Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas (Godart, [1824])
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.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Everes comyntas
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 10815 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 01, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: Apr 28, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 01, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Warren County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: May 21, 2020
Submitted by: FAWNRIDGE
Region: Harris County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Cameala
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 16, 2020
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: Cameala
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: May 04, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Apr 27, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: Kbossong
Region: Gallia County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 27, 2020
Submitted by: JimGriffin
Region: Hendricks County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Apr 30, 2020
Observation date: Apr 17, 2020
Submitted by: Axarus
Region: Merced County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 21, 2020
Observation date: Apr 06, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 17, 2020
Observation date: Apr 04, 2020
Submitted by: SkybluMedia
Region: Dillon County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 05, 2020
Observation date: Mar 26, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 03, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2012
Submitted by: C. West
Region: Shelby County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Feb 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: jeanneely
Region: Cole County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 31, 2020
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