Things on Corkwood
Stillingia aquatica
Euphorbiaceae
Corkwood by John Bradford
Stillingia aquatica is an amphibious shrub prominent in the depression ponds near my home. One of multiple light-wooded species called “corkwoods” in the U.S., this little shrub and I are the best of friends. Its flower spikes are a world of entertainment. You’d think, well, yea, flowers, some bees or something come and go, and you get fruits.
Well yes, true, but if you keep your eye on the spikes, there’s more going on.
The main pollinators are wasps, wasps and more wasps….
That much is not unexpected, but that’s also where I met what I learned to be this rakish katydid nymph.
Even more fun…the lifeform below is not a fancy ant…it is an ant mimic however, the nymph of a broadheaded bug. I guess nobody messes with a big badass ant. It is actually a vegetarian.
This Ebony Bug on corkwood chooses armor over intimidation.
But not the next creature. This green lynx spider looks so nice and photosynthetic, but it hides among the flowers to ambush a pollinator.
Caught dinner! Is the prey bigger than the predator?
John Bradford
George Rogers
George Rogers
Dee Staley
Treasure Coast Natives 
leonorealaniz
August 23, 2020 at 12:26 am
Another fun post. this one I shared with a fine photographer of plants and insects, Bart Bouritius, a friend and neighbor. Hope you get to chat! Leonore
On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 8:18 PM Treasure Coast Natives wrote:
> George Rogers posted: ” Ecosystem on a Stick Things on Corkwood Stillingia > aquatica Euphorbiaceae Corkwood by John Bradford Stillingia aquatica is an > amphibious shrub prominent in the depression ponds near my home. One of > multiple light-wooded species called” >
George Rogers
August 23, 2020 at 8:59 am
Hi Leonore, Hope you’re doing great…and have some fun projects going on. Would love to hear from Bart.
Flower Roberts
August 23, 2020 at 9:34 am
Lynx spiders are good mamas.
George Rogers
August 23, 2020 at 2:55 pm
So are venomous vipers
Linda Grashoff
August 23, 2020 at 9:51 am
That’s quite a bit of theater you have going on in your Corkwood!
George Rogers
August 23, 2020 at 2:56 pm
It has a bacterial connection you’d enjoy…cycanobacteria between its toes and even in cracks in the bark.
theshrubqueen
August 24, 2020 at 3:22 pm
A fun romp through the Corkwood, I am continually amazed with the variety of insects I see. I had a green lynx in Gallardia recently – thanks for helping me learn a new bug!