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Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Bob’s Bugs & Insects (Wellesley MA & beyond)

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).

2021

elm sawfly

Elm Sawfly, found atop Mount Eisenhower in New Hampshire. Looks like a wasp, harmless to humans.

 

cicadaCicada, Washington DC, during the Brood X season.

 

2020

great black waspGreat black wasp, July, Wellesley

 

green darner dragonfly
Green darner dragonfly, July, Wellesley

 

stag beetle
Stag beetle

 

2019

 

monarch butterfly caterpillar june 2019
Monarch butterfly caterpillar, Dover Road, June

2018

moth wellesleywasp nestbeetle wellesleydragonfly-wellesleybutterfly-wellesley

Late 2017 Wellesley dump find: 1,000-piece beetle puzzle (minus a few pieces)

bug puzzle Wellesley dump

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)Spiny Oak Slug, Wellfleet, August 2017

 

2017 , summer, Wellesley, Red-Headed Bush Cricketred headed bush cricket, wellesley august 2017

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 Beetleflower longhorn beetle wellesley

2017, summer, Wellesley, Banded Longhorn Flower Beetlebanded flower longhorn beetle wellesley

2017, summer, Wellesley, Goldenrod Leaf Minerwellesley beetle

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

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

 

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 bugLightning bug, Wellesley

2017, summer, Wellesley garden, Sycamore Assassin Bugsycamore assassin bug, wellesley

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

2017, summer, Wellesley, night, Plume MothPlume Moth, Wellesley, July 2017

 

2017, summer, Wellesley, Boxwood Leaftier MothBoxwood Leaftier Moth, Wellesley, July, 2017

 

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

possibly autumn pondhawk dragonfly, wellesley summer 2017

2017, summer, Wellesley Schofield school, Painted Lady butterflybutterfly, schofield, Wellesley

Painted Lady Butterfly, Wellesley July 2017, near Charles River

 

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

 

2017, summer, Wellesley, near high school, Northeastern Pine Sawyer (you don’t really want them messing with your pine trees, logs)Northeastern pine sawyer, Wellesley, july, 80s temps

 

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

Great Spangled Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary, Wellesley garden, September 2016

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
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

insect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil, found in back yard. Probably not a good thing. They eat birch leaves.

 

2013: Year in bugs & critters

Robber fly/assassin fly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robber fly/Assassin fly (Asilidae), known for taking out house flies and mosquitoes from above. Found in Wellesley MA, August 2013.

Hobomok Skippers Wellesley MA Aug 2013

Hobomok Skippers, Wellesley, August, 2013

 

Mayfly, Wellesley, August, 2013

 

Mayfly, Wellesley, August, 2013 (these guys usually only live a couple of days)

 

White-fringed Emerald or Flanged Looper

 

White-fringed Emerald or Flanged Looper, found in Wellesley MA, August, 2013

 

ichneumon wasp, natick, 2013 august

 

Ichneumon Wasp, Natick, August, 2013, Megarhyssa macrurus femaleMegarhyssa atrata, ichneumon wasp, black, natick august 2013

Another variety of Ichneumon wasp, Megarhyssa atrata, also female, same tree, Natick August 2013

20130727-111902.jpg

Banded longhorn beetle (typocerus velutinus), Wellesley, July 2013

 

20130727-111829.jpg

Clearwing Sphinx Moth, Wellesley, July 2013, on flox

Clearwing Spinx Moth, Wellesley, July 2013

 

Clearwing Sphinx Moth, a type of Hummingbird Moth, found in Wellesley, July 2013

six-spotted tiger beetle, root borer

 

Root Borer, top, and Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Blue Hills, Milton, July 2013

 

20130705-170830.jpg

Cricket, Blue Hills, Milton, July 2013

20130705-171011.jpg

Banded Tussock Moth, Blue Hills, Milton, July 2013

 

20130705-171033.jpg

Spider babies, Blue Hills, Milton, July 2013

 

20130705-171102.jpg

Zillion ants, South Natick, MA July 2013

 

20130705-171118.jpg

Green stink bug, Wellesley MA, Ouellet Field, July 2013

 

20130705-171135.jpg

Pearly Wood Nymph, Hamden CT, June 203

 

20130705-171145.jpg

Click beetle, Hamden CT, June 2013

 

20130705-171156.jpg

Calyptra canadensis, vampire moth, found in Hamden, CT, June, 2013

 

20130705-171223.jpg

20130705-171234.jpg

Chauliodes rastricornis – Spring Fishfly, Hamden CT, June 2013

 

20130705-171245.jpg

20130705-171255.jpg

20130705-171312.jpg

Black Swallowtail chrysallis, June 2013, Wellesley MA

 

20130705-171335.jpg

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar, June 2013, Wellesley MA

 

20130705-171349.jpg

dolichopodid, Wellesley MA on Joe Pye Weed plan, June 2013

 

20130705-171400.jpg

Silver-spotted Skipper, Wellesley MA, June 2013

 

20130705-171410.jpg

Potter Wasp chamber on sunflower, Wellesley MA, July 2013

 

20130705-171501.jpg

Crane fly, Wellesley MA, June 2013

 

20130705-171523.jpg

Dobson fly, Wellesley MA, June 2013

20130705-171649.jpg

Green Assassin Bug, probably shouldnt have had on my hand –they bite, July 2013 at Blue Hills, Milton

aquatic true bug

Aquatic true bug, Wellesley, June 2012

 

20130705-171436.jpg

Snapping turtle, Wellesley MA June 2013

 

20130705-171801.jpg

Baby snapping turtles, Wellesley MA summer mid-2000s

20130705-171046.jpg

Tiny toad, Blue Hills, Milton, July 2013

20130705-171210.jpg

Toad buddies, Hamden CT, June 2013

 

20130727-111837.jpg

Japanese beetle

20130727-111845.jpg

20130727-111855.jpg

Large carpenter bee, Wellesley, July 2013

20130728-203222.jpg

Cicada, Pittsford NY, July 2013

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