Common Sootywing - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Butterfly: Wingspan: 1 - 1¼ inches (2.5 - 3.3 cm). UPPER SURFACE (dorsal): Glossy black or sometimes brown, especially when worn. Variable number of small white spots on outer third of forewing, usually more on females. Variable number of tiny spots near bottom of hindwing. Top of head has white spots. UNDER SURFACE (ventral): Dark brown or black with white markings on forewing that repeat upper surface pattern. Palps are thrust forward and appear pointed. Underside of "face" and upper thorax are white.

Egg: Reddish-tan. Turban shaped with intricate ridges that form a daisy-like shape when viewed from above. Laid singly on the host leaf's upper surface.

Caterpillar: Pale green with light flecks. Black head with short hairs. Collar white with black ring. Front three pairs of legs (thorax) are light green. Mature caterpillars over-winter.

Chrysalis: Light olive or brown with a whitish, powdery substance over varying amounts of the body. Hairy except for wing case.

Butterfly ID Thumbnail — Get Identification Help

Common Sootywings are almost always found in places impacted by people. Their most common host plants are introduced species that flourish in disturbed landscapes. Even so, they are not common butterflies and seem to exist in small, isolated colonies where there is plenty of nectar and an abundance of their weedy caterpillar hosts.

Common Sootywings are avid nectarers and visit a variety of small flowers, including those in gardens. They often close their wings at least partially while sipping nectar, but usually rest with open wings.

Males patrol throughout the day to find unmated females. Their flight is bouncy and low to the ground. Freshly emerged males puddle at damp soil. Females lay their eggs singly and in rapid fashion. They land, deposit an egg on top of a leaf, and quickly move on--sometimes so quickly that it is difficult to follow. Caterpillars construct leaf shelters and primarily eat at night. As they grow, larger shelters are constructed. Pupation occurs in a silk-lined leaf shelter on the plant. Caterpillars of the year's final brood overwinter in their shelter and pupate the following spring.

This skipper is distributed mainly in the central U.S. In optimal years, it occasionally strays into northern states and southern Canada. In Alabama, it is generally found only in the northern third of the state.

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Blount, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

35 - Lauderdale - 9/21/2024
7 - Jackson - 7/24/2017
6 - Blount - 8/11/2020

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
										2		11							2		1	2	1		5		8	8	14	6	7	3		35

Farm fields, gardens, powerline cuts; weedy meadows, construction sites, landfills, abandoned lots, and dumps that contain Lamb's Quarters and/or amaranths.

In addition to the species listed below, celosias (Celosia ssp.) have also been reported in other states.

These hosts have been documented in Alabama:.

Love-Lies-Bleedng (Amaranthus caudatus)

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

Lamb's Quarters and amaranths are both edible, highly nutritious greens that can be added to herb or vegetable gardens. Be advised that some gardeners find them invasive. Seeds are avilable from many online seed companies.

Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) Photos

Click on individual photos to view a larger version that includes photo credits, county, and date.
Photos with comments are indicated by a small, tan dot on the bottom right.