Preparing for Fall in the Sunshine State

Ever since June 20 of this summer, the days have been getting gradually shorter. On Sunday, September 23, 2024 the autumnal equinox will occur and the days will continue to get inexorably shorter.

This change in the length of daylight is so subtle it is not noticed by most of the human residents of panhandle Florida. While not exactly intellectual giants, the insect population is well aware of these slow changes and is preparing for the inevitable cold season to come.

More than 2500 years ago the Greek raconteur Aesop told the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant was industrious and prepared for the coming winter, but the grasshopper was profligate and did not take the necessary measures for the impending period of privation.

It did not end well for this oblivious insect pest. The moral of the story was to be prepared and have reserves ready when the days grew short. The bugs in north Florida instinctively have the awareness of changes soon-to-come.

Social insects, such as European Honeybees, are working hard collecting nectar and pollen from the early autumn wildflowers. Goldenrods, partridge peas and many others are humming with activity as the bees build up their stores.

Carpenter bees are one of the many native pollinators working hard to collect pollen in preparation for the coming winter. This one is working on the late summer/early autumn wildflower False Foxglove.

Honeybees also have another interesting tactic for surviving the adversity of winter. The worker bees, which are all female, eject the drones, which are male, from the hive.

The drones scatter and are left to their fate. They cannot forage and feed themselves, so they starve or fall victim to hungry birds or animals seeking a tasty morsel.

Many butterflies and moths drink the nectar of late blooming plants during the shortening days. This allows them, by default, to improve the pollination rate and genetic diversity of the plants.

In addition to nectar, Zebra longwings feast on pollen. Their body chemistry processes the pollen into a toxin which produces a bad taste to repulse predators.

Some, like the Monarchs and Sulfurs, are preparing for the arduous migrations to sunny south-of-the-border locations. Monarch caterpillars load up on local milkweed species which provide a flavor deterrent to neophyte birds attempting to dine on the colorful insects.

Other butterflies, like the buckeye, remain in north Florida and have enough surviving members to replenish the populating in the spring.

Hummingbirds are currently darting from bloom to bloom drinking the nectar to support their quick-paced lives with the high-carbohydrate solution. Like the migratory butterflies, they will soon depart on a southerly heading.

The tiny hyperactive birds, which have a typical wing beat of 50 per second and a heart rate of 1250 beats per minute, need the calories.

Their hypersonic metabolism demands the stratospheric energy levels provided by autumn wildflowers so these tiny avian visitors can successfully complete their 500-mile trip across the Gulf of Mexico.

Even the lazy and long maligned (in the fable at least) grasshopper’s cousin, the katydid, is enjoying the remaining warm days by snacking on available blooms. This member of the Tettigoniidae family is not a picky eater much like the grasshopper, but late season flowers are definitely on the menu.

Katydids are most easily distinguished from grasshoppers by their long antennae which extend beyond the length of the insect’s body. Unlike Aesop’s grasshopper, they and all the other insects are not wasting a minute preparing.

While there are still hot days to come, winter’s chills are a certainty.

About the author
Les Harrison

Les Harrison is a longtime resident of north Florida, having attended public schools in three counties. He has a Bachelor Degree from the University of Florida in Journalism and a Master’s of Science from Auburn University in Agricultural Economics. He is the author of more than 2000 newspaper and magazine stories and journal articles. During his career, he held positions in private, government and educational (university level) sectors. He holds the title of Extension Agent Emeritus. He can be reached at harrison.gl@gmail.com.

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