Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) Life Cycle

Caterpillar Host: Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlanderi), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), Amaranths (Amaranthus) and Cockscomb (Celosia). FYI: Chenopodium is malodorous.

Butterfly Food: Flower nectar

Family: Skippers - Hesperiidae

Scientific Name: Pholisora catullus

Found throughout the United States. Prefers open fields, roadsides, vacant lots and pastures.

Dorsal view - glossy black with tiny white spots on outer forewing. Fresh individuals have a purplish to dark blue iridescent sheen. Worn individuals appear slightly brown to gray.

Wingspan: 2.5 to 3.3 centimeters

Females lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaf. Caterpillars live and feed within refugiums (folded over and silked closed leaf nest).

Common Sootywing - ovipositing

I raised and released Common Sootywings on larval host plant Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlanderii). Must say this plant STINKS!!!

Common Sootywing - egg

Common Sootywing - first instar caterpillar

Common Sootywing - first instar caterpillar - up close

Common Sootywing - second instar caterpillar

Common Sootywing - third instar caterpillar

Common Sootywing - fourth instar caterpillar

Common Sootywing - last instar starting to silk itself into a nest and form a chrysalis

Common Sootywing - pupating

Common Sootywing - chrysalis

Common Sootywing - adult butterfly