Dragonflies and Butterflies

There is a power line right-of-way (ROW) that cuts through Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and The Trustees Moose Hill Farm properties. A hike along the ROW is a wonderful exploration; there are a number of habitats and a variety of animals and insects to discover.

Recently Vin, one of our property staff and a nature enthusiast, headed out to look for insects along the ROW. He had a great day and provided us all with an update of what he found.

Dragonflies (Odonates):

  • Ebony Jewelwing
  • Eastern Red Damsel (probably new for Moose Hill)

    eastern red damsel edited

    eastern red damsel

  • Eastern Forktail
  • Fragile Forktail
  • Sphagnum Sprite
  • Harlequin Darner

    herlequin darner edited

    harlequin darner

  • Common Green Darner
  • Delta-spotted Spiketail
  • Common Baskettail
  • Blue Dasher
    blue dasher

    blue dasher

    blue dasher

    blue dasher (female)

  • Eastern Pondhawk
  • Spangled Skimmer
  • Chalk-fronted Corporal
  • Common Whitetail
  • Twelve-spotted Skimmer
  • Widow Skimmer
  • Painted Skimmer
  • Meadowhawk sp.
  • Dot-tailed Whiteface

Butterflies (Lepidoptera):

  • Spicebush Swallowtail
  • Great Spangled Fritillary

    Great_Spangled_Fritillary,_Gatineau_Park

    great spangled fritillary

  • Pearl Crescent
  • Southern Cloudywing – a lifer for Vin, found at Trustees Moose Hill Farm, which abuts Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Northern Cloudywing – at Trustees Moose Hill Farm
  • Peck’s Skipper
  • Dusted Skipper – a lifer for Vin and probably new for Moose Hill

    dusted skipper edited

    dusted skipper

So next time you want a little more adventure on your walk, take your binoculars, grab a camera, and discover the wonderful world of Dragonflies, Damselflies, Butterflies, and Moths!

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