This Section is still under continued research. The Assassin Bug has
been known to inject their proboscis into the nose of sleeping bats to draw
blood. With the use of a local anesthetic injected at the time of insertion
the bat is unaware & sleeps on. The Assassin Bug hides amongst the dense
foliage of Hibiscus & attacks insects as they move closer to
their ambush site. (More Info To Come)
Assassin Bug Juveniles
(nymphs)
Size: X 0.25
Adult Assassin Bug
Size: X 0.25
Notes: A fearsome
looking Insect that assist in naturally controlling insects that predate
Hibiscus. Adult & nymph stage are effective hunters.
Frogs & Toads
.Green Frog ..........................................................................................................................
..Size: X 1.0
Common name for an amphibian of the order Anura or Salientia, which also
includes toads. Frogs are native to all parts of the world, except Antarctica,
but the greatest variety are found in tropical areas.
Frogs are small animals with smooth, moist skin,
bulging eyes that can see in almost any direction, external eardrums behind the
eyes, and the absence of a tail in adults. Most species have long hind legs that
enable them to take long leaps, and webbed feet, making them excellent swimmers.
The frog's internal systems are typical of most amphibians. In fact,
amphibians were originally known as batrachians, from the Greek word for frog,
batrachus . Most frogs, especially males, are quite vocal. As the frog
forces air from the lungs, vocal cords in the voice box, or larynx, vibrate to
make calls distinctive of its species. A much louder sound is produced by the
males of species that possess a vocal sac, which swells enormously when the frog
calls to attract a mate. The frog's tongue is attached at the front of the mouth
instead of the rear, and is covered with a sticky substance, making it an
efficient trap. As it grows, a frog goes through a true metamorphosis,
starting with a fish like larval stage and ending with the adult frog stage.
Frogs lay their eggs in water, where they hatch into tadpoles, or short-bodied
larvae, during early spring or summer. At this stage they have gills and a tail.
The tadpole feeds on algae and other vegetation. As it matures, the tail is
absorbed, lungs develop, the gills disappear, legs appear, and the adult frog
emerges onto land. Frogs live in a
variety of habitats, but most prefer moist regions. Although they are air
breathers, frogs can stay underwater for long periods, and they absorb water
through the skin. Tree frogs are adapted for tree living. Others are permanently
aquatic; still others spend most of their lives in underground burrows, coming
up only to feed or breed. Like all amphibians, a frog's body temperature depends
on its surroundings, and in colder regions frogs burrow in mud to hibernate.
Some, such as Australian frogs, estivate-lie in a state of torpor during intense
heat-after burying themselves in sand and clay. Frogs subsist principally on
insects, worms, spiders, and centipedes. Aquatic frogs sometimes eat other
frogs, tadpoles, and small fish. Larger frogs eat objects as large as mice or
newborn water snakes. Occasionally a frog seizes food too large to swallow all
at once and will leave it sticking out of its mouth, ingesting it gradually or
even choking on it or regurgitating it. Types of Frogs. The order of
frogs and toads is usually divided into 22 families, based primarily on skeleton
and tooth differences. Toads belong to the family Bufonidae and differ from
frogs superficially in that toads generally have drier skin, often covered with
warts, and the majority spend most of their life on land. True Frogs. The
large and nearly worldwide family Ranidae comprises the true frogs, many species
of which are well known. The bullfrog is the largest true frog in North America;
it weighs up to 0.5 kg (1.2 lb) and has a total length of 46 cm (18 in). One of
the most common North American species is the leopard frog, which is easily
recognized by the numerous black, often light-edged, spots on the back and legs.
Most true frogs stay close to ponds and streams, but the North American wood
frog, a small, reddish-brown species with mask like black bands on the head,
wanders far from water. The green frog is another common species in North
America; despite the name, some green frogs are mostly brown. Two well-known
true frogs of Europe are the common European frog, which resembles the wood
frog, and the edible frog, a popular food in Europe. The African giant frog, the
largest of all frogs, which grows as long as 66 cm (26 in) and weighs as much as
4.5 kg (10 lb), is also a true frog. Other frogs. A large and interesting
family of frogs found worldwide is the Hylidae. This family includes the tree
frogs, which have expanded adhesive disks at the ends of the toes, permitting
them to climb the smooth surfaces of trees. Some members of the Asian family
Rhacophoridae are even more specialized for arboreal life. Their feet are webbed
with fan like structures that enable them to jump to the ground from
considerable heights; they are sometimes known as flying frogs, although they do
not actually fly. One of the most unusual frogs is the hairy frog, named for the
hair like skin projections that develop on the body and legs of the male during
breeding season. Although frogs are generally harmless to humans, some South
American frogs secrete a powerful poison through the skin. Benefit to Man.
Frogs aid humans in many ways. They control insect pests in the woods, farm,
and garden, and several species have been introduced to various parts of the
world as a defense against undesirable insects. From earliest times the frog has
been widely used as food. Efforts have been made to raise them for market, but
frogs eaten today are generally taken from their natural habitat. Frogs are also
important to research and medical laboratories because their skeletal, muscular,
digestive, nervous, and other systems are similar to those of higher anim
.........................................
Green Bull Frog
Toad
Size X 0.5
...Size X 0.5
..........................................................................................
Notes: Frogs & Toads Are responsible
for naturally controlling pests that predate Hibiscus especially those pests
that remain in & close to the surface of the soil as part of their life
cycle as larvae such as Hibiscus
Beetle & the Scarab
Beetle.
..........................................................................................................................
Frogs live in a
variety of habitats, but most prefer moist regions. Although they are air
breathers, frogs can stay underwater for long periods, and they absorb water
through the skin. Tree frogs are adapted for tree living. Others are permanently
aquatic; still others spend most of their lives in underground burrows, coming
up only to feed or breed. Like all amphibians, a frog's body temperature depends
on its surroundings, and in colder regions frogs burrow in mud to hibernate.
Some, such as Australian frogs, estivate-lie in a state of torpor during intense
heat-after burying themselves in sand and clay. 
