Bovista colorata
Family Lycoperdaceae · Updated October 2026
40US records
15states
Augbusiest month
40 US records since 1885 (1 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Jul 9, 2022 (about 4 years ago) near Big Stone Gap, Wise County, VA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, and the busiest months are Aug, Jul and Sep. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Aug, Jul, Sep.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Giles County, VA (5) · latest Sep 3, 1993
- Haywood County, NC (4) · latest Oct 13, 1995
- Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK (3) · latest Aug 8, 2007
- Randolph County, WV (2) · latest Jul 22, 2000
- Montgomery County, VA (2) · latest 1971
- Clearwater County, MN (1) · latest Aug 18, 2011
- Mercer County, WV (1) · latest Aug 16, 2006
- McDowell County, WV (1) · latest Jul 10, 2002
- Windham County, VT (1) · latest Aug 25, 1919
- Clarion County, PA (1) · latest Aug 5, 2011
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.