Observation: Micronaspis floridana
Primary Observer:
Liz Childress
Event Date:
2025-03-29
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Weedon Island Preserve Tower Boardwalk
Province/State:
Florida
Event Date:
2025-03-29
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:05
End Time:
21:03
Number of Observers:
14
Primary Observer:
Liz Childress
Additional Observers:
Survey documentation in-progress. Not complete.
Team: Becca Balk, Landon Balk, Liz Childress, Brett Donahue, Bill Fehring, Caitlyn Kovach, Kristy Nicola/Boris, Kaylee Robins – Real, Nicholas Theriault, 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. This survey took place on the Preserve's Tower Boardwalk. No access to ground areas was available.
Dominant species: Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Saltwort (Batis)
Elevation (meters):
LT 1 meter
Area Searched (hectares):
5.96
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:
Sky glow was extremely bright, as it reflected the Tampa Bay Area artificial light from the clouds.
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
11-50
genus:
micronaspis
Species:
floridana
Observation Notes:
38 males observed calling. First flash observed at 8:23pm.
Larvae and females also present.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
20:23
Last Flash Time:
21:03
First Flash Temp (F):
78
Last Flash Temp (F):
76
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
1 - 1.5 seconds
Flash Duration:
1 quarter to 1 half of a second
Flash Interval:
1.5 second
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Most occurred among the mangrove trees.
Male Flash Behavior:
Many times, it was difficult to see entire flash patterns due to the insects flying into dense vegetation
Female Flash Behavior:
No interaction between sexes observed.
