Florida Scrub Wildfire

Here are some photos of the wildfire results out here. Fire is critical to maintaining the Florida scrub. Without fire, the trees grow tall enough to shade out the scrub plants and before you know it, you have a regular ol' forest. As bad as this looks right now, in a couple of year this will be a thriving scrub habitat again.  Here are some photos of this same scrub last summer.

 

 

 

 

a lyonia tree

 

 

the smolderings remind me of fumeroles

The Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus Vindex

Here are some pictures of a female Phanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab. These are very common dung beetles here in Florida. In Olivia Brophie and the Pearl of Tagelus, Olivia disturbs a large group of these beetles and they all take flight, surrounding her with iridescent colors.

 

 

Notice the individual grains of pollen on the ground

 

 

 

I had never noticed the fringe of hair on their scapulate nose before

Interview on Studio 10 Tampa

Here is the video of my television interview on Studio 10 morning show in Tampa, Florida. The entire Studio 10 team made my visit so easy and comfortable. Appearing on the show was a breeze!

http://wm.wtsp.gannett.edgestreams.net/studio10/201301/11/pearl.wmv