Animal – Page 32 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Giant Leopard Moth – 6/24/11

Observer: John Baur Observation Date: 6/24/11 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Sharon Train Station Common Name: Giant Leopard Moth Scientific Name: Hypercompe scribonia Comments: Also called Eyed Tiger Moth, this is a moth of the family Arctiidae. It is distributed throughout the Southern and Eastern United States from New England to Mexico. The obsolete name Ecpantheria scribonia is still occasionally encountered. More Information: Wikipedia

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. […]

Galerucella Beetle – 5/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/13 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Galerucella beetle Scientific Name: Galerucella calmariensis Comments: The Neponset River Watershed Association introduced these European beetles in Fowl Meadow in Canton and Norwood to control invasive purple loosestrife. They have spread to Sharon, where they are having the desired effect of keeping the invasive purlple loosestrife in check so native plants can […]

Galerucella Beetle Larvae – 6/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/17/11 Observation Time: 5:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Galerucella beetle larvae Scientific Name: Galerucella calmariensis (or G. pusilla) Comments: Galerucella beetles eat only purple loosestrife, an invasive exotic weed that has been displacing native wetland plants and reducing biodiversity. The Neponset River Watershed Association has been “ranching” and releasing Galerucella beetles, and they are now showing up in Sharon. More Information: […]

Funnel Weaver Spider – 10/18/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/18/12 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (basement) Common Name: Funnel Weaver Spider Scientific Name: Agelenidae family, Coras genus Comments: Spiders give me the creeps, especially big ones like this specimen, but I could not resist taking a photo and getting an identification from bugguide.net. More Information: BugGuide

Freshwater Mussel – 7/9/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/10 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: outflow pool below Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Freshwater Mussel Scientific Name: Elliptio complanata Comments: Mussels are filter feeders that cleanse water. Of the 12 species native to Massachusetts, 7 are in trouble because of pollution and/or dried up ponds and streams. Elliptio complanata mussels are relatively common, but well pumping for human use, threatens […]

Fragile Forktail Damselfly – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fragile Forktail Damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura posita Comments: This is the male. The female is blue rather than green. More Information: NatureSearch

Fragile Forktail Damselfly – 6/7/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/7/11 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fragile Forktail Damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura posita Comments: Fragile forktail damselflies are common in Massachusetts wetlands. This one is shown perched on a purple loosestrife leaf that had been chewed by Galerucella beetle larvae, which were introduced by the Neponset River Watershed Association to control invasive exotic purple loosestrife. More Information: BugGuide […]

Red Foxes – 5/11/09

Observer: Ellenor Yahrmarkt Observation Date: 5/11/09 Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: Fox kits in a den under a foundation More Information: Wikipedia: Red Fox & National Geographic

Red Foxes – 2005

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 2005 Observation Location: Back yard Common Name: Red Foxes Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: My wife saw the mom walking in our back yard. A few days later, I saw one of the babies standing beside my swimming pool. I thought it was a strange looking cat; and then I thought, dog; and then I thought, fox. He scooted under the stockade fence. […]

Red Fox – 10/16/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/16/12 Observation Time: 8:55 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: This red fox showed up in our back yard. I took these photos out the window. Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments and, unlike […]

Red Fox – 7/4/10

Observer: Andrea & Herb Daroff Observation Date: 7/4/10 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Pilgrim Drive Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: The fox was within 10 feet of our house. It spent a good 10 minutes sniffing around (looking for bugs maybe?) This was not the first time we have seen a fox in our yard but this is the first […]

Red Fox – 4/17/10

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 4/17/10 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag and Lakeview St Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: A fox was spotted walking from the Massapoag Yacht Club into our backyard. It proceeded across our back lawn to our neighbor’s yard, and then it returned to our sideyard, walked up our front driveway toward Lakeview St, eventually returning in […]

Red Fox – 4/13/10

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 4/13/10 Observation Time: 6:00 a.m. Observation Location: backyard Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: Fox was spotted walking across our backyard, close to Lake Massapoag. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Red Fox – 3/3/10

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 3/3/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Lakeview St. Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: My sons and I were finishing breakfast and saw a fox walk across our backyard, close to Lake Massapoag. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Red Fox – 1/5/10

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 1/5/10 Observation Time: 6:00 a.m. Observation Location: Lakeview St. Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: A fox was spotted running on the frozen lake early in the morning. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Fourteen-Spotted Leaf Beetle – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Fourteen-spotted leaf beetle Scientific Name: Cryptocephalus guttulatus Comments: Count the spots and you’ll know how this beetle got its name. More Information: Insects of West Virginia

Familiar Bluet – 7/25/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/25/10 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond outflow pool Common Name: Familiar Bluet Scientific Name: Enallagma civile Comments: The familiar bluet is a damselfly. Damselflies are typically skinnier than dragonflies, and they fold their wings over their abdomen when at rest. More Information: North American Insects and Spiders

False Crocus Geometer Moth – 8/16/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/16/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: False Crocus Geometer Moth Scientific Name: Xanthotype urticaria Comments: I was surprised to see this striking yellow moth in my backyard during the day, as most moths are nocturnal. Typically moths have longer, larger and more elaborate antennae than butterflies. More Information: NatureSearch

Fairy Shrimp – 4/10/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/10/10 Observation Time: Observation Location: Hockomock Swamp, Easton Common Name: Fairy Shrimp Scientific Name: Eubranchipus vernalis Comments: These tiny crustaceans live in vernal pools. Female fairy shrimp produce several broods of encysted eggs which must dry and be re-submerged before they will hatch. Hatched larvae develop quickly into mature adults which reproduce several times. The drought and cold resistant […]

European Skipper butterfly – 6/19/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 12:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: European Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Thymelicus lineola Comments: There are hundreds of these non-native butterflies in the Hayfield at this time of year. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Elegant Spreadwing Damselfly – 7/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/2/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Elegant Spreadwing damselfly Scientific Name: Lestes inaequalis More Information: Wikipedia

Eastern Tent Caterpillar – 5/31/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/14 Observation Time: 3:44 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Eastern tent caterpillar Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum Comments: This pest has spectacular coloration. More Information: A Prairie Haven

Eastern Forktail Damselfly – 6/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/6/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Forktail Damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura verticalis More Information: Nature Inquiries

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