longleaf Pine
The tallest of Florida's pines, longleaf pine also has the longest needles, more than a foot long. Favored for lumber, most of the longleaf pine forests of the Southeast have been logged, but you can still immerse in impressive longleaf pine stands on …
Louisiana (tricolored) heron
A distinctive white-bellied blue heron, the Louisiana heron is also known as the tricolored heron.
Moonflower
A night bloomer that begins to close as daylight arrives, moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is commonly seen around Lake Okeechobee and throughout the Big Cypress as a draping vine cascading over trees and shrubs.
Moorhen
One of the noisiest residents of the marsh, the moorhen - also known as the common gallinule or marsh hen - has a distinctive red beak compared to their cousins the coots.
Mottled duck
A dabbling duck, the mottled duck floats along the surface of the water and daintily dabs its bill into the water to feed, or tips over to reach vegetation at the bottom.
Osprey
The osprey is a large black and white raptor, up to two feet tall and with a six-foot wingspan. It dives for fish and is found near freshwater and saltwater habitats.
Purple gallinule
Florida's most beautiful waterbird is the purple gallinule, found year-round in fresh water marshes in the Florida peninsula.
Red Mangrove
Red mangroves are the easiest of the mangroves to identify due to their "walking legs" root systems. Note the bean-pod-like “roots” at their bases: these are miniature mangroves spawning, fully formed plants waiting to float off with the next high tide.
Red Maple
Also known as the swamp maple, the red maple is one of the more common large trees found in Florida's floodplain forests. It's by far the most colorful, too, sporting bright crimson leaves in late fall and early winter.