Another common Florida critter....

[Z06 Rocket]

Originally Posted by Rich Z

If you have boots or shoes sitting outside on the porch, it would be wise to shake them out vigorously before putting them on your feet.

Got some nasty spiders in FL too, Brown Recluse is one, Black and Brown Widow are 2 more. They like shoes in your closet inside the home, so shake them too if its been a little while since you wore them.

[ynkedad]

I've seen plenty of all three of them spiders in FL.

[Daffy]

As a rookie Floridian I will take this under advisement..

[Rich Z]

Originally Posted by Z06 Rocket

Got some nasty spiders in FL too, Brown Recluse is one, Black and Brown Widow are 2 more. They like shoes in your closet inside the home, so shake them too if its been a little while since you wore them.

The brown recluse is an import, but can be found here, nonetheless. I've got some really gruesome pics of a bite somewhere that I need to post when I find them. It will DEFINITELY make you wary of this little monster.

Never really heard from anyone about the Brown Widow being a health hazard. The Black Widow is, definitely, and I've seen some REALLY big ones around here. One spot where I saw more Black Widows in any one place was in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, for some odd reason.

And of course we have our fire ants and now the "killer bees" to contend with.....

[Daffy]

I got to know the fire ants last week when I was standing on an anthill...I wil definitely be more careful from now on..

[CHASZ51]

Back just before X max i was walking in some woods and got popped six times by yellowjackets. Let me tell ya they came out of the ground with a unreal speed!

[ynkedad]

Rattlesnakes our your way RichZ? I haven't seen any on our property yet...Knock on wood!
We do have some of them Black rat snakes and I've killed several Corals here.

[ynkedad]

Originally Posted by CHASZ51

Back just before X max i was walking in some woods and got popped six times by yellowjackets. Let me tell ya they came out of the ground with a unreal speed!

I forgot about them! I know what ya mean CHASZ51...
Just after we moved to this house, I was mowing the lawn (went thru some taller grass) hitting a nest in the ground. I didn't know it till I was about 150ft away and BLAM! I was stung 3 times by them somebeeches! NOT a good feeling. I Dove off the mower and ran like crazy.
Found the hole, tossed some gasoline in it, struch a match and.....there's a second hole Adding one more sting to my collecction, Again...running like crazy! We're Yellowjacket free now .

[Rich Z]

Originally Posted by ynkedad

Rattlesnakes our your way RichZ? I haven't seen any on our property yet...Knock on wood!
We do have some of them Black rat snakes and I've killed several Corals here.

There are NO black rat snakes in Florida. If it is a thick bodied blue black snake, it is probably an eastern indigo, which is federally and state protected. If it is a smaller, slimmer black snake with a kind of dull gun metal look, it is probably a black racer. Eastern indigos are GOOD to have around because they will attack and eat venomous snakes around. I used to work with them when I was up in Maryland and they are about the most intelligent and personable snakes around. Matter of fact we saw an indigo snake at the Bok Preserve while we were there. They are rapidly being driven to extinction because their favored habitat also happens to be habitat that real estate developers favor. And we all know who will win that contest......

[Rich Z]

Originally Posted by Daffy

I got to know the fire ants last week when I was standing on an anthill...I wil definitely be more careful from now on..

Yeah. I think the proper name for feet in sandals here in Florida is "Fire Ant Bait".........