Blacklighting at LBJ - Saturday, August 29
Woo hoo! Meghan @wildcarrot is back in TX, so we're going to celebrate with some mothing/black-lighting at LBJ on Saturday, August 29th! Who wants to come?!? Of course, we'll practice some social distancing to keep everyone safe.
The next question is what unit(s) should we blacklight... There are quite a few in the LBJ grasslands:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Lbj_Grasslands_Map.gif
One particularly interesting spot has some pretty old pine trees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=33.399519316939646&nelng=-97.59809627297025&place_id=any&swlat=33.3945928298241&swlng=-97.60613217117887
Other spots have some camping available too.
Chime in if you want to come, and where you want to blacklight. :) I doubt we'll be anywhere with electricity, but I've got about 5 set-ups that would work.
Oh, and tag anyone you think would be interested too. I'll tag a few of the 'moth-lings' in the comments. ;)
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@kimberlietx @brentano @catenatus @tadamcochran @cgritz @wildcarrot @galactic_bug_man @lovebirder @k8thegr8 @cameralenswrangler @oddfitz @briangooding @jwn @sara39 @melissa_duron @lulubelle @annikaml @bosqueaaron @gcwarbler @bob777 @assmann @oddfitz @elytrid @jeffmci9 @mako252 @mikef451 @ecarpe @pfau_tarleton @dusty_in_vilas-tx
Done and done. The spot you mentioned is exactly where I was thinking.
Sam, I am not a "moth-ling" but am craving some socially-distanced socializing with fellow iNaturalists. Eager to get on the road again. Wherever you all plan to moth, would Decatur be a good place for me to get a motel?
I definitely want to come! Sounds like a great time! I don't know if it's needed or not but I could always bring my simple blacklight setup too. Do y'all usually camp out overnight for these events? I've not been to a meetup like this before. As for where I'll be happy anywhere the bugs are, so I'll leave that to someone with more familiarity with the area. :)
Probably not going to make it, but ya never know...
What is blacklighting? Im new to this.
What is the start time?
I've never tried that spot! I'll of course be there with my gear, and will likely be mothing overnight until the wee hours of the morning - 'cause the cooler stuff comes out the later you're there! :D
I'll put it on my calendar. I'm a maybe! I think I'd have to camp or find a place to stay out there.
@txmom2 blacklighting is using UV blacklights or mercury vapor lamps up next to a white surface (sheet, shower curtain, painted wall) to "call in the bugs". Sometimes it's like a snowstorm, but results vary. I usually bring cotton balls to keep them out of my ears just in case.
I would be interested in coming, but I don't have any backlighting equipment or experience other than with what shows up on my front porch at night. Can I come and just lurk in the background?
I'm in, and can bring my "Cecropia attracting", battery driven set up. :-D
I'll be camping, unless I decide I have the energy to drive home when the last moth has shown up.
And to answer your question above, @sciencegeek, it's perfectly fine to just come and lurk. ;-)
Thanks for the explainer @tadamcochran - sounds fun!!
I can't make this session but maybe a future one.
@connlindajo It seems like the exact spot for our activities haven't been decided yet. I'm not familiar with LBJ Grasslands, so I'm not having any opinion on where we go. However, the area is just north of Decatur, and mostly east of Alvord, so any of those places should be good to stay at.
Thanks @annikaml. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Hey everyone!
So, let's plan on blacklighting at that spot -- the "pineywoods campground." Here's the GPS:
33°23'54.0"N 97°36'10.6"W
33.398319, -97.602946
And here's the google map spot:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Piney+Woods+Campground/@33.3979786,-97.6073448,15z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1spineywoods+campround+lbj!3m4!1s0x864d9b8c3818c551:0x312c75ac5c094267!8m2!3d33.3981406!4d-97.6029682
I've only been to this spot once before, but it was quite interesting. I'll likely camp here. OH! I do remember there being a 'few' mosquitoes... Some of the little ponds here didn't have fish, so there were quite a few mosquitoes colonizing those. If it's too crowded or it something is fishy about this spot, there are several other spots to camp at LBJ grasslands:
https://www.hipcamp.com/discover/texas/caddo-lbj
As for hotel spots, Decatur likely has several, and it's not too far away. I do hope to see you, Linda Jo! :)
If you've never been black-lighting before, totally, please come! It's great fun. :) We toss up some black-lights (UV lights) and some white sheets and the bugs come. You don't need to bring any equipment, although a flashlight/headlamp is helpful. :) Great fun.
Or, if you want to make a day out of it, LBJ grasslands has a LOT of really nice nature-y spots. Each of these green units is open to the public (as far as I know): https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Lbj_Grasslands_Map.gif
One thing that I do remember from being out there is that the cell phone reception is spotty... I remember not getting any reception with either Verizon on ATT... Nonetheless, just so you have it, here's my cell: 214 215 5605 or 817 771 8793
Show up whenever, but I betcha I'll be at that pineywoods campgrounds at around...6 pm. :) The black-lighting won't 'start' until around 8 pm or so.
Count me in and I invited a friend.
Just booked a room in Decatur. There are some cheap rooms at Rodeway Inn. Good reviews
I will try to trade my call day. =)))
@michaelfox
Fingers crossed for some rain in the region on Thursday or Friday!!!! I betcha it's super crispy...
Also, just for giggles, I did a box around most of the LBJ grasslands to see what's been observed in Julys, Augusts, and Septembers...
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?month=7,8,9&nelat=33.52209883652952&nelng=-97.32945833858473&place_id=any&swlat=33.206685948301&swlng=-97.81629000362379
And then, I wanted to see the species that have been observed at LBJ grasslands during July-September but haven't been observed by me:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?month=7,8,9&nelat=33.52209883652952&nelng=-97.32945833858473&place_id=any&swlat=33.206685948301&swlng=-97.81629000362379&view=species&unobserved_by_user_id=sambiology
Lots of stuff that I've not seen there!!! If you want to, you can also use that link, and just change the "sambiology" with your username.
Whoa!! Pygmy Rattler!
@catenatus promises us all that he will catch a pygmy rattler and show it to everyone. He promises!!!! ;)
Looks like I'll be able to join y'all! I've never been to LBJ grasslands, so I'm excited.
In addition, it's pretty close to Jacksboro, which has an amazing place to collect Pennsylvanian aged fossils.
I'll probably drive out Friday night and stay in Decatur, then fossil hunt Saturday morning until about lunch, then head to the grasslands.
If anyone wants to join me, I'll add some links for info. Let me know. I'll even be your guide!
http://nautiloid.net/fossils/sites/jacksboro/jacksboro.html
https://www.rockhoundtimes.com/lost-creek.html
https://www.newschannel6now.com/story/30338711/jacksboro-supershark-fossils-found-at-lost-creek-reservoir/
There's a $4 fee at a pay station and 1 barbed wire fence to negotiate(to keep the cows in), but it's all totally legal collecting area.
@melindawpajak
I can make it for a few hours. Where shall we meet @sambiology ?
Excellent! Happy to hear that several folks are going to be able to make the LBJ trip! :) And way cool about the fossil hunting, Aaron. I won't be able to make that, but I'll live vicariously through your observations (of the living stuff, at least).
My plan, just FYI:
I'll be at Clear Lake LBJ area at 4 PM to look around some wet areas. This is just north of the intersection of 2395 and 2391 on Fs 928. Here's the google map area.
I'll stay there until like 6 or so and then go to the blacklighting site at like 7ish. It'll be at the "pineywoods campground." Here's the GPS:
33°23'54.0"N 97°36'10.6"W
33.398319, -97.602946
And here's the google map spot for the pineywoods campground.
I'm planning on camping there too. I know some folks are planning on staying in Decatur, which is pretty close. Temps look pretty warm, so of course, bring water and stuff. :)
Ty!
Clear Lake looks like a great spot for afternoon. I'll likely be there around that time as well.
Okay, I'm all set to make it! I'll be bringing my best friend Kelly and we'll be staying in Decatur overnight as well. :) We'll probably arrive around 6-6:30. I can't wait to meet everyone!
Thanks so much for the invite Sam! I would dearly love to participate, but I will have to miss this one. Big welcome back to @wildcarrot ! Hope you all find loads of cool stuff!
Mike
I'm just now seeing this. I don't see the comments from the mobile app and just haven't looked at my inbox in inat on the computer in quite a while. I hope you guys have a lot of fun. I have family coming in tomorrow so won't make it but look forward to seeing what you find. Melanie
Paul and I will see you all at the blacklighting site around 7pm! Can’t wait!!
I'm sad...had too much homework to try and get caught up for next week's classes. Welcome back Meghan...and hi everyone!
Three of my 185 students contacted me yesterday saying they're positive for COVID (1.6%). Now I don't want to go to class!
Was awakened by the thunder and rain at 3:38 am this morning in Decatur. Wondering about all of you all-night mothers. Any rain there?
Nice to see everyone yesterday, I had a great time! @connlindajo No rain while we mothed, and nothing while I was driving back to Dallas, I guess we were lucky.
So glad I was there despite the awful heat and dry "crispy" plants. Can't wait till we iNat together again.
It was great to meet everyone! I had an awesome time! Can't wait to do it again! :)
Amazing night! See ya'll at LLELA.
@connlindajo we broke it up just after 1. No one was up for all nighter after all. Good thing cause that thunder woke me up also.
It was sooo great to see everyone and explore LBJ, and thanks again to you, Sam! I look forward to seeing you all at LLELA!
@pfau_tarleton Thanks Russell! Hope to see you at one of the next ones! And please stay safe...
I had a BLAST with everyone -- so great to meet some new folks, and of course, always fun to do some black-lighting!
So, as folks upload their observations, we should see the species number rise for this spot.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2020-08-28&d2=2020-08-30&nelat=33.399519316939646&nelng=-97.59809627297025&place_id=any&subview=grid&swlat=33.3945928298241&swlng=-97.60613217117887
I've still got a LOT of research/ID'ing to do for my observations, but we saw some tremendous biodiversity. So wonderful!
Same link in Identify mode (not showing RG):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?%3Fd1=2020-08-28&d2=2020-08-30&nelat=33.399519316939646&nelng=-97.59809627297025&subview=grid&swlat=33.3945928298241&swlng=-97.60613217117887
Just looking again at some of my frog photos...I know at least another person or two noticed how emaciated some of the frogs were. Makes me wonder if there is a chytridiomycosis problem or some other disease out there.
So far, like 150 species of moths!!!
And over 250 species of insects... Crazy successful! :)
Be sure to use these as a bit of 'guide' to ID'ing observations too -- take in mind that some may need a bit of correcting too. :)
It was nice to meet all of you! I really enjoyed it and learned SO much! Thanks!
Hey, @sambiology. I just looked at the link to "over 250 species of insects..." and noticed that I'm not among the observers. Did mine not make it into the count somehow? I drew pretty large circles for location, but figured it would fall into your boundary.
Ah -- oops! Looks like your dots weren't on the location, Adam. :-/ I stretched out the box a bit, and now they're on:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2020-08-28&d2=2020-08-30&nelat=33.44817737796012&nelng=-97.46908076573163&place_id=any&swlat=33.29047960217584&swlng=-97.70254023838788
Now there are like over 300 species of bugs that were documented!!! Wowie.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2020-08-28&d2=2020-08-30&nelat=33.44817737796012&nelng=-97.46908076573163&place_id=any&swlat=33.29047960217584&swlng=-97.70254023838788&taxon_id=47158
I know that my GPS/phone service was atrocious out there, so the readings were all off. I tend to manually put in my dots/locations now.
@sambiology Thanks, Sam. Sorry about that. Yeah, I saw there were over 300! Amazing!
I did put the dots in manually, but I guess I wasn't putting them in the right spot.
FYI -- Black-lighting at LLELA on September 18th!
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/40407-llela-black-lighting-on-friday-sept-18th
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