mpintar's Favorites

UV light trap.
-4.8 mm
-Tarsal formula 5-5-5
-Maxillary palpus and slender
-Last segment of maxillary palpus subequal but not distinctly shorter leads toward Enochrus (Enochrus) sp. The only known species from Canada is E. piceus occurs in the west. However, the description provided by Smetana (1988) for the species does not seem to match the specimen in question. After conducting further research, a species from the Palearctic region belonging to the same subgenus, E. melanocephalus, appears to be a better match based on the available description. Any opinion?@mpintar@staslit

This was the most exciting observation for our small iNaturalist gathering on Salton Drive--an accidental bycatch from some invertebrate sampling by @mpintar. Placed momentarily in a sorting tray for photography then released back into the stream. Identified primarily by range; the waterway near Salton Drive is part of the larger Bull Creek watershed, the primary habitat of this species.

Larger than the ones I normally see if I remember right

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 first 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