Insects & Spiders – Page 10 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Lady Beetle – 6/4/11

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

Juvenal’s Duskywing – 5/23/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/10 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Juvenal’s Duskywing Scientific Name: Erynnis juvenalis Comments: This butterfly is found throughout Massachusetts. Its flight period extends from late April through early June. See the Massachusetts Butterfly Club for more photos. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Atlas

Jagged Ambush Bug – 8/11/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/13 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Jagged Ambush Bug Scientific Name: Phymata americana Comments: This small insect (1/2″ in length) turns out to be predatory. It waits in flowers to ambush prey that are sometimes larger than itself. This one was found among goldenrod blossoms. More Information: aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu or NatureSearch

The Infant Moth – 4/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/7/14 Observation Time: 11:55 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area (field near dam) Common Name:“The Infant” moth Scientific Name: Archiearis infans Comments: “Infans” is a Latin word meaning “an infant”; refers to the adult’s early emergence from a pupa in the spring, and is the basis for the common names “The Infant” and “First-born Geometer.” More Information: BugGuide

Indian Skipper butterfly – 7/16/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/16/10 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Indian Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Hesperia sassacus Comments: Typically found in open areas, often with some shrubby growth, such as old fields, abandoned pastures, forest clearings, and powerline cuts. More Information: MassAudubon.org or Butterflies and Moths of North America

Honeybee – 7/31/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/31/12 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Honeybee Scientific Name: Apis mellifera Comments: Honeybees perform the vital service of pollinating crops. Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon maintains honeybee colonies for pollinating strawberries and other crops. Honeybees may travel several miles to gather nectar for making honey. Since 2007, abnormally high die-offs (30–70% of hives) of honeybee colonies have […]

North American Harvester butterfly – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: North American Harvester butterfly Scientific Name: Feniseca tarquinius Comments: The harvester is the only North American butterfly with carnivorous larvae, usually feeding on aphids. More Information: Tree of Life

Fishing Spider – 9/27/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/27/14 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Place: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes tenebrosus Comments: Fishing Spiders get their name from their hunting behavior and occasional food source. They are adept at ambushing insects and other food items on land, but they are also able to submerge their bodies just under the surface of calm water and […]

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

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 […]

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

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

Dun Skipper – 7/16/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Dun Skipper Scientific Name: Euphyes vestris More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies

Dronefly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 12:05 p.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Dronefly Scientific Name: Eristalis tenax Comments: This fly looks like a drone honeybee—hence the name. More Information: TrekNature

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