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This is currently a vacant lot (used to have a couple residential buildings on it and it will probably be built up within the next year or so)

HID work cancelled today due to storm coming in off the Gulf. I decided to snap pics of birds around Fontainebleau before the rain. Went home to swap to the macro lens and get some more plants and bugs closer to home before the rain rolled in. It ended up pushing through pretty fast & I went out a second time to visit some vacant lots in Coral Gables.

All of my observations from today:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-02-04&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&user_id=joemdo

Set up one sheet for blacklighting in the Hole-in-the-Donut, Restoration Area 2014. I used four UV blacklights powered by USB battery packs to light the sheet.
You can learn more about the lights I used and my typical, simple setups here: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk

Conditions: Foggy, no wind, full moon rising around 7:51, 97% full. Temps in the mid 70's

View of the sheet setup (just threw it over some Baccharis bush) from nearby spoil mound:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16jwmjLihnJJiODLdOpfp7EXN6--kXIKb/view?usp=drive_link

I worked in the Hole-in-the-Donut doing plant monitoring with Steve on the 27th and 28th and decided to stay in the park overnight so I could blacklight and explore LPK a bit before our second workday.

My blacklighting observations from HID 2014:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-01-27&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo

All of my observations from both days:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2024-01-27&d2=2024-01-28&order=asc&place_id=any&preferred_place_id=127553&user_id=joemdo

More info about the Hole-in-the Donut restoration area:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/hidprogram.htm

Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida

Blacklighting near Dagny Johnson (on closed road, Loquat Drive). I only had the light running for about 45 minutes before heading home. Seemed like a great place to set up a sheet and I hope to go back and try again when I have more time. I also heard a screech owl and tokay gecko while photographing insects.

Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights I used, 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

Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk

Blacklighting observations: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-03-21&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo

Had a nice day in the Upper and Middle Keys. I came down to give a talk to the Garden Club of the Upper Keys in Tavernier at 11AM and spent the rest of the day bioblitzing a few spots.

All of my observations from today: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-03-21&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&user_id=joemdo

Assuming Anageshna primordialis but leaving at genus since I'm not sure

Three sheets set up at Mitchell's Landing for blacklighting. Mosquitoes were pretty bad but the insect activity at the sheets was pretty good. Moonrise was around 5AM so I had no moonlight while out here. Very little wind/no rain although it rained earlier in the day. In other words conditions were about as good as they can get! This observation is from sheet one described below.

1: Mitchell's Landing campground, first campground area. Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the campground outlet.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-05-27&d2=2022-05-28&nelat=25.755746895753024&nelng=-80.92789229991335&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 campground, second campground. Sheet hung up on side of bathroom facing open area. 2 DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-05-27&d2=2022-05-28&nelat=25.755755887564277&nelng=-80.92570411775625&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75509155614391&swlng=-80.92853980891334&user_id=joemdo

3: Mitchell's Landing campground near the airboat ramp. 2 DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-05-27&d2=2022-05-28&nelat=25.755709142419263&nelng=-80.92163999637712&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75438047533931&swlng=-80.9273101862346&user_id=joemdo

All my blacklighting observations from Loop Road tonight, May 27th PM to May 28th AM:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-05-27&d2=2022-05-28&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 had two blacklight setups going at different ends of the Campground tonight. Temps in the low 70's dropping to upper 60's by the time I left. I was curious about how much activity there would be and was happy to see many insects show up.

This is from the second sheet described below.

First sheet at the first campground using a Bioquip blacklight connected to the power hookup:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.75579284524859&nelng=-80.92780579091828&on=2021-12-04&place_id=any&subview=map&swlat=25.75512851403496&swlng=-80.93012590155246&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any

Second sheet set up near the airboat launch with three cheapy DJ blacklights. The link below has all observations from this sheet. This sheet is a lot smaller than the other I had set up and didn't attract as many moths or larger insects. I started photographing this sheet first so I focused more on the little things whereas I spent less time on the little insects on the first sheet.
All observations from the second sheet:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.755252690584786&nelng=-80.92438865800891&on=2021-12-04&place_id=any&subview=map&swlat=25.754588356349547&swlng=-80.92670876864308&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any

Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light

Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) during summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk

Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida

Thanks to Dylann, Antonia and Raul of Everglades National Park for setting up this fun nocturnal event at Royal Palm Visitor's Center for City Nature Challenge! We set up two sheets lit by blacklights. The first sheet was closer to the beginning of the Anhinga Trail and the other a short walk down the Old Ingraham Highway.

Observations from 1st sheet, lit by two cheapy DJ blacklights: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-04-30&d2=2022-05-01&nelat=25.38225752344894&nelng=-80.60955323221638&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.381591116800536&swlng=-80.61238892337347&user_id=joemdo

Observations from 2nd sheet, lit by bioquip light:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2022-04-30&d2=2022-05-01&nelat=25.382298032649057&nelng=-80.6067142416134&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.381631626224205&swlng=-80.60954993277049&user_id=joemdo

All observations my blacklighting observations from this area tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&d1=2022-04-30&d2=2022-05-01&nelat=25.3838157802915&nelng=-80.6083566697085&place_id=any&project_id=34515&swlat=25.38111781970849&swlng=-80.6110546302915&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any

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

Blacklighting for a couple hours in the Royal Palm area. I had three sheets set up from around 7:30-10PM, the first was about 30 meters into the old Ingraham Highway between the Gumbo Limbo Trail entrances, the second facing the Taylor Slough near the entrance of the Anhinga Trail and the third facing the open area near the parking lot.

All sheets were lit by UV "DJ" blacklights (395-400 nm LED) hooked up to USB battery packs. Video showing the blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk

This observation is from the 1st sheet described above.

Big thank you Natalie Mudd for organizing a great bioblitz here at Everglades National Park! I spent several hours volunteering with Tonya and Jesse and it was a lot of fun talking to park visitors about iNaturalist. I am looking forward to participating and helping out with more of these :-)

Here is a link to the project that collected everyone's observations from today: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/everglades-national-public-lands-day-bioblitz

My blacklighting observations from tonight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2022-09-24&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo

Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights, 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

One of the best nights of blacklighting I have had so far! Temps were in the low 70's, there was some light wind making for difficult photography at times but it wasn't too bad. Lots of bigger insects came to the sheet so I didn't spend as much time on the tiny stuff and probably missed lots species. I also met a couple really cool guys that were into bluegrass music so I had crunchy tunes to go along with the blacklighting goodness.

I had two sheets set up, this photo is from the first sheet described below.

First sheet was at the first Mitchell's Landing Campground with an RV hookup and regular power sockets. I was using my Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the power there and also changed the position of the sheet ever so slightly so it was a little bit further from the big oak here and maybe was a little more exposed.
All observations from the first sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.75581877096547&nelng=-80.92848461106104&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.755154439896867&swlng=-80.92983537153731&user_id=joemdo

Second sheet was in a random little area right off Loop Road that mostly had pines. Not an ideal setup but I didn't have a lot of time and wanted to try a new spot. I lit this sheet with two cheapy DJ blacklights.
All observations from the second sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.753631626006754&nelng=-80.93233231414365&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.75230293568458&swlng=-80.93503383509619&user_id=joemdo

All observations from tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.75688987500895&nelng=-80.92476405596601&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.751575170341294&swlng=-80.93557013977617&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 first and second 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

Video showing first sheet: https://youtube.com/shorts/8E6fgE5qu4Y?feature=share

Observed while blacklighting during the 2023 South Florida City Nature Challenge (CNCSOFLO). I set up three sheets in this area. Moon at ~80% illumination, winds weak. This observation is from the first sheet described below.

1: First campground area, near middle concrete slab. Lit by Bioquip blacklight (connected to camping electrical outlet) and two cheapy DJ blacklights connected to USB battery packs.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-04-30&d2=2023-05-01&nelat=25.75583544715886&nelng=-80.92884242721445&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75517111618354&swlng=-80.9298241157139&user_id=joemdo

2: Second campground area, using bathroom building to tie up sheet. Lit by three DJ blacklights connected to USB battery packs
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-04-30&d2=2023-05-01&nelat=25.755830615674295&nelng=-80.92713386007196&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.75516628467193&swlng=-80.92811554857141&user_id=joemdo

3: Dirt road between Loop Road & first campground. Four DJ blacklights connected to USB battery packs. I lit this one and didn't check it until I was leaving, by then all the lights had died but there were still plenty of insects on it.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-04-30&d2=2023-05-01&nelat=25.756236459694374&nelng=-80.93021303602106&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.755903087922423&swlng=-80.93059122749216&user_id=joemdo

Project page for CNCSOFLO 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-south-florida-cncsoflo/
Website: https://www.cncsoflo.com/
Instagram: @ cncsoflo

All of my blacklighting observations from tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-04-30&d2=2023-05-01&order=asc&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&user_id=joemdo

Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights I used, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light

Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk

Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida