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Elliott Key Harbor and Campground Closed
Winds, surge and tides associated with Hurricane Sandy caused considerable damage to docks & boardwalk at Elliott Key. The harbor and campground are closed until further notice. University Dock remains open for day use only. More »
Insects, Spiders, Centipedes, Millipedes
The Schaus swallowtail butterfly is among Biscayne's most celebrated insects. Photo by Thomas Emmel The most abundant animals in Biscayne National Park are the insects, the most dreaded being the mosquito. There are also many dragonflies, butterflies, including the critically endangered Schaus swallowtail butterfly, tree hoppers, golden orb spiders, and thousands of others that make the islands their home. The horseshoe crab is included here because it is not a true crab. Rather, it is more closely related to spiders. The following list includes insects which have been documented in the park. Here they have been sorted alphabetically by common name. The list is not exhaustive, and documented sightings of species not on this list are welcome. Submit your sightings to the webmaster. Ant, Brachymyrmax obscurior Bagworm, Cryptothelea gloverii Cassius Blue butterfly, Leptotes cassius Eastern lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera Faithful Beauty, Composia fidelissima Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes Honey bee, Apis mellifera Inimical Borer moth, Pseudogalleria inimicella Julia butterfly, Dryas julia Large Orange Sulphur, Phoebis agarithe Mangrove Skipper, Phocides pigmalion Moth, Banisia furva fracta Moth, Coxina cintipalpis Moth, Episimus kimbali Moth, Ethmia confusella Moth, Eumestleta cinnamomea Moth, Gonocausta sabinalis Moth, Massala obvertens Moth, Oiketicus abbotii Moth, Synclera jarbusalis Oak leafroller, Archips semiferana Parachma moth, Parachma ochrealis Queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus Red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Seagrape Borer, Hexeris enhydris Tortyra moth, Tortyra slossonia Variegated leafroller, Platynota flavedana Watson's Tallula moth, Tallula watsoni Zebra Longwing, Helicorius charitonius |
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Miami Blue Butterfly
Read about the reintroduction efforts in this critically endangered species. Read More
Did You Know?
Elliott Key and other islands in Biscayne National Park were settled under the Homestead Act of 1862. This law gave free land to settlers willing to live on and farm a piece of land for five years. The main crops planted here were pineapples and key limes.