Category: Beetles

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/29/24 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Pink-Spotted Lady Beetle Scientific Name: Coleomegilla maculata Comments: The pink-spotted lady beetle feeds on the eggs of several moths that eat corn crops, so perhaps it was no coincidence that I enountered this one near a corn field at Ward’s Berry Farm. The pink-spotted lady beetle can eat around […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/24 Observation Time: 1:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State park Common Name: Pale Green Weevil Scientific Name: Polydrusus impressifrons Comments: This brilliant metallic-green broad-nosed weevil joined us at a picnic table at Borderland State Park. Weevils are a type of beetle whose mouths are adapted to sucking juices from leaves and other plant parts. More Information: University of Minnesota

Observer: Bruce Lewis Observation Date: 7/22/23 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill St. Common Name: Tomentose Burying Beetle Scientific Name: Nicrophorus tomentosus Comments: I observed this beetle consuming a dead animal on Moose Hill St. The beetle belongs to the family Silphidae, which are carrion beetles. The beetles have sensitive antennae that contain olfactory organs. Thus, the beetle can locate dead animals and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/22/23 Observation Time: 12:45 pm Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Six-spotted tiger beetle Scientific Name: Cicindela sexguttata Comments: Female six-spotted tiger beetles lay eggs in sandy patches. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the ground. The larvae lie in wait until small arthropods walk by. Then they pounce much like a jack in the box. The larvae pupate after a year. […]

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/10/21 Observation Time: 12:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Grapevine Beetle (a.k.a Spotted June Beetle) Scientific Name: Pelidnota punctata Comments: This is a large and beautiful beetle in the Scarab family. Its dark legs indicate this is a northern variety of this beetle. More Information: Wikipedia 12

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 4/4/21 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Water Beetle Scientific Name: tribe Hyphydrini, subfamily Hydroporinae, family Dytiscidae Comments: This is the first BugGuide.net report of this tribe and genus in Massachusetts. More information: BugGuide.net and Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/10/19 Observation Time: 6:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Northeastern Sawyer Beetle Scientific Name: Monochamus notatus Comments:  The Northeastern Pine Sawyer Beetle is one of several harmless native species that look like the exotic and destructive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). The Northeastern Sawyer is our largest native longhorn beetle, about as large as ALB, but different in color […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 12:10 Observation Location: beneath the power lines that parallel So. Walpole St. Common Name: Six-spotted tiger beetle Scientific Name: Cicindela sexguttata Comments: Female six-spotted tiger beetles lay eggs in sandy patches. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the ground. The larvae lie in wait until small arthropods walk by. Then they pounce much like a jack in the box. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/31/18 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Locust borer beetle Scientific Name: Megacyllene robiniae Comments: The locust borer only attacks black locust trees.  It’s a native insect and was first found in the eastern part of the United States in natural stands of black locust trees.  The locust borer caused problems in colonial times by […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/15 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: American Carrion Beetle Scientific Name: Necrophilia americana Comments: From spring through fall, during daylight, a few hours after flies begin arriving at a carcass, the adult beetles will arrive as well. They immediately begin eating the already hatching fly larvae, mating, and laying their own eggs. As long as the […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Willow Leaf Beetle Scientific Name: Plagiodera versicolora Comments: I got help identifying this tiny beetle at www.bugguide.net. I set up a free account and uploaded my photo. In a few days I received an email from one of their entomologists with the identification. Given that there are thousands […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/14 Observation Time: 12:10 Observation Location: Power lines near Walpole St. Common Name: Six-spotted tiger beetle Scientific Name: Cicindela sexguttata Comments: Female six-spotted tiger beetles lay eggs in sandy patches. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the ground. The larvae lie in wait until small arthropods walk by. Then they pounce much like a jack in the box. The larvae pupate after […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/13 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle larva Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Lady beetle larvae don’t look much like the adults. Lady beetles eat aphids, so they can be beneficial for agriculture. More Information: University of Minnesota

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Multicolored Asian lady beetles come in different color patterns. Some, like this one, don’t have black spots. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Lady beetles have variable coloration. More Information: Wikipedia

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 […]

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: […]

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

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/10 Observation Time: 8:25 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Dogbane Leaf beetle Scientific Name: Chrysochus auratus Comments: The dogbane leaf beetle has a special type of color that shines and changes as the insect changes position or we change position looking at it. This changing color is called iridescence. The beetles’ iridescence is produced by special body […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/13 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Colorado Potato Beetle Scientific Name: Leptinotarsa decemlineata Comments: These striking beetles were eating eggplant leaves. Colorado potato beetles have developed resistance to all known classes of pesticides. More Information: Organic Garden Info  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/3/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blister Beetle Scientific Name: Tricrania sanguinipennis Comments: Blister beetles receive their common name from the ability of their hemolymph to produce blistering on contact with human skin. Hemolymph is often exuded copiously by reflexive bleeding when an adult beetle is pressed or rubbed. Blisters commonly occur on the neck […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/13 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (front yard) Common Name: Locust borer beetle Scientific Name: Megacyllene robiniae Comments: I spotted this beetle near locust trees. More Information: Tumblr: Animal World

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/12 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Red Milkweed Beetle Scientific Name: Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Comments: This striking red beetle was crawling on a milkweed leaf. Its scientific name means “four eyes” because of its black spots that look like eyes. More Information: BugGuide