A slow start is better than no start!

The 2022 season was going be the year I added significantly to my late winter observations...until Covid finally caught up with me; quickly followed by a stupid case of tripping in the dark on my front patio, falling, and breaking both wrists and my left elbow. Yeah. A nearly five-pound camera rig is hard to hold in a cast and a splint! (It would have never happened had I been carrying my camera--I am every vigilant then.)

While I managed to get out of the splint on my right wrist after only four weeks, the left was on another three, complete with thumb spica. The elbow set ever so slightly off, and took some time to work up to a decent range of motion. Thus, it was the last week of March before I could take any real pictures, and then I was able to do so in only short spurts, turning the light against the side of the house, as I couldn't quite manage my normal gauged sheet setup. I was frustrated.

BUT despite those challenges along with cold, rain, and high winds interspersed among a handful of gorgeous 80ºF days, I have managed thus far to accumulate 12 Choctaw County, OK records and one state record as of April 9th.

This year I purchased my second LepiLED, this time the Mini-switch, for portable use with the traps I have yet to finish building. For now, I'm seeing good results with my 50W 365nm UV LED lamps I purchased off Amazon. Both are waterproof, allowing me to leave my lights setup without fear of damage. It's not uncommon for me to go to bed around 11:00PM, then get up at 3:00 or 4:00AM and find new moths--sometimes even more when I finally wake up at 7:00AM. For general daily sheet work in reach of electric, I cannot get past the fact that my 50Ws are exceedingly affordable in comparison with the Lepis. That being said, I can run the LepiLEDs out in the field off small power packs, giving me a lot more flexibility. The Mini-switch is also able to be run off the a battery pack of smaller size (under 100watts) that is allowable under current TSA lithium battery standards, making it a good option for travel.

We shall see how this season goes. As usual, thanks to all those who lend their experitise in identification, and those whose mothy friendship has greatly enriched my life.

Anna

הועלה ב-אפריל 19, 2022 02:44 לפנה"צ על ידי annainok annainok

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אפריל 11, 2022 09:05 אחה"צ CDT

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