Occurrence | Statewide except Cape and Islands |
Abundance | Uncommon to rare |
Flight Period | Early May to mid-October |
Notes | Local, closely associated with alders; larvae usually easier to find than adults. Only carnivorous N. American species. 3-week life cycle. |
Overwintering | Larva |
More info |
Massachusetts Butterfly Atlas Website |
More info |
Butterflies of Massachusetts Website |
After viewing the photos here, be sure to look at
Marj Rines' outstanding
Harvester photojournal. It contains some great photos and text showing
the Harvester lifecycle. |
Photo © Dave Small - 5/16/1999 Royalston Female Harvester laying eggs (ovipositing) in a colony of Wolly Aphids. When the caterpillars hatch, they will eat the aphids. | Top of Page
Photo by Tom Whelan - 8/23/2003 Medford | Top of Page
Photo by Tom Murray - 7/18/2004 Oxbow NWR, Harvard | Top of Page
Photo by Tom Murray - 7/18/2004 Oxbow NWR, Harvard | Top of Page
Photo by Barbara Spencer
| Top of Page
Photo by Tom Murray - 9/14/2003 Wayland Community Gardens, Wayland | Top of Page
Photo by Frank Model - 8/17/2005 Medford Chrysalis | Top of Page
Photo by Frank Model - 8/23/2006 Medford | Top of Page
Photo by Frank Model - 8/23/2006 Medford | Top of Page
Photo by Frank Model - 8/17/2005 Medford Nectaring' on wooly aphid 'honeydew'. Note angry ant. | Top of Page
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