Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American lady butterflies (V. virginiensis) have two large eyespots on the underside of the hind wing, whereas similar-looking painted lady butterflies (V. cardui) have four small eyespots. This individual was feeding on a flowering shrub. More Information: See […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Brown Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys augustinus Comments: This brown elfin was found in the same meadow of wild indigo as a rare frosted elfin butterfly. More Information: Butterflies and Moths
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/12 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Several of these Red Admirals were chasing after each other in a sunny clearing along a wooded dirt road near Gavins Pond. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: This Painted Lady butterfly was feeding in the same flowering shrub with American Lady butterflies. Learn how to tell them apart at: https://bugguide.net/node/view/236368 More Information: massaudubon.org
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Genus Celastrina Comments: This is either Celastrina ladon or Celastrina lucia. 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. This specimen is worn, faded and probably nearing the […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: undisclosed location in Sharon Common Name: Frosted Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys irus Comments: This small butterfly is a species of special concern. More Information: See the Boston Globe article on this butterfly.
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/16/11 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Green Stink Bug nymph Scientific Name: Acrosternum hilare Comments: This striking green stink bug nymph caught my eye as it sat on a rosa rugosa leaf by the pond. The adults are solid green. I spotted the green stink bug nymph because of its bold, contrasty coloration. Perhaps the reason for […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/27/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: Eastern tailed blues are very small butterflies. They have tails and an eye spot on each wing that vaguely resemble antennae and eyes to fool predators. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/11 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Halloween Pennant dragonfly Scientific Name: Celithemis eponina Comments: Tattered wings reflect the wear and tear of summer in this late August photo. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Mason Wasp Scientific Name: Monobia quadridens Comments: Mason wasps are solitary. They have a metallic blue sheen on their wings. Females usually build nests in abandoned holes of other bee and wasp species. Sometimes mistaken for Bald-faced Hornet, but note the position and extent of white on the […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Great Black Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex pensylvanicus Comments: Sphex pensylvanicus is a species of digger wasp, commonly known as the great black wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Perithemis tenera Comments: The wings of the male are entirely amber, whereas the wings of the female are clear with amber blotches. More Information: Project Noah
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking lot near Gavins Pond Common Name: Great Golden Digger Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex ichnumoneus Comments: Sphex ichnumoneus is a species of solitary wasp, commonly known as the Great Golden Digger Wasp. This large and colorful wasp can frequently be found nectaring at flowers in late summer and fall. It makes burrows in bare ground […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/26/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: dirt road leading to the Gavins Pond dam Common Name:Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This butterfly was so preoccupied with feeding on some decomposing organic matter that I was able to approach within a few inches to take this photo. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area 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
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/11 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterflies Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: Here is a sequence of four photos, taken over a span of just a few minutes, of a pair of Pearl Crescent butterflies mating near the Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot. I was walking on my way to get […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/11 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Halloween Pennant dragonfly Scientific Name: Celithemis eponina Comments: This is one of my best wildlife photos. The late afternoon sunlight provided perfect illumination. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/11 Observation Time: 4:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Japanese Beetle Scientific Name: Popillia japonica Comments: Japanese beetles are not very destructive in their native Japan, where they are naturally controlled by indigenous predators, but in North America it is a noted pest of about 200 species of plants including rose bushes, grapes, hops, canna, crape myrtles, birch trees, linden […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Common Pondhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Erythemis simplicicollis Comments: Female (males are blue) More Information: Insects of West Virginia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/11 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies have two distinctive eyespots on the brown underside of the lower wings. The upper sides of the wings are orange and black. More Information: See: http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/11 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Dusted Skipper Butterfly Scientific Name: Atrytonopsis hianna More Information: BugGuide
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Kendall estate, Moose Hill Street 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 […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Slaty Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula incesta Comments: The first photo is a female. The second is a male. Watch this video of the slaty skimmer dragonfly as it oviposits at Gavins Pond. More Photos: Odonata.bogfoot.net
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Common Baskettail dragonfly Scientific Name: Epitheca cynosura Comments: This is the most common baskettail within its range (eastern North America), hence the name. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot 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 a poor flyer, but can sometimes be found along […]
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