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 409 - 432 of 2906 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2012
Submitted by: Becky Byrum
Region: Delaware County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Sep 05, 2012
Observation date: Aug 30, 2012
Submitted by: Howell_Curtis
Region: Washington County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Sep 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 25, 2012
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: McMinn County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Aug 28, 2012
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: cheins
Region: Carver County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 26, 2012
Observation date: Aug 16, 2012
Submitted by: Tee-tee
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 24, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 22, 2012
Observation date: Jul 02, 2012
Submitted by: Bob Bouman
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 21, 2012
Observation date: Aug 15, 2012
Submitted by: Tee-tee
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 21, 2012
Observation date: Aug 20, 2012
Submitted by: Howell_Curtis
Region: Clark County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 20, 2012
Observation date: Jul 31, 2012
Submitted by: Joshua Spence
Region: Murray County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 17, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: Howell_Curtis
Region: Perry County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 11, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Marion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Aug 11, 2012
Observation date: Aug 05, 2012
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Moore County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Aug 08, 2012
Observation date: Aug 05, 2012
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Aug 08, 2012
Observation date: Jul 11, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 22, 2012
Observation date: Jul 20, 2011
Submitted by: gaudettelaura@h...
Region: Windham County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Kent McFarland
Verified date: May 18, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 2011
Submitted by: mprocter
Region: Texas, Navarro County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 17, 2012
Observation date: Sep 28, 2011
Submitted by: ozcomomoths
Region: Ozark County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Apr 14, 2012
Observation date: Aug 14, 2009
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Mar 24, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 2010
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Mar 24, 2012
Observation date: May 20, 2011
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Mar 24, 2012
Observation date: Jul 04, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Karen Parker)
Region: Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Cathy Asselin)
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 02, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom Dodd+Cathy Asselin)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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