Insects & Spiders – Page 13 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 9/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: This beautiful little butterfly can be found in open fields from May to October. When it spreads its wings, the blue upper sides show how this butterfly gets its name. More Information: Wikipedia

Fishing Spider – 9/3/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/3/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes vittatus Comments: This huge spider (about 3″) was spotted in aquatic vegetation near the stone hut at the edge of Lower Leach Pond at Borderland State Park. A boy with a butterfly net scooped it up so I could get a photo of it. I got […]

Wood Nymph Butterfly – 8/25/12

Observer: 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

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 8/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/12 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road bridge over Billings Brook Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red body. Juveniles and younger females have a yellow abdomen. Older females have olive-brown or reddish-brown abdomen. More Information: Wikipedia

Cicada Killer Wasp – 8/6/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/12 Observation Time: 1:25 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Cicada Killer Wasp Scientific Name: Sphecius speciosus Comments: These large, fearsome-looking wasps burrow in the ground. They are actually not aggressive. I found a sandy area near the Gavins Pond Dam that was peppered with their holes. It took a while to figure out that these holes were made by […]

Red Milkweed Beetle – 7/15/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/12 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Red Milkweed Beetle Scientific Name: Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Comments: This striking red beetle was crawling on a milkweed leaf. Its scientific name means “four eyes” because of its black spots that look like eyes. More Information: BugGuide

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 7/13/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/12 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas More Information: Northwest Ohio Nature

Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 6/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/12 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. A map showing Painted Skimmer sightings can be viewed at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/104585-Libellula-semifasciata More Information: Walter Sanford’s Photoblog Painted Skimmer ovipositing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XyMkvXtfI

Red-spotted Purple butterfly – 5/24/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/12 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area 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 stable hybrid […]

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 5/19/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/12 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: This individual lacks the orange spots usually seen at the base of the “tails” extending rearward from the hind wings. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Lady Butterfly – 5/12/12

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 […]

Brown Elfin Butterfly – 5/12/12

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

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/11/12

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

Painted Lady butterfly – 5/5/12

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

Spring Azure butterfly – 4/29/12

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 […]

Frosted Elfin Butterfly – 4/29/12

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.

Green Stink Bug nymph – 9/16/11

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 […]

Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly – 8/27/11

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

Halloween Pennant dragonfly – 8/26/11

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

Mason Wasp – 8/17/11

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 […]

Great Black Wasp – 8/17/11

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 […]

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (female) – 8/17/11

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

Great Golden Digger Wasp – 7/27/11

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 […]

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/26/11

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

Great Spangled Fritillary – 7/16/11

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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