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Observation: Micronaspis floridana
Primary Observer:
Liz Childress
Event Date:
2025-03-29
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Weedon Island Preserve - Lookout Trail
Province/State:
Florida
Event Date:
2025-03-29
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
22:02
End Time:
23:04
Number of Observers:
12
Primary Observer:
Liz Childress
Additional Observers:
Team: Becca Balk, Landon Balk, Liz Childress, Brett Donahue +2, Bill Fehring, Kristy Nicola/Boris, Kaylee Robins – Real, Cynthia Thompson, Atlas Thompson
Target Species Genus:
Micronaspis
Target Species Species:
floridana
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Tidal Marsh - Salt marsh or brackish marsh
Habitat Type Notes:
Weedon Island is a 3200-acre preserve and is managed as such. Most habitat is mangrove swamp, with areas of dry uplands. We surveyed a mangrove swamp that had been mosquito ditched in the 1950s and 1960s. The trail that we walked (Lookout Trail) was flanked by mosquito ditches. Dominant plant species: Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Saltwort (Batis)
Melampus coffea snails, fiddler crab burrows and amphipods were abundant in the leaf litter. Many fiddler crab burrows were hidden beneath leaf litter.
Elevation (meters):
LT 1 meter
Area Searched (hectares):
2.18
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Artificial Light Types
Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
The sky glow was so bright, the team could safely walk the trail without headlamps.
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
2-10
Genus:
Micronaspis
Species:
floridana
Observation Notes:
5 males were found. 2 of the 5 were not flashing and were found on ground.
A participant captured a male and female in the same petri dish for photographs. Both insects began to "wag" their lanterns after a few minutes. They were released shortly after. A video is available.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
22:08
Last Flash Time:
23:00
First Flash Temp (F):
70
Last Flash Temp (F):
70
Flashes in Pattern:
2
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
Difficult to see entire flash pattern due to heavy vegetation cover
Flash Duration:
1 quarter to 1 half of a second
Flash Interval:
1.5 second
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Flashes mostly less than four feet above ground. One observed at 12 feet.
Male Flash Behavior:
Was difficult to see entire flash pattern due to heavy vegetation.
A participant captured a male and female in the same petri dish for photographs. Both insects began to "wag" their lanterns after a few minutes. They were released shortly after.
Female Flash Behavior:
No flash-based interactions were observed between the sexes.
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Thank you for submitting this excellent observation and thank you to the whole team for doing the survey!