Sightings – Butterflies & Moths
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 large orange spots on each of its rear wings (see photos). The black swallowtail just has another orange spot where the spicebush has the comet marking.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/6/14
Observation Time: 1:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area
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 very similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Learn how to tell the difference at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/4/17
Observation Time: 1:45 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. (back yard)
Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio troilus
Comments: The butterfly bush I planted in our back yard attracts beautiful butterflies like this one. Note the blue “comet” marking on its hind wing, which differentiates spicebush swallowtails from black swallowtails.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/25/23
Observation Time: 1:25 pm
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd (my back yard)
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 white with dark specks on the underside. It’s hard to get a photo of the beautiful blue on the upper side of their wings because they typically close their wings, as shown in this photo, when they are not flying.
More Information: New Jersey Butterflies
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 end.
More Information: New Jersey Butterflies
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/11/19
Observation Time: 11:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
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 white with dark specks on the underside. It’s hard to get a photo of the beautiful blue on the upper side of their wings because they typically close their wings, as shown in this photo, when they are not flying.
More Information: New Jersey Butterflies
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
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 with orange in the striped hairstreak but not in the banded hairstreak.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
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
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/4/11
Observation Time: 3:50 p.m.
Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street
Common Name: Tent Caterpillar
Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum
Comments: The moths oviposit almost exclusively on trees in the plant family Rosaceae, particularly cherry (Prunus) and apple (Malus). The adult moth lays her eggs in a single batch in late spring or early summer. An egg mass contains about 200 to 300 eggs. Tent caterpillars are among the most social of larvae. The newly hatched caterpillars initiate the construction of a silk tent soon after emerging. They typically aggregate at the tent site throughout their larval stage, expanding the tent each day to accommodate their increasing size. The caterpillars feed three times each day, just before dawn, at midafternoon, and in the evening after sunset. During each bout of feeding, the caterpillars emerge from the tent, add silk to the structure, move to distant feeding sites en masse, feed, and then return immediately to the tent where they rest until the next activity period.
More Information: Wikipedia
