Tag Archives: lepidoptera

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

08.08.2022 Macro Monday-Butterfly Fun

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Well, limited fun. Just the two. I am seeing a few more visit the yard but most are on their way to an important meeting so don’t stop for more than a second in any one place. I’ve seen a … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Azure, Butterfly, Celastrina neglecta, Grass Skipper, Hesperiidae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, Peck's Skipper, Polites peckius, Skipper, Summer Azure, western massachusetts | 23 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

08.02.2022 Complaining does sometimes get you somewhere

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Steve Gingold

So I have complained about not seeing many butterflies this year. I do believe their numbers are down just as is the case with most insects worldwide. But as often happens, once I open my big mouth something shows up. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Butterfly, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilio glaucus, Papilio troilus, Papilionoidea, Spicebush Swallowtail, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

08.01.2022 Macro Monday

Posted on August 1, 2022 by Steve Gingold

If you are familiar with Boneset then you will recognize how small this moth is. It’s wingspan is about 1/3″ +/-. Skullcap Skeletonizer- Prochoreutis inflatella. This moth is host specific to Mad Dog Skullcap-Scutellaria lateriflora which apparently resides somewhere nearby but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Moths, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Choreutidae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Metalmark Moth, moth, Prochoreutis inflatella, Skullcap Skeletonizer | 20 Comments

07.30.2022 A special find for Blog Post #2300

Posted on July 30, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Fourteen years ago I found one of the most beautiful caterpillars I’ve ever seen in our yard dining on some goldenrod leaves. That happened again yesterday morning after a brief shower. Brown-hooded Owlet-Cucullia convexipennis. I hope this one survives. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Brown-hooded Owlet, caterpillar, Cucullia convexipennis, Hooded Owlet, larvae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, moth larva, New England, Noctuoidea, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

07.29.2022 One of my faves

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Large Lace-border-Scopula limboundata I look forward to seeing these moths in my woods every year. I love the pattern and delicate appearance and lace is certainly an apt name.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Geometrid Moth, Large Lace-border moth, lepidoptera, Scopula limboundata | 8 Comments

07.16.2022 Small Saturday

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Sorry. I just can’t come up with something more clever. I saw one of these caterpillars on a daisy fleabane a few weeks ago but it was rolled tight atop the flower and didn’t make for a good image. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Cucullia florea, Gray Hooded-owlet, insect, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Noctuoidea, western massachusetts | 24 Comments

07.06.2022 Arched Hooktip

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Some things just seem to name themselves. While in the backyard with Bentley yesterday afternoon, I noticed this moth on some ferns and, although I never saw one before I have heard of them, automatically thought it was a hooktip. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Arched Hooktip, Drepana arcuata, Drepanoidea, insect, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, western massachusetts | 18 Comments