Sightings – Butterflies & Moths
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 7/7/20
Observation Time: 1:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Widow Underwing moth
Scientific Name: Catocala vidua
Comments: The widow underwing (Catocala vidua) is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is found from southern Ontario, into Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut, south at least to Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, west to Texas and Oklahoma, and north to Wisconsin.
More Information: iNaturalist and Bugguide.net and Discover Life and EverythingAbout.net
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
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/27/13
Observation Time: 2:43 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly
Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala
Comments: It’s a thrill to get so close to something wild and beautiful.
More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/13/20
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Mountain St.
Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly
Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala
Comments: Despite its name the Wood Nymph butterfly prefers open areas including fields, wet meadows, salt marshes, and bogs. It also inhabits open woods and ventures along well lit woodland trails.
More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas
3Observer: 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
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/20/20
Observation Time: 5:15 p.m.
Observation Location: under high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm
Common Name: Yellow-washed metarranthis moth
Scientific Name: Metarranthis obfirmaria
Comments: I spotted this brown moth on the dirt road under the high tension wires. Moths typically have bigger antennae than butterflies. They can be hard to identify. I got help with identification of this specimen at Bugguide.net
More Information: North American Moth Photographers Group
