insect – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Little Wood Satyr butterfly – 6/5/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/13 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Little Wood Satyr butterfly Scientific Name: Megisto cymela Comments: As the name implies, the wood satyr is most commonly seen in woods and shrubby areas. More Information: Wikipedia

Small Cabbage White butterfly – 6/25/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond near soccer fields Common Name: Small Cabbage White butterfly Scientific Name: Pieris rapae Comments: The top photo shows a copulating pair. The male has a single black wing spot. The female has two black wing spots, and slightly yellower wings. More Information: Wikipedia

Silver-Spotted Skipper butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Silver-Spotted Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Epargyreus clarus Comments: Adults perch upside down under leaves at night and on hot or cloudy days. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America Back to the Sightings List

Question Mark butterfly chrysalis – 7/31/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/31/12 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Question Mark butterfly chrysalis Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: This is the chrysalis of a Question Mark butterfly. They have a white mark on each wing that looks like a question mark. See photos of an adult Question Mark Butterfly. The root “interrogation” is apparent in the scientific […]

Question Mark butterfly – 6/29/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/11 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Question Mark butterfly Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: There’s a similar Eastern Comma butterfly that is also found in Sharon. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Peck’s Skipper butterfly – 7/25/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/25/10 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Peck’s Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Polites peckius Comments: Flies from June through early August on flowers, at roadsides, wet meadows, and in gardens. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polites_peckius More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Black and Yellow Garden Spider – 9/24/10

Observer: April Forsman Observation Date: 9/24/10 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: DPW Common Name: Black and Yellow Garden Spider Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia Comments: Males range from 5 to 9 mm; females from 19 to 28 mm. Like other members of Argiope they are considered harmless to humans.The female of the species grows much larger than the male. Females have large rounded bodies that may […]

Black and Yellow Garden Spider – 8/11/09

Observer: Regen Jamieson Observation Date: 8/11/09 Observation Location: Moose Hill in the meadow at the end of the “unnatural trail”. Common Name: Black and Yellow Garden Spider Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia Comments: Males range from 5 to 9 mm; females from 19 to 28 mm. Like other members of Argiope they are considered harmless to humans.The female of the species grows much larger than the male. […]

Dun Skipper – 7/16/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Dun Skipper Scientific Name: Euphyes vestris More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies

Clouded Sulphur butterfly – 8/30/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/30/11 Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road by soccer field parking lot Common Name: Clouded Sulphur butterfly Scientific Name: Colias philodice Comments: This butterfly was hard to photograph because it would not hold still! Note the big green eyes and the spots on the wing. More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies

Buckeye Butterfly – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Buckeye Butterfly Scientific Name: Junonia coenia Comments: This bedraggled specimen is showing a lot of wear and tear on its wings. More Information: Wikipedia

Banded Net-Winged Beetle – 8/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/11 Observation Time: 8:10 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Banded Net-Winged Beetle Scientific Name: Calopteron discrepans Comments: This colorful beetle is found throughout the eastern U.S. Its bright color and contrast warn predators that they taste bad if eaten. More Information: University of Florida

Aurora Damsel – 6/21/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/10 Observation Time: 10:40 a.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Aurora Damsel Scientific Name: Chromagrion conditum Comments: When perched, the aurora damsel keeps its wings spread, unlike other damselflies that fold their wings above their abdomens. More Information: Visiting Nature

Appalachian Brown Butterfly – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Appalachian Brown Butterfly Scientific Name: Satyrodes appalachia Comments: Easily confused with Eyed Brown Butterfly (Satyrodes eurydice). See: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Satyrodes-eurydice&sp2=Satyrodes-appalachia More Information: Mass Audubon

American Copper Butterfly – 5/21/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/14 Observation Time: 1:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the American copper is a stunning sight when viewed up close. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Copper Butterfly – 10/18/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/18/12 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (front yard) Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: This small but colorful butterfly can be seen all summer and into the fall. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Copper Butterfly – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Furnace St. under high tension wires Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: This individual was chasing another to mate. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly – 7/6/14

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

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 5/11/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/14 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the Eastern tailed blue is a stunning sight when viewed up close. The upper sides of the wings are blue. They appear in spring. More Information: Wikipedia

Viceroy butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area Common Name: Viceroy butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: This butterfly is smaller than the famous migrating monarchs, and the black markings are different. Note the black line on the hind wings. Monarchs do not have this line. More Information: NatureWorks

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: As I was picking raspberries in the garden, I saw this gorgeous butterfly, so I ran inside and grabbed my camera. More Information: Wikipedia

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: Note the “pink earth” lichen in the background of the upper photo. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/13 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum semicinctum More Information: Wikipedia

American Lady Butterfly – 10/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/5/12 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: This American Lady butterfly was feeding on Nippon daisies blooming in our garden. There was also a Painted Lady butterfly, which looks very similar, but has four small spots on the undersides of its trailing wings instead of the American Lady’s two large […]

Wood Nymph Butterfly – 8/25/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/25/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: This striking wood nymph butterfly was a challenge to photograph, but with persistence I was able to get close enough to get this shot. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

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