Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is glossy black with small white spots on outer third of forewing. Female has more white spots on the forewing than the male, and a submarginal row of spots on the hindwing. Underside of forewing repeats the upperside; hindwing is solid black.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 5/16 inches (2.5 - 3.3 cm).
Life History: Adults bask with the wings spread open. To find receptive females, males patrol near the ground in sunny places; mating takes place in the morning and afternoon. Near midday, females lay eggs singly on the tops of host plant leaves. Caterpillars live and feed within shelters of folded leaves. Caterpillars of the second brood overwinter in their silk-lined leaf shelters and pupate within them in the spring.
Flight: Two broods; from May-August in the north, March-November in Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), amaranths (Amaranthus), and cockscomb (Celosia).
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including dogbane, marjoram, oxalis, white clover, common milkweed, peppermint, cucumber, and melon.
Habitat: Open or disturbed areas such as landfills, vacant lots, gardens, roadsides, fields, and pastures.
Range: Central United States south to central Mexico. Strays and colonizes to southern British Columbia, northern Michigan, southern Quebec, and southern Maine. Does not occur in peninsular Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 337 - 360 of 2906 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 01, 2015
Submitted by: Carol Thornton-...
Region: Orange County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 02, 2015
Observation date: Jul 26, 2015
Submitted by: Melinda Fawver
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2015
Observation date: Jul 24, 2015
Submitted by: lumpydave84
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2015
Observation date: Jun 02, 2015
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 14, 2015
Observation date: Jul 11, 2015
Submitted by: KristyBaker
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Jun 22, 2015
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 27, 2015
Observation date: Jun 15, 2015
Submitted by: sfp
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2015
Observation date: May 27, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 27, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: SkrentnyJeff
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 27, 2015
Observation date: May 15, 2015
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 18, 2015
Observation date: May 14, 2015
Submitted by: mbowling
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 17, 2015
Observation date: May 02, 2015
Submitted by: azukoff
Region: Finney County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: May 13, 2015
Observation date: May 01, 2015
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: May 06, 2015
Observation date: Jul 04, 2002
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: Clinton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Apr 06, 2015
Observation date: Aug 02, 2014
Submitted by: Nancy Witthuhn
Region: Ness County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2015
Observation date: Jul 12, 1980
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: Carroll County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Feb 22, 2015
Observation date: Jun 03, 2014
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Big Horn County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 25, 2014
Observation date: Aug 17, 2014
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Sep 24, 2014
Observation date: Sep 02, 2014
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2014
Observation date: Sep 07, 2014
Submitted by: pomarinejaeger
Region: Sanilac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 08, 2014
Observation date: Sep 03, 2014
Submitted by: S. J. Stedman
Region: Lake County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 08, 2014
Observation date: Jul 14, 2014
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 04, 2014
Observation date: Aug 16, 2014
Submitted by: Melinda Fawver
Region: Overton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Aug 17, 2014
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