The little green frog sitting beside a porch light may be one of Florida’s native insect hunters.

Green treefrogs are smooth-skinned frogs usually about one to two-and-a-half inches long.

They can range from grayish green to bright green, and many have a pale stripe running along each side.

They are nocturnal and often show up where insects gather.

Porch lights, windows near vegetation and shrubs around ponds can become reliable places to spot them after dark.

Green treefrogs stay relatively close to permanent water because they breed in ponds, swamps and marshes.

The important Southwest Florida identification problem is the invasive Cuban treefrog.

Cuban treefrogs are generally larger, have noticeably oversized toe pads and often have irregularly bumpy or warty-looking skin.

Native green treefrogs are smaller and smoother.

The invasive frog is not just a look-alike.

Cuban treefrogs can prey on native green treefrogs.

That makes correct identification important, especially around homes where both species may turn up near lights, pools or vegetation.

If the frog is small, smooth and slender with a pale side stripe, a native green treefrog should be high on the list.

Do not assume that every frog attached to a wall or window is invasive.

A yard with shrubs, clean water habitat and fewer broad-spectrum pesticides can support native frogs by providing shelter and insects to eat.

The Wild Suncoast clue: smooth and small points toward the native green treefrog; very large toe pads and bumpy skin point toward the Cuban treefrog.