there's a frog in my orchid

[slippery_biscuit]

I have the (usual?) assorted flying critters in my greenhouse. A couple of sticky flytraps catch quite a lot. Two Cape Sundew plants trap and eat the tiny black flies. They are one of the best things I added for pest control.

So anyhow, this morning I am watering and something moved under a leaf of the Doritis Pulcherrima. Looking closer there is a tiny little green frog. Possibly a tree frog, it has that sort of build. I've seen a few around the house lately, and given that my small pond in the front has had a few hundred tadpoles I am not surprised.

I am guessing the frog will do no harm, and hopefully find enough to eat and help out with the pest control.

Comments?

cheers, Jeff

[charleyismydog]

Sorry, I have no advice but that is so funny. A new little friend. :-)

[Aurical]

Awww... very cute. I love froggies.

Not sure about Orchids, but I know with broms (bromeliads... sp?) little frogs like to nestle in the leaves for safety and also to hatch their young. I have three poison dart frogs in a vivarium. Before the light in the tank goes off, one or two will usually tuck themselves in to a leaf for the night. As far as I know they won't do any harm, and as you said, he might even help with the insect population if he sticks around

[Anton]

Great form of pest control, one of the growers here has them in his large hothouses and has put some small ponds aroun d the place for them.

I would suggest you have something around for it to hydrate in unless you have misting already.

[jerrymeola]

I have thousands on my property and have not noticed any damage in the shadehouse from them

Now catterpillers (especially Georgia Thumpers) are a problem.

[donkeymom]

Be thankful it is a small frog, and you saw him before he jumped on you. We have large toads around here - as big as my fist. They love the little ponds and hide in the gardens. I don't usually mind them because they do consume quite a few creepy crawlies.

Yesterday, I was watering in my husband's hydroponic greenhouse. I dropped an empty pot and bent over to pick it up from under the bench. A toad as big as a breadbox - well maybe not quite that large, but it sure seemed like it at the time - leaped onto my hand. I jerked back quickly and whacked my head on the bench. I've been told I have a hard head, and I guess it's true. When I recovered enough to look at what "attacked" me, I saw the toad sitting happily in the pot.

Mr. Toad can stay in the greenhouse. I'll just be a bit more careful and look before I stick my hand somewhere.

[pikevi]

From what I know none of the frog species are harmful to plants in any way.

As Aurical mentioned, in South America , some frogs have to spend a particular stage in development in the pools of water in the 'crown' of Bromeliads.

It is nice to know frogs are thriving well. They ( tadpoles) are the frst to go when the UV-B levels increase. This means our ozone layer is holding steady.

[Vivienne]

I ruled out ladybugs as a form of pest control in my atrium. It's open to the rest of the house so they aren't going to stay in the atrium. I wonder if a toad or frog would hang out in the atrium garden or try to escape to the main house???

[Mercedes]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

I ruled out ladybugs as a form of pest control in my atrium. It's open to the rest of the house so they aren't going to stay in the atrium. I wonder if a toad or frog would hang in the atrium garden or try to escape to the main house???

I live in a 100+ year old house that attracts ladybugs like crazy (I've been told it's an old house thing?). I've gotten accustomed to them hanging out in the corners of the ceiling around the breakfast room. They've been harmless, and I haven't found any where they weren't wanted so far.

Palmetto bugs are another story.

[sandra]

Highly doubtful they will do any harm Jeff. We have loads of them in summer here in Florida, all sizes. They get onto the patio here and I've saved them from an early demise...my 2 cats, many times. They love to taunt then snack on them...sniffle. I think they're so cute. Maybe I'll put up a teeny little sign for them, "enter at your own risk." Sadly, I'm not always around to save them but my cats are grateful for that.

Little frogs are harmless. Enjoy their visits!

[sandra]

Originally Posted by Mercedes

Palmetto bugs are another story.

Have I learned another something new here? I thought palmetto bugs were exclusive to Florida, the state mascot. My sympathy to you Mercedes. I know only too well.....

[slippery_biscuit]

I mist quite a bit (pretty much have to on warm Seattle days) so it will probably be damp enough for the little fella. Two bromeliads in there on the floor as well so if it is so inclined....

That would be fun to have a couple of those big toads around. Maybe one day.

Jeff

[kazjak]

Only in Florida did they give Roaches the friendly name of "Palmetto Bug". No matter where you live or what you call them they'll always be disgusting! I used to live in Phoenix and I always thought my house was free of them. Always sprayed and never saw any. I dismantled my RubberMaid Shed when we moved and was greeted by about 400 fleeing nasties!

[Vivienne]

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
kazjak - that is the stuff of nightmares!

wait - I think I just heard Sandra scream!!!!!

[Anton]

My son and I have been involved for many years with the conservation of frogs and tadpoles here in South Australia. We are members of the Frog and Tadpole Study Group (FATS) (ha ha, I know what you're saying) and every year take part in the Frog Census in which data is gathered for research. http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/frogcensus/

I can immitate around 6 to 7 species, and pick out even more from tapings we do in swamps in winter in the dead of night.

The things we do for our kids.
When Rick was younger he used to breed frogs to release in the wild in areas that were losing their populations. At one stage he had 12 large aquariums in his bedroom full of frogs and taddys.

Now that he's grown up I am left with a few frogs in our pond out the back.

[Mercedes]

Originally Posted by sandra

Have I learned another something new here? I thought palmetto bugs were exclusive to Florida, the state mascot. My sympathy to you Mercedes. I know only too well.....

I just think of them as a Southern thing. We had them everywhere when I lived in Georgia, too.

I was distracted by the TV and my knitting last night and one snuck up and crawled on my foot (ick, ick ick!). I leapt up and shrieked like a scared little girl. The scream freaked out the cat in my husband's lap, so I got cussed out for that mess on top of the initial trauma. Oh, the drama.

[pikevi]

Anton: Since you have been doing it for a number of years , have you found any change in numbers (decrease)?.

I think many reports say the population of all frogs is on the decline all over the world. Some reports say it is because of depletion of ozone layer and others believe that the cannibalistic behaviour ( inter and intra) is the reason.

Interesting work though.

[chefatplay]

Oh Mercedes, the mental picture that popped into my head! LOL!! Palmetto bugs have to be one of the worst things. OMG! just thinking of them makes my skin crawl. Had one crawl on my face while I was sleeping once, needless to say, I woke up in a frenzy, grabbed and threw the thing as far as I could. I think there was Olympic records broken for distance and agility there. Also crunched one in my shoe, ick,ick,ick!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chefatplay]

I quess this wouldn't be the thread to give everyone my coconut fried frog leg recipe, huh??

[Anton]

Pikevi there has been a decline, but mainly due to a fungus which is infecting them and on top of that the drought has had a major effect as well.

We discovered certain species in areas which they had never been sighted before, as they were in search of water.

Now that the El Nino has broken, maybe this will help the situation.