Dangerous Critters in Florida By Martha Thomas Lake County Livestock Agent.

Dangerous Critters in

FloridaBy

Martha Thomas Lake County Livestock

Agent

Protecting Farm Workers

Educate employees about crittersDescription of animals in the

environment and what to do if spotted.

Know if employee has a health issue and have on record.

Buy sting kits and put in an accessible location (Work Trucks, Tractor, Barn)

Keeping Area Safe

Know where critters are hiding!

Investigate sightings Take occasions to

hunt them down and exterminate.

If it is dangerous you may need to call an exterminator.

Poisonous Spiders

There are five species of venomous spiders in Florida.

The four widow species are all about ½” long with legs extended.

Females lay about 250 eggs in a pear-shaped egg sac that is about ½” to 5/8” in diameter.

The eggs hatch in about 20 days.

Southern Black Widow

Most widespread in Florida. It is glossy black with a complete hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen.

Found under rocks and boards and around old buildings.

Symptoms of Bite

Bite feels like tiny pin prick.

Initial pain disappears rapidly, leaving local swelling and two tiny red marks.

Muscular cramps, pain in abdomen, nausea, sweating, and difficulty breathing.

Death can occur depending on victims

physical condition.

Red Widow

Black abdomen and reddish-orange head, thorax and legs.

Top of abdomen usually has a row of red spots with yellow borders. This spider lacks a complete hourglass on the underside of the abdomen and instead usually has one or two small red marks.

Red Widow Habitat

Red Widow’s construct their webs in palmettos and has been found primarily in sand-pine scrub habitats in central and southeast Florida.

Brown Widow

This spider varies from light Gray to light brown to black. Abdomen has variable markings of black,

white, red and yellow. The underside has orange or yellow

hourglass.

Brown Widow Habitat

Found most often south of Daytona Beach along the coast.

It usually makes its web on buildings in well-lighted areas.

Brown Recluse Habitat Found in sheds, garages or areas of homes that are

undisturbed and contain a supply of insects to serve as food.

Persons bitten usually do not feel pain for two to three hours.

Blister arises at the site of the bite, followed by inflammation. Skin dies and takes six to eight weeks to heal.

Not an established species in

Florida. Recognized by the distinctive dark violin-

shaped mark located on the head and thorax.

1/4” to ½” long light tan to deep reddish-brown.

If Bitten

Preserve spider in rubbing alcohol for positive identification.

If you suspect it was a venomous spider get medical attention immediately.

Venomous Snakes in Florida

Six Species

Vipers have vertical (cat-like) pupils and a deep facial pit between each eye and nostril. They have blocky, triangular shaped heads that are broader than their necks.

Cotton Mouth/Water Moccasin

Most aquatic of Florida’s venomous snakes and occur throughout the state.

About 3’ long. Adults are dark-colored and may have a

faint cross band pattern or be a uniform black.

Copperhead

Small area in Panhandle west of Tallahassee. Primarily along Apalachicola River and its tributaries.

<3’ long with light brown to grey and dark brown colors.

Hourglass shape that makes exceptional camouflage in forests.

Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake

Very Dangerous Florida’s largest venomous snake may

exceed 6’ in length. Lives in dry habitats such as pinelands,

scrub, and golf courses. Some individuals may not rattle, even when

they are poised to strike.

Timber Rattlesnake(Canebrake Rattlesnake)

Only found in Northern Florida as far south as Gainesville and in limited portions of the Panhandle.

Prefers moist pinelands, river bottomlands, and hammocks.

Pinkish-gray to tan body color with prominent, irregularly-shaped, dark marks and bands.

Large thick heads and there may be a band running from each eye to the rear of the head.

Pygmy Rattlesnake

Smallest of Florida’s venomous snakes, exist in the entire state except the keys. Rarely exceed 20” in length.

Live in pine flatwoods, oak scrub, open pinelands, and palm hammocks.

Bodies are covered with numerous dark blotches with a row of darker blotches running down the middle of the snake’s back.

Coral Snake

Many habitats throughout the state but are seldom encountered because they are quite secretive and spend much of their lives underground.

Rarely longer than 30” and no bigger around that a quarter.

Red and Yellow Will Kill a FellowRed and Black Friend of Jack

Africanized Honey Bees (AHB)

Most noticeable characteristic is that it responds quickly to disturbances by people and animals 50 feet or more from the nest.

AHB can sense vibrations from power equipment 100 feet or more from the nest.

AHB will chase enemy up to a mile or more.

Apiculture Activity

In Africa they use bee hunting rather than bee keeping. Therefore, bees became more aggressive to protect themselves and therefore are unpredictable in behavior.

European honey be population in the U.S has been selected by beekeepers for manageable traits (gentleness, reduced swarming, high honey hoarding.

AHB Characteristics

Smaller than European bee and constructs cone with smaller cells.

Nest in smaller cavities and sometimes underground.

AHB Affect on Public

Decreased recreation and tourism Liability issues in judicial system and

insurance industry. Loss of honey bees for crop pollination

which are vital to our economy and food supply.

Reduced availability and higher costs of certain foods may result.

Protecting Farm From AHB

Remove potential nesting site Inspect exterior walls and eaves Seal openings > 1/8” Install screens over vents, rain spouts,

utility boxes and tree cavities Inspect area for bee activity during peak

swarming season (spring through fall)

Bee Safety Precautions

Listen for buzzing and look for bees entering or leaving an area, indicating a nest or swarm

Carefully enter areas where bees might be nesting

Examine area before using noisy equipment or penning livestock

Never disturb a swarm or colony of bees contact pest control company to remove

Locating Colony

Stay Away

Protect face and eyes

Take Shelter in enclosed area (Vehicle, house) Not water source they will wait

Contact Pest Control Company

If Stung

Scrape stingers from skin with a blunt object as soon as possible. If not done, venom will continue to be injected over time.

Wash with soap and water and apply ice. If allergic reaction occurs seek medical

attention immediately.

AHB Effects

AHB brought disaster to South and Central America beekeeping. Beekeepers were not prepared for the large, wild population of AHB which invaded their area.

They saw their own bees change rapidly and could not cope with the intense stinging behavior.

U.S. Bee Industry

Beekeepers must exterminate wild bee nests to protect their managed bees from resource competition.

Where wild populations of AHB build up, there will be reduction in forage availability.

Frequent re-queening, loss of apiary locations, and resource competition will all add to the cost and labor of beekeeping operations

Lyme’s Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

This bacterium is transmitted between mammals by the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, which is also called the deer tick.

Deer Tick

3 Host Life Cycle

Symptoms of Lyme’s Disease

Rash, around the site of the tick bite that appears within 3 days to 3 weeks after the bite.

The rash expands into a bull's eye pattern.

Other symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, chills, headache, and extreme fatigue.

Symptoms of Lyme’s Disease

These may appear weeks to months after the initial symptoms

Joints - arthritis in the knee, elbow and wrist

Nervous system - headache, stiff neck, facial paralysis

Heart - myocarditis, heart block

Protection

There are many cases each year that cannot be attributed to out of state travel.

Best protection is wearing insect repellent containing DEET concentration at 10-15%

Check self, children, and pets after being in tick habitat and remove promptly.

References

Venomous Spiders in Florida D.E. Short and J.L. Castner Recognizing Florida’s Venomous Snakes Steve A. Johnson and Martin

B. Main Lyme Disease in Florida1 Cynthia C. Lord and C. Roxanne Rutledge

Connelly2

Thanks

Questions?