Came to an overripened banana I put out to attract insects. Only got 7 individuals in the couple of times that I checked five spots all close to eachother.
Observed during the 2023 South Florida City Nature Challenge (CNCSOFLO)
Project page: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-south-florida-cncsoflo/
Website: https://www.cncsoflo.com/
Instagram: @ cncsoflo
I was mostly here at Mitchell Landing to blacklight but also set up a microphone to record birds migrating overhead. I heard lots of thrushes and other species, hoping to start posting those soon.
Blacklighting observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-04-30&d2=2023-05-01&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&subview=map&user_id=joemdo
Mr. Binder netted this in his house.
Yellow "things" on the face. Observed many times, but rarely with two stalks(?).
Seen at first sheet described below
Set up three sheets near open trail at Deering Estate North from around 22:00-00:30
Some wind, no moon. Temps in the mid 70's.
This area was evidently burned not too long ago and the dominant grass species is only just starting to come back (normally around 6 feet tall if I remember right, and tonight it was only around 2 feet tall).
1: Edge of open salt marsh habitat, lit by bioquip blacklight from 22:00-00:30
All observations from this sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-03-29&d2=2022-03-30&nelat=25.62846541190498&nelng=-80.29840778848276&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.627800370058946&swlng=-80.30095991036043&user_id=joemdo
2: Similar location to first sheet, lit by 1 DJ blacklight (more info on this light below) from 22:30-00:30
All observations from this sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-03-29&d2=2022-03-30&nelat=25.628014884468968&nelng=-80.29920396374503&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.627349840114316&swlng=-80.30004718320409&user_id=joemdo
3: Edge of mangrove habitat facing east/west trail, lit by 1 DJ blacklight from 22:40-00:15
All observations from this sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-03-29&d2=2022-03-30&nelat=25.62789010424732&nelng=-80.298437419117&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.627225059197862&swlng=-80.29928063857605&user_id=joemdo
All observations from this area tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-03-29&d2=2022-03-30&nelat=25.63778782934046&nelng=-80.24006098310949&order=asc&place_id=any&swlat=25.61650631479218&swlng=-80.3421458582163&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 came across a few instances of mosquitoes (I believe) hanging from a thread of silk. I haven't seen this before so will have to investigate this behavior.
Update: Turns out these are Midges hanging on spider silk waiting to mate. Thanks to all who responded below!
Unknown Melanoconion sp. Possibly no white scales on mesepimeron, but distinct white patch on scutum. Difficult to tell if it's scales or scutal integument. 1st individual I've noticed with these patterns here in Texas. Possibly an abberant phenotype, undescribed species, or unfamiliar neotropical species.
Animal scat with worms...likely raccoon. Location on a tidal marsh boardwalk.
caterpillar of the crowned slug moth found in Edgewood MD
This is the male that goes with the female and larva, pupa stages of this mosquito
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/34195726
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/34054522
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/33690323
Psorophora ferox. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.
Pupae shell present. Subject had just emerged
at Wild Bergamot