Black Racer

We have seen this snake in our yard many a time, but this is the first time I caught it. My dad was mowing, and he saw the snake lift his head out of the grass. My dad called to us, and I ran out and "caught it just like Steve Irwin", as my brother described it. Before I put the gloves on, he gave me a little bite, but I didn't hold it against him. The last photo show the wound of which I am very proud.

Hermit Crab

I found this at a beach in Boca Raton. These little hermits are everywhere.

Mystery Animal Contest

I am having a contest for all the viewers of my blog. The first person to leave a comment under this post identifying both animals correctly will receive a Golden Field Guide of your choice from among the following: Mammals, Rocks and Minerals, Birds, Exotic Plants for House and Garden, Pond Life, or Seashores. I will ship it to you, but within the continental U.S. only. Sorry, I'm just a kid after all.

Killer Squirrel

This is what happens when you feed the squirrels!

Ant lion larva video

Ant Lion larva

This is an ant lion. It makes a funnel in the dirt and waits in the bottom with just its eyes and jaws sticking out. When an ant falls in, it grabs it and pulls it down.

Apple Snail

This is an Apple Snail I found at a pond in Boca, while collecting empty snail shells. This beasty is about 6.5" in diameter.

Baby Inchworm

I found this baby inchworm hanging upside down from a playground at a nature trail.

Growing Inchworm

We think this is the same inchworm that we found on a nature trail and brought home to live in our yard. You can see he's growing very well.

Cicada

As I was climbing a tree, I spotted this cicada just having emerged from its old exoskeleton. The cicada's "humming" can be heard from up to two miles away.

On the road to babies...

These green anoles were mating on our window screen.

Treefrog

I was playing outside when I saw a treefrog that looked like it swallowed a balloon. I think he was trying to scare me away.

Dragonfly Up-Close

I caught this while I was eating at Busch Gardens.

Ant Close-Up

I found this ant at Busch Gardens.

Paper Wasp Building Nest

We saw these wasp parents tending to their little wasp eggs in a bush in our yard.

Tile Horned Prongus Beetle

My dad found this while letting the dog out one night. I got my net and captured this beetle and took it to my laboratory (aka, my back porch). It flew out of my net and landed on the floor, so I quickly slammed the bug habitat over it. Next morning, it was trying to eat a hole through the screen mesh of the container. With no thought of losing my fingers to this beasty (well...maybe I gave it a little thought), I thrust my hand in and pulled it out. During the photo session, it slipped out of my hand and we couldn't find it. The next thing I knew it was crawling up my pants. I brushed it off and it flew at my face; but I caught it again, took a few more photos, and then released it.