Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/12 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas More Information: Northwest Ohio Nature
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/12 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. A map showing Painted Skimmer sightings can be viewed at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/104585-Libellula-semifasciata More Information: Walter Sanford’s Photoblog Painted Skimmer ovipositing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XyMkvXtfI
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/12 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Red-spotted Purple butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis arthemis astyanax Comments: The red-spotted purple butterfly is the same species as the white admiral butterfly. It is a North American species in the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/12 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: This individual lacks the orange spots usually seen at the base of the “tails” extending rearward from the hind wings. More Information: Butterflies and Moths
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American lady butterflies (V. virginiensis) have two large eyespots on the underside of the hind wing, whereas similar-looking painted lady butterflies (V. cardui) have four small eyespots. This individual was feeding on a flowering shrub. More Information: See […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Brown Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys augustinus Comments: This brown elfin was found in the same meadow of wild indigo as a rare frosted elfin butterfly. More Information: Butterflies and Moths
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: 5 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: This species and the closely related Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids. The gray fox’s ability to climb trees is shared only with […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/12 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Several of these Red Admirals were chasing after each other in a sunny clearing along a wooded dirt road near Gavins Pond. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: This Painted Lady butterfly was feeding in the same flowering shrub with American Lady butterflies. Learn how to tell them apart at: https://bugguide.net/node/view/236368 More Information: massaudubon.org
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: undisclosed location in Sharon Common Name: Frosted Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys irus Comments: This small butterfly is a species of special concern. More Information: See the Boston Globe article on this butterfly.
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Genus Celastrina Comments: This is either Celastrina ladon or Celastrina lucia. Spring azures are small butterflies that emerge in early spring. The wings are blue on top and pale white with black spots on the bottom. This specimen is worn, faded and probably nearing the […]
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Observer: Art Newman Observation Date: 11/4/11 Observation Time: 9:12 a.m. Observation Location: Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: Spotted running across Billings St., headed for the Devil’s Rock trail. Coat in transition with yellowish flecks on her body. The gray fox has rounded ears, a pointed muzzle and long hooked claws. The gray fox can climb and will occasionally forage for food or rest in […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/11 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Wood Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comments: Wood ducks have spectacular plumage, but they are very shy and difficult to approach, so it is a real challenge to get a good photo. This flock of wood ducks (there were at least a dozen, of which three are visible in the photo) showed […]
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Observer: Scott Didham Observation Date: 9/24/11 Observation Location: Mansfield St. Common Name: Yellow-spotted salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum More Information: Read about the salamander migration at Moose Hill in 2008.
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/16/11 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Green Stink Bug nymph Scientific Name: Acrosternum hilare Comments: This striking green stink bug nymph caught my eye as it sat on a rosa rugosa leaf by the pond. The adults are solid green. I spotted the green stink bug nymph because of its bold, contrasty coloration. Perhaps the reason for […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/27/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: Eastern tailed blues are very small butterflies. They have tails and an eye spot on each wing that vaguely resemble antennae and eyes to fool predators. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/11 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Halloween Pennant dragonfly Scientific Name: Celithemis eponina Comments: Tattered wings reflect the wear and tear of summer in this late August photo. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Mason Wasp Scientific Name: Monobia quadridens Comments: Mason wasps are solitary. They have a metallic blue sheen on their wings. Females usually build nests in abandoned holes of other bee and wasp species. Sometimes mistaken for Bald-faced Hornet, but note the position and extent of white on the […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Great Black Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex pensylvanicus Comments: Sphex pensylvanicus is a species of digger wasp, commonly known as the great black wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Perithemis tenera Comments: The wings of the male are entirely amber, whereas the wings of the female are clear with amber blotches. More Information: Project Noah
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Pickerel Frog Scientific Name: Rana palustris Comments: The skin secretions of a stressed pickerel frog are known to be toxic to other frogs, as many a novice frog catcher has found when he finds only the pickerel frogs still alive in his bucket. These secretions can also be […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/5/11 Observation Time: 6:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Black Crappie (Calico Bass) Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus Comments: Crappies are a popular sport fish, as they are easy to catch when they are feeding. As with other freshwater species in Massachusetts, crappies accumulate mercury in their tissues as a result of environmental pollution from power plants. More Information: […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking lot near Gavins Pond Common Name: Great Golden Digger Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex ichnumoneus Comments: Sphex ichnumoneus is a species of solitary wasp, commonly known as the Great Golden Digger Wasp. This large and colorful wasp can frequently be found nectaring at flowers in late summer and fall. It makes burrows in bare ground […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/26/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: dirt road leading to the Gavins Pond dam Common Name:Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This butterfly was so preoccupied with feeding on some decomposing organic matter that I was able to approach within a few inches to take this photo. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/17/11 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Eastern chipmunk Scientific Name: Tamias striatus More Information: Animal Diversity Web: Eastern Chipmunk
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