Mulberry Wing
Poanes massasoit (Scudder, 1864)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Wings are dark brown to black, relatively short and rounded. Upperside has small (male) or larger (female) yellow spots. Underside of hindwing has a large irregular yellow patch; rare individuals are rust colored and have no patch.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 7/16 inches (2.9 - 3.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol with a low, weak, meandering flight through marshes in search for receptive females.
Flight: One brood from late June to mid-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Upright sedge (Carex stricta), and possibly others.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Freshwater marshes or bogs.
Range: New York and Massachusetts west across the Great Lakes states to southern Minnesota and North Dakota. A coastal population ranges from southern New Hampshire south to Maryland.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 800 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 17, 2026
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Jackson County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Presque Isle County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Jul 17, 2025
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Elkhart County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Washington County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Fulton County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: Bluefox122
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 06, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Steuben County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 22, 2022
- 1 of 34
- next ›