This page isn’t exclusively about Wellesley, but rather is a place for me to document insects and other creatures (reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, mammals) I come across in Wellesley and beyond. I’ve done my best to ID them, but feel free to reach out if you see one misidentified (thanks).

2017, summer, Wellesley, clearwing moth (hummingbird moth) Clearwing hummingbird moth, wellesley august 2017

2017, summer, Wellesley, Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Tiger swallowtail butterfly wellesley august 2017

2017, summer, Wellfleet, Spiny Oak Slug moth (nice green markings on wings)

2017 , summer, Wellesley, Red-Headed Bush Cricket

2017, summer, Wellesley, on surface of Charles River in rough condition, Polyphemus Moth (silk moth)

Polyphemus Moth, Wellesley

2017, summer, Wellesley, Cicada Killer

Cicada Killer

2017, summer, Wellesley, Flower Longhorn Beetle

2017, summer, Wellesley, Banded Longhorn Flower Beetle

2017, summer, Wellesley, Goldenrod Leaf Miner wellesley beetle

2017, summer, Wellesley, Transverse Flower Fly (or possibly a Hoverfly, of the Syrphid Eristalis variety). They mimic bees, but are not bees.

Read this cool book called The Fly Trap on Hoverflies in 2016, could be of interest whether you’re a bug lover or not.
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2017, summer, Wellesley, Oriental Beetles

Oriental beetles, Wellesley, July — They’re invasive, with the larva going for your grass, the adults for your flowers

2017, summer, Wellesley, firefly/lightning bug

2017, summer, Wellesley garden, Sycamore Assassin Bug

2017, summer, Wellesley, near Charles River, Widow Skimmer dragonfly (female)

2017, summer, Wellesley, night, Plume Moth

2017, summer, Wellesley, Boxwood Leaftier Moth

2017, summer, Wellesley, near Charles River, possibly Autumn pondhawk dragonfly (?)

possibly autumn pondhawk dragonfly, wellesley summer 2017

2017, summer, Wellesley Schofield school, Painted Lady butterfly

Painted Lady Butterfly, Wellesley July 2017, near Charles River

2017, summer, Wellesley, near Charles River, River Bluet (damselfly)

2017, summer, Wellesley, near high school, Northeastern Pine Sawyer (you don’t really want them messing with your pine trees, logs)

2017, summer, Wellesley, found on a hammock, Earwigs

Earwigs, Wellesley, July 2017

2017, summer, Wellesley, Eastern Pondhawk (female)

green dragonfly, wellesley, home garden

2017, summer, Wellesley, Eastern Pondhawk (male)

eastern pondhawk (male), wellesley

2016, fall: Squash bug

Squash bug, Wellesley

2016, September: Great Spangled Fritillary

This butterfly seems to be a particularly big fan of zinnias. And the Great Spangled Fritillary even has its own song.

2016, July: Blinded Sphinx Moth

Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecatus) moth , July 2016

This beauty flew right onto Mrs. Swellesley’s previously clean white shirt. We kinda wished we’d found one of their caterpillars, too, since they’re pretty cool looking.

2016, June: Stag Beetle

This Stag Beetle was, ironically, found outside Wellesley College's Clapp Library. — This Stag Beetle was, ironically, found outside Wellesley College’s Clapp Library.

2016, June: Millipede

Wellesley millipede, Spring 2016 — We found this millipede on the Lake Waban path. He measured in at a healthy 2.5″.

moth august wellesley 2015 — Click here to find out more about the Sharp-Angled Carpet Moth (Euphyia intermediata)

Prochoerodes lineola – Large Maple Spanworm Moth wellesley august 2015 — Click here to find out more about the Large Maple Spanworth Moth (Prochoerodes lineola)

2014: Year in bugs and critters

Luna Moth, New Hampshire, 2014, July

This will no doubt be my favorite find of the year: A Luna Moth at a gas station in New Hampshire.

Waved Sphinx Moth, New Hampshire, July 2014

This Waved Sphinx Moth found in New Hampshire is bigger than it looks. Should have put a penny next to it for perspective. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratomia_undulosa

Garter Snake july 2014, wellesley

A big old Gartner Snake found in Wellesley, July 2014.

Click beetle found on front door at night in early June, temp in 80s. These guys are fun to play with, flip over when put on their back. Not that that’s very nice to do to them.

Pearly Wood Nymph found in yard in June.

birch sawfly caterpillar

I believe this is a birch sawfly caterpillar. They do a real number on birch trees. They then convert into wasp-like insects that don’t sting or eat your trees.

Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil