Insects & Spiders – Page 7 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Katydid – 8/15/16

Observer: Richard Mandell Observation Date: 8/15/16 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Mountain Street Common Name: Katydid Scientific Name: Microcentrum rhombifolium Comments: You might recognize the sounds in this recording of katydids chirping in late summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2rEjRz-RM More Information: Wikipedia

Cicada – 8/13/16

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 8/13/2016 Observation TIme: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Cicada (a.k.a. Dogday Cicada) Scientific Name: Neotibicen canicularis Comments: One genus, the periodical cicadas, spend most of their lives as underground nymphs, emerging only after 13 or 17 years. The unusual duration and timing of their emergence may reduce the number of cicadas lost to predation, both by making them a […]

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/31/16

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

Brown-hooded Owlet Moth caterpillar – 9/22/15

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

Northern Walkingstick – 8/7/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/7/15 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Northern Walkingstick Scientific Name: Diapheromera femorata Comments: This harmless insect uses its bizarre body shape to blend in to the foliage and avoid detection by potential predators. More Information: Bugguide

American Carrion Beetle – 8/6/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/15 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: American Carrion Beetle Scientific Name: Necrophilia americana Comments: From spring through fall, during daylight, a few hours after flies begin arriving at a carcass, the adult beetles will arrive as well. They immediately begin eating the already hatching fly larvae, mating, and laying their own eggs. As long as the […]

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – 7/29/15

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

Great Golden Digger Wasp – 7/20/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/20/15 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: 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 or grassy places. […]

Robber Fly (male) – 7/18/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/18/15 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Robber fly (male) Scientific Name: Efferia apicalis Comments: Robber flies of the genus Efferia are small to large-sized robber flies (10–40 mm) with a distinctly different shape of the posterior end of the abdomen in males versus females. Females have a short or long ovipositor that is hairless and short conical to […]

Great Black Wasp – 7/18/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/18/15 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking lot near Gavins Pond 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 […]

American Lady butterfly – 7/11/15

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

Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth Scientific Name: Speranza pustularia Comments: Feeding on milkweed flowers. More Information: Bugguide

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

Common Baskettail dragonfly – 5/6/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/15 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Common Baskettail dragonfly Scientific Name: Epitheca cynosura Comments: This is the most common baskettail within its range, hence the name. The scientific name, cynosura, means dog tail, and possibly refers to the way the cerci at the end of the abdomen curve outward like a dog wagging its tail […]

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