Category Archives: Lepidoptera

09.12.2022-Macro Monday II-World’s Worst Camouflage?

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I think this speaks for itself. Harlequin Webworm Moth-Diathrausta harlequinalis We are painting our shed and this is the first coat of primer. Fortunately it dried before Harley decided to settle there in plain sight. I could see him from … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, Moths, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Crambid Snout Moth, Diathrausta harlequinalis, Harlequin Webworm Moth, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Pyraloidea, western massachusetts | 12 Comments

09.08.2022 A handsome greenie

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I’ve mentioned previously about the larvae that collect debris as a disguise or camouflage known as bagworms. They are members of the Synchlora genus also known as Emeralds. Wavy-lined Emerald-Synchlora aerata. When young and not so fastidious as the adults … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Moths, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, geomet, geometrid, Geometridae, Geometrinae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Synchlora aerata, Wavy-lined Emerald, western massachusetts | 14 Comments

09.05.2022 More Aster Attraction

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Steve Gingold

This Blackberry Looper-Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria caught my eye after the Cabbage White flew off. I haven’t photographed an adult yet but with any luck this larva will give me the opportunity. When mature, it’s an emerald with white lines and quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Flora, Insect Behavior, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Blackberry Looper, caterpillar, Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria, Geometridae, Geometrinae, insect, larva, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, western massachusetts | 12 Comments

09.04.2022 Silent Sunday-Cabbage White on New England Aster

Posted on September 4, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Posted in Abstract, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Cabbage White, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, New England Aster, Papilionoidea, Pieridae, Pieris rapae, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, western massachusetts | 17 Comments

08.29.2022 Finally!

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Steve Gingold

While walking around the yard yesterday afternoon with the 7D setup I came across a Monarch caterpillar apparently resting after a meal of milkweed leaf. As I made a few images I felt something breeze by and it was an … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Danaus plexippus, Danaus plexippus caterpillar, Danaus plexippus larva, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Monarch butterfly, monarch caterpillar, monarch larva, New England, nymphalidae, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

08.23.2022 Doppelganger

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I haven’t had any luck photographing Monarchs this year. Just a few that I saw visited the yard, I only saw three larvae, and none ever stopped where I could get a clear shot. But yesterday while roaming one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Brush-footed Butterflies, insect, lepidoptera, Limenitis archippus, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, Viceroy, western massachusetts | 27 Comments

08.21.2022 Silent Sunday

Posted on August 21, 2022 by Steve Gingold

American Copper- Lycaena phlaeas

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged American Copper, Amherst, insect, lepidoptera, Lycaena phlaeas, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 24 Comments

08.16.2022 Two-fer Tuesday

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Steve Gingold

While looking for anything…it’s always good to keep your options open…I found a couple of colorful caterpillars over the weekend. Pearly Wood-nymph- Eudryas unio munching a grape leaf in Brickyard this past Saturday. There is another almost identical species, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Acronicta oblinita, Amherst, Brickyard, Eudryas unio, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Moosehorn POnd, moth, New England, New Salem, Noctuoidea, owlet moth, Pearly Wood-nymph, Smeared Dagger, western massachusetts | 20 Comments

08.13.2022 Yes, this is a real thing!

Posted on August 13, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Olive-shaded Bird Dropping Moth-Ponometia candefacta Bird Dropping moths are a subfamily of Owlet moths and yes, they do look like bird doo. Sadly, I’ve never photographed an adult to share so here are a few for examples.

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, insect, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England Waterfalls, Noctuoidea, owlet moth, Ponometia candefacta, western massachusetts | 16 Comments

08.06.2020 Who’s been eating my buttonbush?

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Promethea Silkmoths is who. After shooting the Swamp Spreadwing at Gauco Pond I went to Branch Bridge Road hoping for dragons or damsels. But all I got was this chance to photograph Promethea Silkworm moth larvae-Callosamia promethea. This first was … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, Flora, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Bombycoidea, Buttonbush, Callosamia promethea, Cephalanthus occidentalis, flora, Giant Silkworm, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, native flowers, native plant, native wildflower, New England, New Salem, Promethea Silkmoth, Saturniidae, Silkworm Moth, western massachusetts, Wildflowers | 29 Comments