Very small lizard found in N.Y. greenhouse

14 years ago

This morning while spraying the vandas in my New York green house, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I took a second look and it was a very small lizard of some type sitting on my vanda leaves. It was only maybe an inch and a half to two inches at tops. It appeared to be a baby lizard of some type.

My question is how did it get there? I've been buying plants threwout the warmer months but most are unpacked in the kitchen by my wife and left there at least until I get home and inspect them. They may sit there for a couple of days. I have bought a large number of vandas from Tom Ritter Orchids (the old Tropic One) in Orlando Fla. These are unpacked and then brought into the greenhouse and dunked immediately.

So what can anyone tell me about lizards? Did it come in as an egg or a new born? The greenhouse is attached to the house but I'd love for him or her to prosper in there. I'm sure it will wish it had a mate or at the very least a playmate.

Thanks

Bob

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Comments (8)

arthurm
14 years ago
Bob, haven't a clue what sort of lizard you have but i like to see the local ones in my glasshouse. They sun themselves and watch with little beady eyes.

Good guys that eat baby cochroaches and other bugs. Another reason to go easy on nasty pesticides.
Sheila
14 years ago
Love the green lizards & frogs! Here in my Texas yard we've lots of both. When I can catch a few, I always move them into the GH so they can feast on any bugs they find there.
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serenasyh
14 years ago
Hurrray! I love to read about nature making its appearance! baby lizard, so cool! Hope he gets to flourish in your greenhouse and be your all-natural bug eater. Go, baby lizard, go! And piccies? photos?

whoo=hoo!
petite_orange
14 years ago
Hi Bob - if he is bright green, sometimes changing to gray or brown, and has what looks like teal eyeliner, it is an anole. Probably hatched from a FL egg. These are nice little lizards, they eat mealies, aphids, sow bugs, spiders, roaches, etc.
They must live for at least 3-4 years, as I've seen the same one (crumpled tail) year after year.
My children used to catch them and hang them (they bite, but it doesn't hurt) on their earlobes, eyebrows, etc. Very decorative!
Cheers - Nancy
bob8_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry guys, no photos. I only caught a glimpse of him once (yesterday). Today I spent over an hour in there doing my weekly main watering and didn't see him. I hope he lives to eat my insects.

Bob in Albany, N.Y.
conjuay
14 years ago
Google "Cuban Anole". There are very few green anoles left in Central Florida,due to the arrival of the Cuban variety.

I was at Ritters last weekend, coincidentally, and had a tree frog jump out of our selection while we were loading the mini van. I caught it, and was walking back to the cashier to tell her there wasn't a price on this item- figuring we would all have a laugh.
Just as I got to the door, I saw another customer have a tree frog jump onto her, from her selections!

Tom's nursery sits between two lakes, which I'm sure helps moderate the winter temps we occasionally get here in winter, but it also seems to be on a migration route between the two lakes!
Mike
aachenelf z5 Mpls
14 years ago
It could be a baby hatched from an egg or it could be a NY native species. Lizards aren't found only in the South. There are a few species native to your region. We even have a couple here in MN.

Kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: NY lizards (not the people kind)
smwboxer
14 years ago
My guess would be a brown anole. They are everywhere in Florida. If you have bugs in your greenhouse he will do great.

Very small lizard found in N.Y. greenhouse

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arthurm

Sheila

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Very small lizard found in N.Y. greenhouse

Comments (8)

arthurm

Sheila

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serenasyh

petite_orange

bob8_gwOriginal Author

conjuay

aachenelf z5 Mpls

smwboxer

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bob8_gw
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