Category: Butterflies & Moths

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: under high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Yellow-washed metarranthis moth Scientific Name: Metarranthis obfirmaria Comments: I spotted this brown moth on the dirt road under the high tension wires. Moths typically have bigger antennae than butterflies. They can be hard to identify. I got help with identification of this specimen at […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/20 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: under high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon Comments: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate and adults emerge in […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/20 Observation Time: 11:10 a.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. The orange spots and “tails” on the trailing edge of […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/20 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: under high tension lines near Gavins Pond Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterfly Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: Adults find nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd’s needle, asters, and winter cress. Males patrol open areas for females. The eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: The Painted Lady has four small spots on the undersides of its hind wings, whereas the American Lady has two large spots. Otherwise they look very similar. This one was feeding on milkweed blossoms. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Nessus Sphinx Moth Scientific Name: Amphion floridensis Comments: The Nessus Sphinx is a member of Sphingidae, a family of powerfully fast moths that are typically seen drinking flower nectar. The Nessus Sphinx has two yellow bands on the abdomen that are thought to help it mimic a […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: rocky bluff under power lines along S. Walpole St. Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus There is also a good discussion of how to […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: under the high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: American Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 12:45 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Common Ringlet butterfly Scientific Name: Coenonympha tullia Comments:  Ringlets can be found in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is an erratic flyer. It is a holarctic species found in northern […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/19 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: American Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was visiting a mud puddle, but […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/19 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: The big meadow at Moose Hill Farm was alive with pairs of black swallowtails chasing each other on this glorious spring day. Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:08 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Mating usually occurs in late fall or early winter following collective migration to southern regions with a warmer climate. The red admiral’s main host plant, stinging nettle, is most abundant during this migration. Larval development proceeds through winter and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/19 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary 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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/18 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Place: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Monarch Butterfly caterpillar and chrysalis Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Comments: This caterpillar was feeding on milkweed. It will soon form a chrysalis, as others nearby had already done. Monarchs make an epic, multi-generational migration. Check it out at the link below. More Information: National Geographic Monarch chrysalis:

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Great Spangled Fritillary Scientific Name: Speyeria cybele Comments: Easily confused with Aphrodite Fritillary – see: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Speyeria-cybele&sp2=Speyeria-aphrodite More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America and USDA  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly Scientific Name: Euphydryas phaeton Comments: I saw just one Baltimore checkerspot among other butterfly species feeding on dogbane blossoms. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 12:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 10/8/17 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Transmission line path between Bird Road, Mansfield Street and Willow Street in Foxboro Common Name: Eastern Buck Moth Scientific Name: Hemileuca maia Comments: This large moth (about 1 inch long by 1 1/2 inches wide) was flying toward me. Wide head, white & fuzzy. Above low-lying shrubbery, it quickly disappeared when it saw me. I […]

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/28/17 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: In our yard (Furnace Street) on a spicebush shrub Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: fairly common large butterfly 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 […]

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/31/16 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Furnace Street Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: A common butterfly whose range stretches along the entire U.S. Atlantic coast and as far west as Texas. Having the ability to utilize a number of host plants and habitats this species does well and is not threatened. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 9/22/15 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Mansfield Street Common Name: Brown-hooded Owlet Moth caterpillar Scientific Name: Cucullia convexipennis Comments: The moth flies from May to September depending on the location. The caterpillars feed on Aster, Solidago and Callistephus chinensis. More Information: Wikipedia

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: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: American Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was feeding on a spotted knapweed blossom. More Information: BugGuide