Possibly moving to FL. How big are the bugs really?

Now, here's a funny thing. I had a spider web of some sort, and it was invaded by a daddy long legs. It just took over the old web and sent the resident packing - if she was lucky. I don't even bother with catch and release. If they're not black widows, I let them hang around.

By the way, the black widow web is stronger than you would ever believe, and it seems like the whole thing is sticky. Most webs are only sticky in the entrapment section.

By the way, here's a link to my old spider thread.

http://able2know.org/topic/28109-1

hehe, You guys crack me up. Please continue.

We have Black Widow spiders here and the occasional scorpin of a mild variety in AZ, so hoping they aren't too much bigger in FL.

How about crocs?

Shouldn't run into any crocs. Mostly, the sharks keep them at bay. I'm very distrustful of freshwater ponds, lakes, and swamps. Alligators are a protected species in Florida, and they seem to be flourishing.

What part of Florida? The bugs aren't especially large, but there's way more of them than we have in New Mexico. I don't know if florida is home to the brown recluse spider, but they are at least as dangerous as the black widow, and they don't confine themselves to webs. They are also not expecially distinctive in appearance.

Much obliged.

Ah...alligators. ugh.

about a half hour's drive south of Orlando I think.

That area is pretty much all Disneyed up so they dont allow no bugs there, unless their part of a ride or something.

Ah, the wildlife in Florida. I am more concerned with the no-see-ums and the ghost ants than the Palmettos. These are teeny creatures. The ghost ants can come through the tiniest crack in a window frame, and can make one's life miserable. The no-see-ums, accompany you when you open your door.

Also, you need to have someone check your house yearly for termites.
http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Arthropod/NOSEEUM.htm

http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/ghost_ant.htm

Oh boy Oh boy Oh boy!!! I'd get to visit mm!!!

Alligators are verra common in FL these days, hon. In fact the word "infestation" springs to mind.

Many years ago I stopped at a toll booth on the Turnpike, and joined a group of people looking down a drain. Big gator down there. A toddler leaned over and called, "Here kitty kitty..."

True story, honest! Mom said, "That's not a kitty, honey..."

Banana Spider.

Wolf Spider.

Wolf Spider again. They don't bite, but honey they are HUGE! I mean HUGE!

If you walk in the woods, you're likely to see these, Orb-weavers. Look like little crabs.

Sigh... So, mm, how do you feel about snakes?

Once I went out on a boat in a Florida state park. Allegedly, there was a population of about 800 alligators in the lake. When I would see one, I would row next to it, and the beast would submerge.

It's fun to stalk an alligator!

The most dangerous snake here in Florida is the coral snake. Here's a little info to help you identify it.

http://www.wildflorida.com/articles/Floridas_Giant_Orange_Grasshoppers.php
Probably my least-favorite FL insect, the Lubber Grasshopper. We get these every year in large numbers. They are so big I swear I can hear it when I run one over with my freaking CAR!

We had one in our small backyard pond that must have been fed by someone, since when it heard you coming it would quickly swim TOWARDS you. I've never seen an alligator behave that way, and I hope I never do again.

We called the Wildlife guys and they never came, so we shot it ourselves, we really did... I mean, we have 3 dogs.

With my husband's first shot it kept swimming towards us. Two shots to the head, and we never saw it again.

Still I've never been so afraid of a gator in my life!

Since then, we've put up a radio fence for the dogs which keeps them well away from the pond. They ALWAYS have their radio collars on!

awesome!

Yep, memorize that rhyme!

We've killed 2 of these on our property, years apart. Too many pets to let them live. All of the other snakes, we tolerate, though we prefer they stay, um, outdoors.