Observation: Micronaspis floridana

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

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

Artificial Light Notes:

Sky glow was extremely bright, as it reflected the Tampa Bay Area artificial light from the clouds.

Observation

Observation Type:

Flashing

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.

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