Insects & Spiders – Page 13 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Viceroy butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area Common Name: Viceroy butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: This butterfly is smaller than the famous migrating monarchs, and the black markings are different. Note the black line on the hind wings. Monarchs do not have this line. More Information: NatureWorks

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: As I was picking raspberries in the garden, I saw this gorgeous butterfly, so I ran inside and grabbed my camera. More Information: Wikipedia

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (male) – 7/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/13 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Perithemis tenera Comments: This red-winged dragonfly is smaller than most other dragonflies. More Information: Odonata Central

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: Note the “pink earth” lichen in the background of the upper photo. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – 7/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/13 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking area near Gavins Pond Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis Comments: This diurnal moth is about the size of a bumblebee. More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/8/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/8/13 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Males are red. Very similar to Ruby Meadowhawk and Cherry-faced Meadowhawk. This species seems to be in decline. More Information: Nature Search Two more photos taken 7/19/13 at about 5:30 where Turning Mill Brook flows under Wolomolopoag Street:

Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/13 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum semicinctum More Information: Wikipedia

Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly – 6/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/13 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Beaver Brook (near train station tennis courts) Common Name: Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly Scientific Name: Enodia anthedon Comments: These three butterfly species are very similar: Eyed Brown, Appalachian Brown, and Northern Pearly-Eye. All can be found in Sharon. These two Northern Pearly-eye butterflies were courting. More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

White Corporal dragonfly – 6/15/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White Corporal dragonfly Scientific Name: Ladona exusta Comments: Small, most commonly perches on the ground. Adult males have a white abdomen. More Information: New Jersey Odes

Painted Skimmer dragonfly – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. More Information: iNaturalist

Six-spotted Fishing Spider – 6/2/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/13 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Place: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Six-spotted Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes triton 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 […]

Spring Azure butterfly – 5/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/13 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam 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 pale white with black spots on the bottom. More Information: New Jersey Butterflies

Eastern Pine Elfin – 5/4/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 5/4/13 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

American Lady Butterfly – 10/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/5/12 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: This American Lady butterfly was feeding on Nippon daisies blooming in our garden. There was also a Painted Lady butterfly, which looks very similar, but has four small spots on the undersides of its trailing wings instead of the American Lady’s two large […]

Painted Lady butterfly – 10/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/5/12 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road 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. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 9/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: This beautiful little butterfly can be found in open fields from May to October. When it spreads its wings, the blue upper sides show how this butterfly gets its name. More Information: Wikipedia

Fishing Spider – 9/3/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/3/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes vittatus Comments: This huge spider (about 3″) was spotted in aquatic vegetation near the stone hut at the edge of Lower Leach Pond at Borderland State Park. A boy with a butterfly net scooped it up so I could get a photo of it. I got […]

Wood Nymph Butterfly – 8/25/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/25/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: This striking wood nymph butterfly was a challenge to photograph, but with persistence I was able to get close enough to get this shot. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 8/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/12 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road bridge over Billings Brook Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red body. Juveniles and younger females have a yellow abdomen. Older females have olive-brown or reddish-brown abdomen. More Information: Wikipedia

Cicada Killer Wasp – 8/6/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/12 Observation Time: 1:25 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Cicada Killer Wasp Scientific Name: Sphecius speciosus Comments: These large, fearsome-looking wasps burrow in the ground. They are actually not aggressive. I found a sandy area near the Gavins Pond Dam that was peppered with their holes. It took a while to figure out that these holes were made by […]

Red Milkweed Beetle – 7/15/12

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

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 7/13/12

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

Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 6/9/12

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

Red-spotted Purple butterfly – 5/24/12

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 […]

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 5/19/12

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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