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 121 - 144 of 2894 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: lfiske
Region: Kings County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: baedwards
Region: Macon County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Oct 07, 2020
Submitted by: baedwards
Region: Macon County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: May 22, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Monroe County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: Ben Meredyk
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: amparrish15
Region: Green County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Herriot
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Kimball County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Box Butte County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2008
Submitted by: sam_hartzler
Region: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 11, 2021
Observation date: Nov 26, 2015
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2015
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2015
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cecilia Lopez
Region: Woodbury County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Dec 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: e_millman
Region: New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2017
Submitted by: Laurie Sheppard
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
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