Common Ringlet Butterfly – 6/9/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Common Ringlet butterfly Scientific Name: Coenonympha tullia Comments:  Ringlets can be found in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is an erratic flyer. It is a holarctic species found in northern Europe […]

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Spittlebug – 6/9/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: beside soccer parking area on Gavins Pond Rd Common Name: Spittlebug Scientific Name: Philaenus spumarius Comments: Spittlebugs are known for the frothy spittle mass they produce while feeding on plants. More Information: University of Minnesota Extension

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Harlequin Darner Dragonfly (male) – 6/9/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Harlequin Darner dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Gomphaeschna furcillata Comments: The Harlequin Darner is a member of the Aeshnidae family of dragonflies. This species occurs across much of the eastern United States and parts of southeast Canada. Its range extends to eastern Texas. Harlequin darners resemble taper-tailed darners. The pale 7-shaped […]

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Schlaeger’s Fruitworm Moth – 6/2/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/20 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Near tennis courts at outbound train station Common Name: Schlaeger’s fruitworm moth Scientific Name: Antaeotricha schlaegeri Comments: The Schlaeger’s fruitworm moth is found in north-eastern North America, south to North Carolina and west to Kansas and Texas. Adults resemble a bird-dropping. The wingspan is 21–30 mm. The larvae feed on white oak and related species. […]

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Harlequin Darner Dragonfly – 6/2/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/20 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Harlequin Darner dragonfly Scientific Name: Gomphaeschna furcillata Comments: The Harlequin Darner is a member of the Aeshnidae family of dragonflies. The species occurs across much of the eastern United States and parts of southeast Canada. Its range extends to eastern Texas. Harlequin darners resemble taper-tailed dragonflies. The pale 7-shaped mark […]

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Chalk-fronted Corporal Dragonfly – 5/31/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Ladona julia Comments: This species of skimmer dragonfly is typically observed near local marshes and lakes with a decaying organic substrate. More Information: geocities

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Dot-tailed Whiteface (female) – 5/31/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Dot-tailed Whiteface dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Leucorrhinia intacta Comments: The Dot-tailed Whiteface dragonfly (Leucorrhina intacta) is a member of the Skimmer family, Libellulidae. There are over a thousand species in this brightly-colored family gracing the skies worldwide. A tenth of those are native to North America, making Skimmers […]

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Tiger Swallowtail – 5/31/20

Observer: Lonnie Friedman Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: In our yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This striking, large butterfly is fairly common. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Bald-faced Hornet – 5/30/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time:  4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Bald-faced Hornet Scientific Name: Dolichovespula maculata Comments: The bald-faced hornet is related to yellowjacket wasps, and is not a true hornet. Its colloquial names include bald hornet, white-faced hornet, white-tailed hornet, spruce wasp, blackjacket, and bull wasp. Bald-faced hornets are social insects and are most active during […]

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Black Swallowtail – 5/30/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time: 2:25 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: The big pasture at Moose Hill Farm is a good place to find black swallowtail butterflies (and other butterfly species as well). You can sometimes find bobolinks there as well. Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush […]

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Yellow-washed Metarranthis Moth – 5/20/20

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 […]

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Eastern Pine Elfin – 5/20/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/20 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: under high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon Comments: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate and adults emerge in […]

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Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly – 5/19/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/20 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the Eastern tailed blue is a stunning sight when viewed up close. The upper sides of the wings are blue. They appear in spring. The orange spots and “tails” on the trailing edge of […]

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Pearl Crescent Butterfly – 5/19/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/20 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: under high tension lines near Gavins Pond Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterfly Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: Adults find nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd’s needle, asters, and winter cress. Males patrol open areas for females. The eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of […]

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Oak Gall – 5/11/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/20 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: in a small oak tree in the field across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields Common Name: Oak gall Scientific Name: caused by small wasps in the family Cynipidae Comments: Oak apple or oak gall is the common name for a large, round, vaguely apple-like gall commonly found on many species of oak. Oak […]

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Northestern Sawyer Beetle – 9/10/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/10/19 Observation Time: 6:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Northeastern Sawyer Beetle Scientific Name: Monochamus notatus Comments:  The Northeastern Pine Sawyer Beetle is one of several harmless native species that look like the exotic and destructive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). The Northeastern Sawyer is our largest native longhorn beetle, about as large as ALB, but different in color […]

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Cockroach Wasp – 9/3/19

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 9/3/2019 Observation Time:  N/A Observation Location: Borderland State Park, Northwest Trail Common Name: Cockroach Wasp Scientific Name: Podium luctuosum Comments: This is the first record of this genus in Massachusetts according to BugGuide, and only the second in New England (there are other existing records from iNaturalist). More information: https://bugguide.net/node/view/202008

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Cockroach Wasp – 9/3/19

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 9/3/2019 Observation Time:  N/A Observation Location: Borderland State Park, Northwest Trail Common Name: Cockroach Wasp Scientific Name: Dolichurus cf. bicolor Comments: There are no existing records of this genus in the country in iNaturalist, and only one in BugGuide (which was in Arkansas).  This species has one of the most remarkable adaptations in all of nature: they are able to remove […]

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Fall Field Cricket – 8/26/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/19 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Fall Field Cricket Scientific Name: Gryllus pennsylvanicus Comments: All field crickets are able to make the universally recognizable cricket, “chirping” sounds. Males, though, are able to make the loudest and most noticeable sounds. The chirping is generated by the movement of “scrapers” found on the edge of […]

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Painted Lady Butterfly – 7/1/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: The Painted Lady has four small spots on the undersides of its hind wings, whereas the American Lady has two large spots. Otherwise they look very similar. This one was feeding on milkweed blossoms. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North […]

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Nessus Sphinx Moth – 7/1/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Nessus Sphinx Moth Scientific Name: Amphion floridensis Comments: The Nessus Sphinx is a member of Sphingidae, a family of powerfully fast moths that are typically seen drinking flower nectar. The Nessus Sphinx has two yellow bands on the abdomen that are thought to help it mimic a […]

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Fragile Forktail damselfly – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 4:55 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fragile Forktail Damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura posita Comments: This is the male. The female is blue rather than green. More Information: Odonata Central

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Wolf Spider – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Place: trail from Brook Road to Devil’s Rock Common Name: Wolf spider Scientific Name:  Gladicosa gulosa Comments: This spider does not make a web. More Information: Sweating the Small Stuff

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Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly (juvenile) – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: beneath the high tension wires that parallel So. Walpole Street Common Name: Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly (juvenile) Scientific Name: Ladona julia Comments: Juveniles of both sexes are light reddish brown, with white shoulder stripes and a black stripe down the middle of the abdomen. This one seemed a bit wobbly, as if it had just […]

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Black Swallowtail butterfly – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: rocky bluff under power lines along S. Walpole St. Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus There is also a good discussion of how to […]

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