Mexican Sootywing
Pholisora mejicanus (Reakirt, [1867])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside is glossy black; forewing has many white spots. Underside of hindwing is blue-gray with contrasting black veins.
Wing Span: 15/16 - 1 3/16 inches (2.4 - 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.
Caterpillar Hosts: Amaranths (Amaranthus) and lambsquarters (Chenopodium).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open areas such as gulches, canyons, roadsides, and along railways.
Range: Central Colorado south through New Mexico to Oaxaca, Mexico. A rare stray to South and central Texas.
Conservation: Populations in the United States should be located, monitored, and their habitat needs ascertained.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 41 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 18, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: May 22, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 22, 2021
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2012
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 17, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 10, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 10, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: Mexico
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 26, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (NABA - Mexico count for the State of Jalisco)
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (NABA Mexico Count)
Verified date: Dec 28, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Huerfano County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Presidio County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Ward County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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