Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas (Godart, [1824])

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Family: Lycaenidae

Subfamily: Polyommatinae

Identification: One narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue; summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside of hindwing pale gray with black bar at end of cell, distinct black spots, and three large orange spots at outer margin near tail.

Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Life History: Males patrol near the host plants during daylight hours. Females lay eggs on flower buds; caterpillars eat buds, flowers, and seeds. The caterpillar hibernates, pupating the following spring. Although most Lycaenids do not perch with open wings, Eastern Tailed-Blues sometimes bask with their wings at a 45 angle.

Flight: Three broods from April-November in the north, many broods from February-November in the south.

Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the pea family including yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa); various species of vetch (Vicia), clover (Trifolium), wild pea (Lathyrus), and bush clover (Lespedeza); and others.

Adult Food: This butterfly has a low flight and a short proboscis, thus is found at flowers close to the ground which are open or short-tubed. These include white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, asters, and others.

Habitat: Many open, sunny places including weedy areas and disturbed habitats.

Range: Southeast Canada and Eastern United States west to western North Dakota, central Colorado, and central Texas. Also ranges from southeastern Arizona, western New Mexico, and west Texas south to Costa Rica.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management Needs: None reported.

Alternate Scientific Names:

Everes comyntas

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Verified Sightings

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Observation date: Jul 20, 2026

Submitted by: tiki33wv

Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States

Verified by: curtis.lehman

Verified date: Jul 21, 2026

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

National Moth Week is July 18-26!

Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.

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Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas (Godart, [1824])