Common Sootywing
(Pholisora catullus)
Common Sootywing sightings, by week (about)
Click to enlargePuchyan Prairie SNA, Green Lake Co., WI, July 7, 2005.
Click to enlargePuchyan Prairie SNA, Green Lake Co., WI, July 7, 2005.
Click to enlargeTrempealeau State Park, Trempealeau Co., WI. July 11, 2003.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 2, 2006.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 2, 2006. Same individual as the photo above.
This species is a fairly regular immigrant to Wisconsin. I had only seen this species once in Waushara County where I reside, and had thought that this species was an uncommon migrant, but I have seen this species each of the last four years in other parts of the state, including the most that I have ever seen at one site, four, on the gravel road to Puchyan Prairie SNA, where I took the first two photos.
Identifying characteristics: This species is a very dark, blackish brown skipper with many small white spots on the wings that can be seen from above and below. This species flies very close to the ground, often in parking lots of gravel roadsides and when it lands it is often seen hunkered down as in the last photo.
Similar species: None in Wisconsin.
Habitat: Old fields, disturbed areas, gravel parking lots, and roadsides. It larval host plants are weedy species including Lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album), the favored host plant in Michigan.
Flight: This species has two broods farther south and could be expected in Wisconsin from May to September.
Abundance: A fairly regular immigrant to Wisconsin from farther south. This species is usually found in small groups.
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Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus