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 97 - 120 of 2894 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: vic77
Region: Dickinson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 03, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 18, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: beastbreath
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: nc1marm
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2021
Submitted by: STaR_13H
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Hansen
Region: Sanborn County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 25, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: kathy lichtendahl
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
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