Sightings – Butterflies & Moths
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/29/15
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis
Comments: Feeding on butterfly bush.
More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/9/13
Observation Time: 4:35 p.m.
Observation Location: soccer parking area near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis
Comments: This diurnal moth is about the size of a bumblebee.
More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/11/23
Observation Time: 4:20 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis
Comments: This one was feeding on butterfly bush in my back yard (a ruby-throated hummingbird was feeding there at the same time).
Large, sometimes feathery antennae are more typical of moths than butterflies.
More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Sherry Berlingo
Observation Dates:
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar – Found on playground in Sharon 09/20/16
Spicebush Swallowtail Chrysalis – Formed chrysalis on 09/22/16
Overwintered in outdoor shed
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly – Emerged on 06/01/17, released on 06/02/17
Observation Location: The Childrens Center, Sharon Public School
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: This large black butterfly is more common in Sharon than the similar black swallowtail. Learn how to tell them apart at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/24/21
Observation Time: 12:55 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon (Billings Loop near the barn)
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: This spicebush swallowtail butterfly was observed feeding on milkweed flowers. Note that spicebush swallowtail butterflies are quite similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Spicebush swallowtails have a marking that looks like a comet among the row of large orange spots on each of its rear wings (see photos). The black swallowtail just has another orange spot where the spicebush has the comet marking.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/4/24
Observation Time: 1:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (T.T.O.R.)
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: I saw this spicebush swallowtail butterfly feeding on a flowering beauty bush beside the driveway leading into Moose Hill Farm.
Spicebush swallowtail butterflies are similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Spicebush swallowtails have a marking that looks like a comet among the row of large orange spots on each of its rear wings (see photos). The black swallowtail just has another orange spot where the spicebush has the comet marking.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/3/15
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Sts.
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: This spicebush swallowtail butterfly was observed feeding on milkweed flowers. Note that spicebush swallowtail butterflies are quite similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Spicebush swallowtails have a marking that looks like a comet among the row of large orange spots on each of its rear wings (see photos). The black swallowtail just has another orange spot where the spicebush has the comet marking.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/6/14
Observation Time: 1:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: This spicebush swallowtail butterfly was observed feeding on milkweed flowers. Note that spicebush swallowtail butterflies are very similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Learn how to tell the difference at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/4/17
Observation Time: 1:45 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. (back yard)
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: The butterfly bush I planted in our back yard attracts beautiful butterflies like this one. Note the blue “comet” marking on its hind wing, which differentiates spicebush swallowtails from black swallowtails.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/25/23
Observation Time: 1:25 pm
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd (my back yard)
Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly
Scientific Name: Celastrina spp.
Comments: Spring azures are small butterflies that emerge in early spring. The wings are blue on top and white with dark specks on the underside. It’s hard to get a photo of the beautiful blue on the upper side of their wings because they typically close their wings, as shown in this photo, when they are not flying.
More Information: New Jersey Butterflies