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Joani
by Joani MacCubbin

October, 2003

It's October and here in Florida we are practicing patience as we await our reward for getting ourselves and our plants through the summer despite the heat, humidity and all that rain! We are now playing the waiting game in anticipation of cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

Also in October we find my favorite holiday for make-believe.....Halloween. So I thought "what about some disgusting, slimy, icky things and finally a spooky but fun, craft project" ?? Well that's exactly what we'll do.....so let's get started.

The Brahminy Blind Snake

Just when you thought that Florida had all the squirmy, slithery things it needed, there's a new one. It's called the Brahminy Blind Snake or Flower Pot Snake...... but it's NOT poisonous.

Brahminy Blind Snake

As far as we know it was first introduced into Florida in 1979 in the soil of plants imported from Asia. In Florida this snake can now be found from the Florida keys northward to isolated populations near Fort Myers into Gainesville and as far north as Tallahassee. It can also be found in Mexico, Hawaii and other tropical areas in the world.

This snake is between 21/2 and 61/2 inches long so it's not a very big snake. In fact it's the world's smallest snake. They are thin, shiny, grayish black with a lighter underside. You can hardly tell the front from the back, it's eyes are only tiny dots under the scales and it has a tiny spur on the tip of it's tail. At one time they were mistaken for a type of earthworm, but it has scales and moves like a snake.

The Brahminy blind snake can be found in urban and agricultural areas. It likes to burrow in the soft soil of flower pots, leaf litter and can be found under rotting logs or trash. It's commonly seen in flower beds while gardening or on sidewalks after the rain.
For meal time, this snake would enjoy feeding on the eggs, larvae, and pupae of ants and termites.

All Brahminy Blind snakes are females......there are no males. She lays eggs or bears live young of up to 8 genetically identical offspring.

So if you happen to see on of these little ladies in your yard.....leave her be. She is NOT poisonous, she's doing good things for us by keeping our ant and termite population down.

Cuban Tree Frog

We all have a few tree frogs in our yards whether we see them or not, they are around. Some are cute and harmless but there is one that's doing lots of damage. It's called the Cuban Treefrog. They are the largest tree frog in North America ranging in size from 1 1/2" to 5" long. They have bumpy skin and large sticky toe pads which allows them to crawl up walls and pretty much anywhere else they want to go. Not only are they large but they can change their coloring. And not just a little but a lot. You might think you have several different kinds of tree frogs in your yard but it's very possible that you have just one......and it's the Cuban treefrog! It's bumpy skin can appear in solid colors like off-white, pure white or a pale or medium green or it can change to a dark green or brown with darker color patterns very similar to a leopard frog.
You might see them by your front door, in a shed, in your greenhouse anywhere where it's damp and shady. They might also be found in trees, shrubs, near fish ponds or well lit patios areas.

Cuban Tree Frog

Their breeding season lasts from May to October. Eggs are laid in standing water like fish ponds, an old bucket and even chlorinated swimming pools. These tree frogs are tough, gluttonous and real survivors.
Cuban Tree frogs have voracious appetites and are well known to almost eradicate other frogs, toads and lizards that might be in a yard. And here lies the problem with them. Cuban tree frogs are so successful at taking over a habitat and eating Florida's native species that they are considered to be an invasive exotic non-native species and considered to be a threat to Florida's native ecosystems and wildlife.

If you should find one of these frogs or any other frog or toad it's best not to touch them as their skin secretes a slimy film and can be an irritant to the skin and eyes of some people.

Elongate Twig Ant

Have you ever heard of the elongate twig ant? I'm willing to bet that you haven't. But if you live in any of the central, northeastern coastal and southern counties in Florida you probably have these little monsters in your yard.

Elongate Twig Ant

The elongate twig ant originally came to us from Mexico. He's a large, solitary ant, a little less than half an inch long, slender, bicolored with a black head large red eyes, body is shades of orange with a black posterior. It can be seen on wood fencing, plants, shrubs and trees or even on you. It resembles a wasp but without wings. It may catch your eye as it darts very quickly and erratically trying to avoid being caught or cornered. I tried to catch one to have it identified. It was not an easy thing to do. They live in very small nests which may be in hollow twigs or high up in large trees.

They feed on live insects and collect honeydew from sap-sucking insects.
He doesn't sound like too much of a threat, does he? Cute little ant just going about his business. But remember, I did call it a monster at the beginning.
Well this cute little ant can sting worse than a hornet. The voice of experience speaks! This ant can drop from a tree or even appear on you from out of nowhere. If you see one of these ants on your arm or leg, do not try to hit it, you will get stung......believe me.....just flick it off.
Sometimes one can get trapped under your clothes. If this happens to you, you have two choices..... you can panic and get stung or you can try get a good friend to try to find it for you. Either way it really doesn't matter, you will still get stung. They seem to enjoy stinging you on the tender skin of your arms, neck, on your ear or in sweat areas. First these stings hurt and then itch.....after a few hours you will notice a large swollen, hard area around the sting......sometimes as much as 3" across. A cool face cloth is very soothing. A spray for insect stings will also help especially one that has an anti-histamine.
We have a lot of these ants in our yard. We are so lucky. If you'd like a few, we are willing to share!
Control is almost impossible as they are a solitary insect and finding the nest is next to impossible.
So be careful when you're outside. Just remember........' FLICK DON'T HIT ' !

Now that you've made it through the creepy bug, snake and tree frog info, it's time for a little fun. Let's make a set of Jack-o-lanterns with some pots. And when Halloween is over we can fill the pots with soil, turn them around to hide their spooky face and plant with a pretty flowering plant or herb. No one will be the wiser. It just might scare away any bug or critter that might otherwise bother your plant. And......when next Halloween comes around you'll still have your decoration available.

Lighted Jack-O-Lantern Pots

Materials Needed:

	3 pots of different sizes.....tall, squatty, large and small
	3 votive or tea light candles
	3 clay saucers to hold candles
	Masonry bits - 3/4" - 1/2" and 1/4"
	Electric drill

Begin by turning your pot upside down. Draw a face on your pot with a pencil. It only needs to be a line drawing. You will drill along your lines. Consider the size of your masonry bits as you create your Jack-o-lantern face. Your marks can easily be erased afterwards. (Refer to photo)

Click to Enlarge

Start your drilling. Be sure to wear old clothes. Do your drilling outdoors and not into the wind as you could end up with a layer of 'pot dust' all over you. Again the voice of experience speaks!

I used 3/4" for eyes and mouth.......smaller ones for eyebrows and mouth. Don't drill holes too close to each other. 3/4" holes need to be at least 2 - 3 inches apart. Smaller bits can be as close as 1/2". Just be careful.....we don't want any cracked or broken pots! Drill slowly and don't be surprised if you have to tighten the drill often especially on the 3/4" bit.
When all the pots have been drilled, erase your pencil lines and rinse the pots with water.
Dry your pots in a sunny spot, then set each pot over a saucer with a candle. Place your Halloween luminaries by your front door, in a garden or on a patio. Light the candles when it gets dark and wait for the trick or treaters.