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 361 - 384 of 2900 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Adair County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: May 27, 2014
Submitted by: Samuel Grijalva
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2011
Submitted by: ddodd
Region: Marshall County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: May 23, 2014
Observation date: Mar 29, 2014
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 15, 2014
Observation date: Aug 24, 2013
Submitted by: Brian Taber
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 16, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2013
Submitted by: Ansel Oommen
Region: Queens County, New York, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 03, 2014
Observation date: Jul 26, 2008
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: Nov 15, 2013
Observation date: Aug 25, 2013
Submitted by: Amanda Fulton
Region: Medina County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2013
Observation date: Aug 27, 2013
Submitted by: Fritz Riedel
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Sep 02, 2013
Observation date: Aug 08, 2012
Submitted by: digginflowers
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 26, 2013
Observation date: Sep 01, 2012
Submitted by: schmev24
Region: Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Aug 23, 2013
Observation date: Aug 19, 2013
Submitted by: klgraves
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 19, 2013
Observation date: Aug 10, 2013
Submitted by: Pamela D. Fisher
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 13, 2013
Observation date: Jul 16, 2013
Submitted by: paramaniac
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 12, 2013
Observation date: Jun 23, 2013
Submitted by: Nick Pulcinella
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 12, 2013
Observation date: Aug 03, 2013
Submitted by: Nancy Weiss
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 10, 2013
Observation date: Aug 07, 2013
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 10, 2013
Observation date: Aug 04, 2013
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Clay County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Aug 07, 2013
Observation date: Jul 14, 2013
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 05, 2013
Observation date: Jul 28, 2013
Submitted by: marquy
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2013
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 11, 2013
Observation date: Jul 05, 2013
Submitted by: Bob Bouman
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 20, 2013
Submitted by: kent
Region: Obion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jun 20, 2013
Observation date: May 27, 2013
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 29, 2013
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