33 species catalogued. Lizards, frogs, butterflies, and insects found across Miami Beach — native treasures and invasive newcomers alike.
“Look down before you step. Look up before you sit.”
From tiny reef geckos to 6-foot iguanas — they're on every wall, tree, and sidewalk.
High in tree canopies — royal palms, large shade trees, and mature landscaping. Found throughout Mia...
Rocky areas, seawalls, parking lots, sidewalk cracks, and building foundations. Very common along th...
Exterior walls of buildings, around porch lights, window frames, and any lit surface at night. The g...
Under leaf litter, fallen bark, debris, and in rock crevices. The Florida Keys and coastal hammocks....
Building walls, palm tree trunks, and large trees. Nocturnal. Established in small populations aroun...
Seawalls, canal banks, trees overhanging water, park lawns, rooftops, and swimming pool decks. Extre...
Tree trunks, especially rough-barked trees like oaks and palms. Found on bark surfaces from ground l...
Garden friends — encourage, don't fear.
Florida's official state butterfly — elongated black wings with bold yellow stripes, flying in slow, graceful loops through gardens.
Iconic orange-and-black migrant that passes through Miami Beach on its annual journey between Mexico and eastern North America.
Bright orange butterfly with elongated wings that flash silver-spotted undersides in flight — one of Miami Beach's most common garden visitors.
Powdery blue male with amber-tinted wings, perching on plant tips near water and darting out to snatch mosquitoes mid-flight.
Delicate pale-green insect with lace-like transparent wings and golden eyes, drawn to porch lights at night.
Classic red-and-black spotted beetle that congregates on garden plants, voraciously consuming aphids and scale insects.
Camouflaged ambush predator that sways gently to mimic a leaf in the breeze, striking prey in under 50 milliseconds.
Fuzzy golden-brown bee with a pollen-dusted body, buzzing methodically between blossoms in Miami Beach gardens.
Massive 3-inch grasshopper in bold yellow and black, lumbering through gardens — too heavy to fly, it walks everywhere.
Soft-bodied beetle that produces magical green-yellow flashes at dusk, signaling to mates across dark garden spaces.
Know how to identify these — and where they hide.
Slender reddish-brown scorpion up to 4 inches long, hiding under bark, debris, and in dark crevices throughout South Florida.
Sharp stinging pain at the site, localized swelling and redness. Similar to a wasp sting. Rarely serious for healthy adults.
Clean with soap and water, apply ice. Over-the-counter pain relief. Seek medical attention if symptoms spread or for young children.
Under loose bark, fallen palm fronds, landscape timbers, and inside sheds or garages. Found island-wide wherever debris accumulates.
Small tan-brown spider with a distinctive violin-shaped marking on its back, rarely seen because it hides in undisturbed dark spaces.
Bite may not be felt initially. Develops into a red, blistering wound over 2–8 hours. Can cause tissue necrosis (a spreading dead-tissue ulcer) in severe cases.
Seek medical attention promptly. Clean the wound, apply ice, elevate the area. Do not apply heat or attempt to cut/suction the bite.
Storage boxes, closets, garages, and rarely-disturbed areas. Not common outdoors in Miami Beach but occasionally found in buildings.
Jet-black spider with a glossy abdomen bearing the unmistakable red hourglass — builds messy, irregular webs in sheltered spots.
Intense pain at bite site within minutes, spreading muscle cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, sweating, and elevated blood pressure.
Seek immediate medical attention. Apply ice to slow venom spread. Antivenom is available for severe cases. Keep the patient calm.
Under outdoor furniture, meter boxes, wood piles, and garden debris. Prefers undisturbed sheltered spots throughout Miami Beach.
Bizarre slug-like caterpillar in bright green with a brown saddle-shaped patch, bristling with venomous spines at both ends.
Immediate intense burning, stinging pain on contact. Red welts and rash at the sting site. Some people experience nausea and headache.
Apply adhesive tape to the skin and peel off to remove embedded spines. Wash with soap and water. Apply ice and hydrocortisone cream. Seek help for allergic reactions.
Undersides of leaves on palms, ornamental shrubs, and garden plants. Found on landscaping throughout Miami Beach parks and yards.
Aggressive reddish-brown ant that builds conspicuous mound nests and swarms attackers in coordinated waves, stinging repeatedly.
Multiple fiery stings producing immediate burning pain. White pustules develop within 24 hours. Allergic individuals may experience anaphylaxis.
Brush ants off quickly (don't slap — it triggers more stinging). Wash with soap and water. Apply antihistamine cream. Call 911 for any breathing difficulty or swelling.
Lawns, park fields, sidewalk edges, and any open sunny ground. Extremely common in every park and yard across Miami Beach.
Bright lime-green caterpillar covered in clusters of branching venomous spines, feeding on a wide range of trees and shrubs.
Intense, immediate stinging and burning pain on skin contact. Red, swollen rash with white blotches. Pain can last several hours.
Remove spines with adhesive tape. Wash area gently. Apply ice and topical antihistamine. Oral pain relievers if needed. Seek medical care if rash spreads.
Deciduous and tropical trees, garden shrubs, and hedgerows. Found across Miami Beach on a variety of host plants.
Looks like a tiny furry toupee clinging to a leaf — soft tan-orange 'fur' conceals the most venomous caterpillar spines in North America.
Excruciating pain radiating from the contact point, often described as worse than a wasp sting. Grid-like rash pattern, nausea, headache, and rarely chest pain.
Remove spines with adhesive tape immediately. Apply ice. Over-the-counter pain relief. Seek emergency medical care if pain is severe or systemic symptoms develop.
Oak and citrus trees, garden hedges, and ornamental plants. Occasionally found on structures near vegetation across Miami Beach.
Trees, coastal species, programs — the full Nature Lab awaits.