Ray Buchko
Owner, Graduate Entomologist |
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| The PestAgon™ Bug Identification Guide |
SNAKES:
Cottonmouth Moccasin • Eastern Diamondback
Rattlesnake
Pigmy Rattlesnake • Eastern Coral Snake
Although seeing snakes may frighten many people,
of Florida’s forty five species only four
locally found (listed below) are venomous. Steps
to prevent snakes from harboring on your property—keep
lawn mowed around building; control rodents;
stack firewood and other debris away from buildings.
• Cottonmouth Moccasin—is an aquatic
pit viper that can be three to four feet in length.
It’s broad triangular head can be seen
as it swims. A facial pit can be seen on each
side of the head. Its open mouth is white (cottony)
inside. The underside is cream colored with dark
blotches. It will bite if provoked and if untreated
the bite can be fatal. |
Cottonmouth Moccasin |
• Easter Diamondback Rattlesnake—can
grow to eight feet long. It lives in pine swamps,
saw palmetto and hammocks throughout Florida.
Its’ favorite food is rabbit. The diamondback
is greenish with white diamond markings, outlined
with yellow borders. It has a noticeable rattle
at the end of its’ tail that, when shaken,
can be heard when the snake is alarmed. Its bite
can be fatal if left untreated. |
Easter Diamondback Rattlesnake |
• Pigmy Rattlesnake— grows to two
feet long and prefers frogs as food. The pigmy
is grayish with three rows of black spots. The
underside is light grey. The rattle is very small
and can only be heard within a few feet. If untreated,
its bite can be fatal. |
Pigmy Rattlesnake |
• Eastern Coral Snake—grows to two
feet. It is most common in wooded areas near
water. Its head is small with a black snout.
The colored bands on its body are sequenced:
narrow yellow, wide red, narrow yellow, wide black. Its bite can be fatal if
left untreated. |
Eastern Coral Snake |
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