The American green tree frog, Hyla cinerea, is native to the southeastern United States and a common resident in our yards and gardens. The nocturnal amphibian is often found on patios, porches and windows – places where lights attract insects, their main diet.
While potting plants in spring, I find green tree frogs in empty flowerpots and hidden within the Styrofoam cells of my biodome seed starter trays where they have overwintered. Sometimes they are in the mailbox.
Hold one in your hand to inspect its beauty. The smooth cool moist skin on the back is a bright spring green color flecked with yellow. Each eye is lined in glittery gold. The abdomen is crème colored. The limbs are long for leaping and climbing.
Large round sticky toe pads act like suction cups and help them cling to trees and herbaceous plants. The two front feet have four toes, and the back feet have five toes each. Green tree toads are from 1.25” to 2.25” long.
Camouflage protects the frog from predators.
Frogs rely on their skin for two important functions: breathing and drinking. Frogs do not drink water but rather absorb the hydration they need through their skin. They also absorb oxygen through their skin despite the fact they have lungs. Adult frogs shed their skin about once a week by pulling it over their heads like taking off a tee shirt. They then recycle the skin by eating it.
Since the skin of a frog easily absorbs environmental toxins and changes, frogs are considered bio indicators for the health of an ecosystem, even the health of the biosphere.
Frogs are definitely our allies in pest control. They consume small invertebrates such as ants, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, crickets, moths, spiders, worms, and snails swallowing their prey whole and without the benefit of teeth.
A frog’s eye sees colors, has good night vision, and excellent motion detection. Frogs only see food in motion and would starve to death if surrounded by prey that doesn’t move.
This tree frog overwintered inside my flowerpots.
The protruding eyes located on top of the head permit a wide field of vision without turning the head and to see when its body is under water. Frogs seem to eat with their eyes. The eyes help them locate prey and predators but also aid in swallowing prey. As a frog swallows food, the eyeballs retract into openings in the roof of the mouth to push food down the throat! When a frog swallows, it blinks.
Breeding season starts in March and continues through October. Frogs have filled the night with song since the time of the dinosaurs. Male frogs, the smaller of the sexes, court with a loud call sounding like “reeenk, reeenk, reeenk. Listen to the music of the night.
Large stick toe pads permit the frog to cling securely to many surfaces.
The green tree frog is active at night.
Range of the American green tree frog
A watering can is a favorite place to find toads.
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