Hobbies And Interests
Butterflies and Moths
With its warm environment, Florida is a haven for many butterfly and moth species. The classic monarch butterfly, with its spectacular orange wings can easily be spotted in Florida. The luna moth, a large pale green moth is also found here. While you might be tempted to keep your eyes only on the sky when looking for butterflies and moths, make sure to check out the vegetation for the fuzzy eastern tent caterpillar and the poisonous crowned caterpillar.
Beetles
Florida is home to some interesting beetles such as the dung beetle. These creatures feed partly or exclusively on excrement. They have an interesting habit of rolling dung into a ball using their back legs and are very amusing to watch. The impressive rhinoceros beetle can also be found in Florida. With their large rhino-like "horns" and large size, these beetles are quite a sight to see.
Scorpions
The Florida striped scorpion and the Florida bark scorpion are two notable scorpion species found in the state they are named for. Florida striped scorpions unsurprisingly have a yellow stripe down their body, while Florida bark scorpions are the biggest scorpion species in the state. Like all scorpions, they can be found in damp, dark places and are nocturnal. While their sting is painful like a wasp sting, it is not harmful.
Spiders
Florida is home to a variety of spiders, some of which are dangerous to humans. Golden silk spiders may be the largest non-tarantula species in North America, but they are not harmful to humans. With their distinctive coloring and 2- to 3-foot-wide webs, these spiders are fascinating to observe. Black widow spiders are harmful to humans. Their bites cause sweating, nausea, vomiting and muscle cramps. Left untreated the symptoms will resolve themselves in three to five days, but an antivenin is available for treatment. They are small black spiders that can be identified by the red hourglass marking on their abdomen and should be avoided