Collecting moths in places not near home - how to bring equipment?

[Hepialus]

Hello all,

I would like to go on a trip mainly centered around insect collecting in South Florida this summer.

However, this state is far away from my own, and I would need to fly there. Of course, I cannot bring my mercury vapor lights on an airplane.

So, what is the solution? How can I bring my equipment (lights, sockets for lights, sheet, etc.) to Florida?
I know many people here go on collecting trips to distant countries, so to me this trip to Florida seems as though it could be feasible.

Looking forward to responses and advice

[Chuck]

cannot bring my mercury vapor lights on an airplane

You can't? Ooops.

Can you get a box at a UPS store in FL and ship it to yourself?

[Chuck]

Oh- the general best collecting season in Florida is May-June; July is OK but winding down. Late July and August tend to be way past peak.

[Paul K]

I don’t think there are any restrictions in regards MV bulbs.
I always have it with me either in check in bag or carry on.

[58chevy]

Rather than haul your equipment with you, you could contact some local collectors and use their equipment. They could also serve as guides. If you don't know any locals, contact David Fine at keysmoths.com. He's a collector and knows others. You could also contact the McGuire Center for more info. A collector named Mark DeGrove lives in Punta Gorda. Many species in FL have multiple broods. There is no "off-season" there. You can find stuff even during winter months.

[vabrou]

I noted a number of interesting subjects by different respondents. No I don't fly anywhere to collect anything. Here in Louisiana, I drive with all my equipment to any or all of the 64 Louisiana parishes (=counties). The word counties does not exist in Louisiana. Planning on such a long distance trip should have started about a year ago. Regarding collecting in second half of the calendar year, you should know some facts ahead of time. You do that by searching certain topics on the web or become members of the local entomological societies where you plan on visiting. For example, the Southern Lepidopterists Society has been in existence for the past 46 years, and publishes quarterly an 8 1/2" X 11" often ~100 full color pages concerning scientific and entomological subjects and hundreds of species accounts centered upon the lepidoptera of the SE USA and has the most members in the state of Florida. I have published a one page map showing the locations of the members from across North America, e.g.,we have SLS members who reside in Oregon, California, Arizona, etc. Membership lists are available to any members. There are currently two major museums of arthropods in Florida, the FSCA in Gainesville, Fla (now with collections of insects other than lepidoptera) and McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity (all lepidoptera), also in Gainesville, Florida. The SLS was founded in 1978 in Florida. You would have done yourself a favor by familiarizing yourself with some of the locals. I will warn you that you should have a collecting permit to collect in Florida, as this state has a bad reputation with respect to visitors expecting to collect there. I have been a donator to the FSCA since 1972 and over 150,000+ of specimens with my labels on them can be found in the McGuire Center. I have had annual collecting permits issued to me by the state of Florida since 1972. But I have made only a singe collecting trip there over the past half century, and I have no intention to do so in the future. Even having permits won't keep you out of trouble there. Keep that in mind. You need the guidance and accompaniment by someone local and well-experienced with light trapping willing to accompany you familiar with areas and what insects you are targeting. What things are you hoping to collect? Some lepidoptera species in the southeast USA can have 13 annual broods and some species have been documented by us in Louisiana to fly every single day of the calendar year.

Another issue you need to know is that the month of July in the US has been studied by a few lepidopterists and is considered a key transitional month separating some species which occur mostly in the spring vs species active in the fall months. July can be a 'dead time period = little to nothing active some years at some geographical areas.' of N.A. Things you may want to consider are investigating when the species you are targeting are out and about, single brooded to 13 annual broods and everything in between. On the attached phenogram for Panopoda rufimargo you see that in Louisiana this species flies only in the moths of mid-March to mid- September. Go looking for it in mid-September to mid-March and doubtfully you will find any of this species. Similarly if you look for Panopoda repanda, you doubtfully will find any during the months of October to February. What I am getting at every species of insect has a specific phenology picture, and the latitude at which you are collecting as well as amount of rainfall there are major components affecting a phenology picture. What are your target species for this proposed trip tom Florida? I may have published something that would be helpful to you as our target insects were lepidoptera, among the billions of insects we collected in Louisiana and the thousands we have published upon over the past half century. The fauna of Louisiana and the panhandle of Florida are very similar.

Here in my state of Louisiana we first turned on our high-wattage UV Light traps in 1969, never turned them off for even a minute until discontinuing them and nearly 500 insect traps just last month (55 years). We are getting old!

You can find over 300 of our 476 entomological publications in pdf at this one freely accessible link: Fastest way to find something site-wide is to use search box. We published hundreds of detailed species accounts on most of the larger moths occurring in the se us.
https://independent.academia.edu/VernonAntoineBrouJr

[Trehopr1]

Thank you very kindly Vernon for posting that link to some of your papers. I know you have posted it before and I have utilized it on a couple of occasions but, I neglected to save the link so have not utilized it for a while.

As you mentioned, one only needs to put a name in the search bar to find something fascinating that you have discovered and written about. Your long-term field work and the studies generated from years of dedicated observations provide a wealth of information for ALL to read, learn, and enjoy.

I took time to both read and save various articles on Catocala, Actias luna, Grammia virgo, Black Witch, Owl Moth, and Zale lunata just to mention a few !

All had something fascinating to learn from. For example, I would have never imagined that our luna moth has five broods in Louisiana. Would have never thought that Catocala judith would be a rarely encountered species where you live since you noted it is only known from 4 specimens from one parish. It's rather common here in Illinois. Also, the diversity which you demonstrated with Zale lunata is quite phenomenal (although I have always been aware of its variability).

So, again many thanks for the free PDFs that are available for anyone on the forum to read. Your personal insights and discoveries make each article an interesting and valuable contribution for others to learn from....

[vabrou]

Collecting moths in places not near home - how to bring equipment?

For me I use a small cargo container (highway compliant), spare tires for cargo container and vehicle (pick-up truck or van. And I bring 6 light traps and associated collection chambers, also spare lamps and tubes. I collect clearwing moths so I usually bring anywhere up to 100+ lure traps with bucketful of granular NaCn, and quart of ethyl acetate. I have two 6,000 watt gasoline powered electrical generators and bring at least one sometimes two. I bring 50+ gallons of gasoline in case I stay several days/nights. Two weed whackers, I even bring a portable electric refrigerator or freezer, lots of water, and food, and if you have a small habatchi I have even had steaks, sausages, etc. I'll even bring frozen daiquiris for those unbearable 90-100 degree F days and nights. Bring lots of ice for 3 or more days. Gallons of water to wash hands, feet etc. I often have (4) 20" electrical box fans, or I also have used a small window size electrical air-conditioner to use in the tent. In winter time collecting I bring one or two 1800-Watt Electric Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heaters for overnight in tent. I bring extra pants and shirts socks and shoes, an inflatable bed or cot, pillow, blankets, paper towels, cloth rags and towels, etc., several folding chairs and folding work-table, wind up alarm clock. I bring writing utensils, tons of paper envelopes (I never use glassine envelopes). I bring dozens of foam bottom pinning containers for captured specimens. (5-10) chlorocresol charged relaxing containers for those specimens to return home with in fresh condition like capture hours ago even though they were actually captured 3-4 days ago. Don't forget 5,000+ insect pins, several tweezers, hypodermic syringes, pint of 70% isopropyl alcohol, multiple cameras, tool box with a lot of tools. Most importantly, I always bring a battery-powered radio, cell phone, knives, machete, a gun, holster and ammo for personal protection from wild hogs, bears, and those occasional two-legged pest. 500 feet of top quality extension cords, 10-3, 12-3, 14-3, 16-3 gauge sizes. Mosquito repellent, band-aids, bandages, calamine lotion, triple antibiotic ointment, meds for usual medical problems you may have for several days beyond your planned trip days, diabetes, etc., burns, eye injuries, injuries due to toxic plants, insects, snakes, etc., cell phone. Did I mention guns and ammo, if you can't remember, just bring more guns and ammo, one can never have enough guns and ammo? NOW YOU KNOW WHY I NEED A CARGO CONTAINER. Oh, I occasionally bring fishing rods and tackle, for those opportunistic times.

[Eleodes]

I'm late to the party on this one, but here goes. Like Mr. Brou, I drive to all my collecting spots. However I don't consider a trailer necessary unless there's 5+ people going on the trip and I'm going several states away. Though, I'm sure if I was collecting at his scale, I would want the trailer. Most of the time I can fit all the equipment I need for a week-long collecting trip in the trunk of my sedan. I usually take 6-8 nets of various types, 2 white sheets, my collecting lights, a small energy-efficient generator, a 2.5 gal. Gas can, a small veggie strainer to sift soil, a small shovel, a snake hook, a few quarts of isopropyl alcohol, 5 or so gallons of drinking water, jars, gallon ziploc bags, a dufflebag of clothes, a sleeping bag, a tarp, plenty of rope, an extension cord, a hotplate in case the weather is not conducive for a fire, a 5 gal. Bucket of cooking supplies and non-perishable food items, a skillet, fishing gear, a camera, a cooler, and a deck of cards. I'm probably forgetting something, but that's going to happen anyway. As long as I remember the basics and check the collecting laws of the state where I'm going, it usually turns out just fine.

[mswisher]

I brought all of my gear on two trips that I flew to this past year, including a 1000 watt MV bulb in my carry on. TSA guy said, "Wow, that's a big light bulb." I said "Yep." I usually find a VRBO or Air BnB location that is adjacent to good habitat so I have access to electricity and don't need a generator. I can fit everything in three suitcases. No baggage fees due to Executive Platinum status helps.

[KKarns]

Love the account of your field equipment Vernon, would have had a blast collecting with you! I THOUGHT...I was a well prepared and serious field collector, lol. Updated my field collecting checklist just a bit as a result. Appreciate you sharing your accounts.