Top 20 Most Common Insects in Gainesville
Insects, those winged, six-legged creatures, are not just residents of Gainesville but pervasive parts of its ecosystem. From the tell-tale buzz of bees to the silent flitting of moths, these creatures shape our city, acting as pollinators, decomposers, and even pest control. Understanding both their roles and the ecological influence of Gainesville will reveal the fascinating dynamics of the Top20-most common insects in our city.
Most Common Insects
1. Lone star tick
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) has a white dot on its abdomen. This bloodsucker has a taste for turkeys, giving it the nickname "turkey tick." They do not tend to be picky eaters, as they do latch onto humans as well. Humans that have been bitten by this often have Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI). Symptoms such as fever, headache, and joint pain are resolved quickly using antibiotics.
2. Eastern pondhawk
The eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) has much in common with American fishermen, they love living near the sides of ponds. They are a beautiful insect that is easy to distinguish when it comes to different genders. Females are bright green with bands around the abdomen and the males are bright blue with a green face.
3. Blue dasher
The name Pachydiplax longipennis implies that the blue dasher has long wings due to the "longipennis" section literally translating to it. But this would be misleading, as the insect does not have particularly long wings. Instead, they stick out with vibrant blue colors. The dasher part of their name may be in reference to their voracious diet, as they can eat up to 10 percent of their body weight daily.
4. Monarch butterfly
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.
5. Banana spider
The banana spider (Nephila clavipes) is called that because it is commonly found in banana shipments leading from South America. There are many spiders that fit this category (often found in banana shipments), so this one is also called the Golden silk orb-weaver to distinguish them. This name is more related to the strength of its silk, which is stronger than steel based on tensile strength.
6. Common Buckeye
The common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) has distinguishable target-shaped spots on its dark wings, along with patches of orange and white. It produces multiple generations each year as it migrates to sunny landscapes. When it flies, it moves rapidly in an irregular pattern, often low to the ground.
7. Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
The eastern Lubber Grasshopper ( Romalea microptera) is the most distinctive grasshopper within the south-eastern United States. This large and brightly colored insect can emit a noxious dark-colored foamy secretion from the thorax when it is disturbed. A bird would feel very regretful after ate this insect by mistake.
8. Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.
9. Zebra longwing
The zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) is a beautiful butterfly that has a texture resembling a zebra. They feast and pollen and nectar, using the pollen to produce chemicals that poison predators if they are eaten, deterring most predators from attack. Unfortunately, their populations have been decimated after being caught in the crossfire of sprays meant to control mosquitos.
10. Long-tailed skipper
It is a showy butterfly, with wings of light brown tinted with iridescent blue, and two long tails extending from the hindwings. The robust body is light blue dorsally. It has a large head, prominent eyes, and a wingspan between 4.5 cm and 6 cm. 
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