Conditions for black-lighting were GREAT tonight! Very little wind, not much of a moon, muggy... Lots of bugs showed up too! :)
Nymph in meadow
On Euphorbia corollata in small remnant bluff prairie. Very black and short crest.
Started the 2022 City Nature Challenge with a lot of blacklighting. I had five sheets set up in different areas, mostly lit with cheapy DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpacks (the kind used to charge phones). This observation is from sheet two described below.
1: Mitchell's Landing campground, first campground area. Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the campground outlet.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755746895753024&nelng=-80.92789229991335&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75508256428238&swlng=-80.93072799107044&user_id=joemdo
2: Mitchell's Landing campgrond, second campground. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755755887564277&nelng=-80.92570411775625&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75509155614391&swlng=-80.92853980891334&user_id=joemdo
3: Tree Snail Trail (Tamarind Hammock). DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.747477184243454&nelng=-80.94486235556553&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.746148425078704&swlng=-80.95053373787971&user_id=joemdo
4: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.759964683149978&nelng=-80.9992368213993&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.759300375275487&swlng=-81.00207251255638&user_id=joemdo
5: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack, sheet was on the ground with light facing up.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.760631804715654&nelng=-80.99933288273188&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75996750057368&swlng=-81.00216857388897&user_id=joemdo
All observations my blacklighting observations from Loop Road on this night:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.935061779589986&nelng=-80.25360325039185&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.594952276971277&swlng=-81.70547712282098&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second and third sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
On Gymnocarpium in mesic mixed northern forest after dark. C. brunneus seems the closest I can find but very uncertain.
I came out for some blacklighting after pre Tropical Storm Alex crossed Florida from the west, passing near Lake Okeechobee. South Florida was doused with rain, some places reported 10+ inches in Miami-Dade county. Most of the rain stopped in the early evening. There was light wind and a small shower that passed over while I was blacklighting. Moon was illuminated around 26%, temps in the mid to high 70's.
I set up three sheets in total and the one near the beginning of the Anhinga Trail was dominated by aquatic insects including toe biters and water scavenger beetles. This observation is from the second sheet described below.
1: Near the beginning of the Anhinga Trail, facing North, lit by a bioquip blacklight connected to battery with 12v outlet made for jumping car/inflating tires:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&d1=2022-06-04&d2=2022-06-05&nelat=25.38251535211241&nelng=-80.60699945111232&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.381848946886805&swlng=-80.60983454604106&user_id=joemdo
2: Close to the beginning of the Old Ingraham Highway trail close to Royal Palm Visitors Center. Lit by two DJ blacklights connected to USB battery pack:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&d1=2022-06-04&d2=2022-06-05&nelat=25.382105242961273&nelng=-80.60959391640706&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.38143883547254&swlng=-80.61031408952756&user_id=joemdo
3: Further down the Old Ingraham Highway, but still not very far down the trail. Lit by two DJ blacklights connected to USB battery pack:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&d1=2022-06-04&d2=2022-06-05&nelat=25.382121221097417&nelng=-80.61009460990776&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.38145481369685&swlng=-80.61081478302826&user_id=joemdo
All of my blacklighting observations from tonight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&d1=2022-06-04&d2=2022-06-05&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second and third sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
I met Jesse and Ellie soon after setting up the first sheet Old Ingraham Highway sheet and then Max, Michael and a couple of their friends after setting up the sheet near the opening of the Anhinga Trail.
I had been itching to go blacklighting and had vegetation monitoring work in the HID on Saturday morning so decided to nap on Friday and leave in the middle of the night to blacklight before my vegetation monitoring work. I didn't get my sheets set up till after 2AM (by then the half moon had come out). I set both sheets up along the Gate 2 Trail in Long Pine Key. I had wanted to set up a sheet in HID restoration area 2020 but it was way too windy (probably over 8 knots with stronger gusts). The mosquitoes were somewhat light but picked up quite a bit after 5AM, when the winds eased up a little. I was honestly expecting more action at the sheets but maybe didn't set them up in the best spot and I'm sure the wind and moonlight didn't help. Overall not bad but I am looking forward to trying more spots in better conditions!
First sheet lit by Bioquip blacklight and later a cheapy DJ blacklight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.3909948679442&nelng=-80.63851525347474&on=2022-05-21&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.390328509519005&swlng=-80.63991804878953&user_id=joemdo
Second sheet lit by three DJ blacklights:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.391675796248485&nelng=-80.63730240183622&on=2022-05-21&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.391009441582124&swlng=-80.63870519715101&user_id=joemdo
All of my blacklighting observations from this night:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2022-05-21&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on both sheets, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
Started the 2022 City Nature Challenge with a lot of blacklighting. I had five sheets set up in different areas, mostly lit with cheapy DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpacks (the kind used to charge phones). This observation is from sheet two described below.
1: Mitchell's Landing campground, first campground area. Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the campground outlet.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755746895753024&nelng=-80.92789229991335&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75508256428238&swlng=-80.93072799107044&user_id=joemdo
2: Mitchell's Landing campgrond, second campground. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755755887564277&nelng=-80.92570411775625&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75509155614391&swlng=-80.92853980891334&user_id=joemdo
3: Tree Snail Trail (Tamarind Hammock). DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.747477184243454&nelng=-80.94486235556553&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.746148425078704&swlng=-80.95053373787971&user_id=joemdo
4: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.759964683149978&nelng=-80.9992368213993&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.759300375275487&swlng=-81.00207251255638&user_id=joemdo
5: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack, sheet was on the ground with light facing up.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.760631804715654&nelng=-80.99933288273188&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75996750057368&swlng=-81.00216857388897&user_id=joemdo
All observations my blacklighting observations from Loop Road on this night:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.935061779589986&nelng=-80.25360325039185&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.594952276971277&swlng=-81.70547712282098&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second and third sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
Started the 2022 City Nature Challenge with a lot of blacklighting. I had five sheets set up in different areas, mostly lit with cheapy DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpacks (the kind used to charge phones). This observation is from sheet two described below.
1: Mitchell's Landing campground, first campground area. Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the campground outlet.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755746895753024&nelng=-80.92789229991335&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75508256428238&swlng=-80.93072799107044&user_id=joemdo
2: Mitchell's Landing campgrond, second campground. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755755887564277&nelng=-80.92570411775625&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75509155614391&swlng=-80.92853980891334&user_id=joemdo
3: Tree Snail Trail (Tamarind Hammock). DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.747477184243454&nelng=-80.94486235556553&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.746148425078704&swlng=-80.95053373787971&user_id=joemdo
4: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.759964683149978&nelng=-80.9992368213993&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.759300375275487&swlng=-81.00207251255638&user_id=joemdo
5: Open area near pineland habitat down Loop Road. DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack, sheet was on the ground with light facing up.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.760631804715654&nelng=-80.99933288273188&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75996750057368&swlng=-81.00216857388897&user_id=joemdo
All observations my blacklighting observations from Loop Road on this night:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.935061779589986&nelng=-80.25360325039185&on=2022-04-29&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.594952276971277&swlng=-81.70547712282098&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second and third sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
The highlight of the night for me. I'm not sure what genus. Paradascalia is the closest I've seen but it lacks the bilobed wing that Paradascalia edax should have (the only species recorded in the US). Didn't collect it
At blacklight or sugar bait after dark in remnant sand prairie on clear, calm night with temps 60-55F. ID uncertain.