Sightings – Page 35 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

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 […]

Rough-fruited Cinquefoil – 7/13/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/15 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Rough-fruited cinquefoil Scientific Name: Potentilla recta Comments: Also known as sulphur cinquefoil, this wildflower is native to Europe and Asia. Introduced and naturalized in North America. Found along roads and in disturbed sites. Thrives in full sun and tolerates dry conditions. Flowers from June to August. Blossoms have five […]

Spreading Dogbane – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Spreading Dogbane Scientific Name: Apocynum androsaemifolium Comments: Spreading dogbane is common in North America, and is widespread across most of the United States and Canada, and in Alaska, California, and northeast Mexico. The plant is poisonous, due to the cardiac glycosides it contains. Note the ants feeding on the nectar in […]

Blue Toadflax – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Toadflax Scientific Name: Nuttallanthus canadensis Comments: Flowers from April to September. More Information: Conn. Botanical Society

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

Largemouth Bass – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Largemouth bass Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides Comments: There are some big largemouth bass in Lake Massapoag, which also supports a population of smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass are also present in smaller ponds in Sharon but smallmouth bass require cool, clear water so they are found only in the spring-fed waters […]

American Groundnut – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 1:36 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: American Groundnut Scientific Name: Apios americana Comments: Apios americana is found in every state east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a perennial vine that grows to 10 feet long in wet areas – marshy meadows and thickets, stream and pond banks, and moist woodlands. Both the tuber and the seeds are […]

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 […]

Deptford Pink – 6/27/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/15 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Deptford Pink Scientific Name: Dianthus armeria Comments: Deptford Pink is an introduced species from Europe. More Information: Maryland Biodiversity Project

Chicory – 6/27/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/15 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Chicory Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus Comments: A perennial herb with blue, lavender, or occasionally white flowers, chicory grows as a wild plant on roadsides in its native Europe, and in North America and Australia, where it has become naturalized. Common chicory is also known as […]

Milkweed flower – 6/27/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/15 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Milkweed flower Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca Comments: Many species of butterflies including monarchs depend on milkweed as a food source for their caterpillars. The advent of genetically modified “Roundup-ready” corn and soybeans has facilitated large-scale application of herbicides, reducing the availability of milkweed to migrating monarchs. Hence, the monarch […]

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 […]

Yellow Hawkweed – 6/26/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/15 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: meadow near Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Yellow Hawkweed Scientific Name: Hieracium caespitosum Comments: Yellow hawkweed is native to Europe and was introduced as an ornamental into New York in 1879. It is now a destructive weed of pastureland. It can colonize a wide range of habitats with sandy or gravelly soils. More Information: Go Botany

Palmate Hop Clover – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 2:25 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land at Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Palmate Hop Clover Scientific Name: Trifolium aureum Comments: Palmate hop clover is an exotic species that is widespread in New England. The common name derives from the fact that as the flower heads age, the florets fold down and become brown, resembling dried […]

Spotted St. John’s Wort – 6/25/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/15 Observation Time: 2:25 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land at Morse and Lakeview Streets Common Name: Spotted St. John’s Wort Scientific Name: Hypericum punctatum Comments: Spotted St. John’s-wort can be most easily distinguished from the other St. John’s-worts by the dark dots and streaks on the upper surface of the yellow petals. In the other species these markings are absent or […]

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

Black-billed Cuckoo – 6/14/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/15 Observation Time: 6:05 p.m. Observation Location: in the trees between the back soccer field and Gavins Pond Common Name: Black-billed Cuckoo Scientific Name: Coccyzus erythropthalmus Comments: We heard this black-billed cuckoo before we finally spotted it. Even though cuckoos are relatively large birds, they typically don’t move around much, so they are hard to find, unless you know what to listen […]

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