Butterflies & Moths – Page 4 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Striped Hairstreak butterfly – 7/7/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/15 Observation Time: 7:45 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Striped Hairstreak butterfly Scientific Name: Satyrium liparops Comments: This small butterfly was feeding on milkweed blossoms. Striped hairstreaks are often present in small numbers when milkweeds and dogbanes are in bloom. Striped hairstreaks closely resemble banded hairstreaks. The blue marginal spot on the hind wing is capped […]

Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly – 7/3/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/3/15 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Sts. 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 quite similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Spicebush swallowtails have a marking that looks like a comet among the row of […]

Black Swallowtail butterfly – 7/2/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/2/15 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: This is one of my favorite photos for three reasons. First, it’s a good photo that shows clearly what this beautiful butterfly looks like. Second, black swallowtails are much less common in Sharon than similar spicebush […]

Summer Azure butterfly – 6/27/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/15 Observation Time: 10:25 a.m. Observation Location: Town land near Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Summer Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Celastrina neglecta Comments: Summer azures are small, pale blue butterflies that emerge in June. More Information: Wikipedia

Banded Hairstreak butterfly – 6/26/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/15 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Banded Hairstreak butterfly Scientific Name: Satyrium calanus Comments: This small butterfly was feeding on milkweed blossoms. Banded hairstreaks are very similar to striped hairstreaks. The blue marginal spot on the hind wing is capped with orange in the striped hairstreak but not in the banded […]

Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: field at junction of Lakeview and Morse Streets Common Name: Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth Scientific Name: Speranza pustularia Comments: Note the frond-like antennae of the moth in the photo. Moths typically have larger, more intricate antennae than butterflies. In the United States and Canada, more than 750 species of butterflies and 11,000 species of […]

Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly Scientific Name: Euphydryas phaeton Comments: This field experienced a population explosion of Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies. All phases could be found at the same time: eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises and adults. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club Eggs: Caterpillar: Caterpillar weaving cocoon: Chrysalis:

Great Spangled Fritillary – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 1:55 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land at Morse and Lakeview Streets 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

Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: near Beaver Brook (near train station tennis courts) Common Name: Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly Scientific Name: Enodia anthedon Comments: Northern Pearly-Eye butterflies are very similar to Eyed Browns and Appalachian Browns. All can be found in Sharon. More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

Orange Virbia Moth – 6/12/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/12/15 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Streets Common Name: Orange Virbia Moth Scientific Name: Virbia aurantiaca Comments: Some are dusky and some have dots and bands, but all orange virbia moths are some shade of orange and have large, curious eyes, and like typical moths they have prominent antennae. More Information: insectidentification.org

Red-Spotted Purple butterfly – 6/6/15

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 6/6/15 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street Common Name: Red-Spotted Purple butterfly Scientific Name: limenitis arthemis More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Mourning Cloak Butterfly – 4/19/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/19/15 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Mourning Cloak Butterfly Scientific Name: Nymphalis antiopa Comments: This is a striking butterfly overwinters as an adult.That is why it is the first butterfly you are likely to see in early spring. More Information: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Nymphalis-antiopa

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

Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar – 6/29/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/11 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: near outflow pool at Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar Scientific Name: Spilosoma virginica Comments: This caterpillar, which was chewing on grape leaves, will metamorphose into a beautiful white moth. More Information: Moths in a Connecticut Yard

Unicorn Caterpillar – 9/2/08

Observer: Amy Waters Observation Date: 9/2/08 Observation Location: Common Name: Unicorn Caterpillar Scientific Name: Schizura unicornis Comments: This Unicorn Caterpillar may have crawled off a blueberry bush. It also likes hickory, birch, maple, cherry, oak, sweet pepperbush, witch hazel, and many more woody shrubs and trees. Its range is from Canada to Florida and Texas. It will turn into a moth. Its family is Prominents […]

Tent Caterpillar – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Tent Caterpillar Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum Comments: The moths oviposit almost exclusively on trees in the plant family Rosaceae, particularly cherry (Prunus) and apple (Malus). The adult moth lays her eggs in a single batch in late spring or early summer. An egg mass contains about 200 to 300 […]

Smeared Dagger Moth Caterpillar – 9/7/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/13 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Smeared Dagger Moth caterpillar Scientific Name: Acronicta oblinita Comments: For pictures of the adult moth, see: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Acronicta+oblinita&guide=Moth&cl=US/GA/Clarke More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

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

Saw-Wing Moth – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Saw-wing Moth Scientific Name: Euchlaena serrata Comments: This specimen alit on my note pad and posed for the photo. Then it flew off. Yet another example of how you don’t find nature. Nature finds you! So keep that camera or smart phone handy! More Information: BugGuide

Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) Scientific Name: Psaphida rolandi More Information: Bug Guide

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

Polyphemus Moth (wing only) – 7/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/20/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Polyphemus Moth (wing only) Scientific Name: Antheraea polyphemus Comments: A few years ago, I saw a dead luna moth in the same area. Both polyphemus moths and luna moths are truly spectacular. More Information: Auburn University

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

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