Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Tails are long. Upperside is dark blackish brown; body and wing bases are iridescent blue-green. Males have a costal fold enclosing scent scales on the leading edge of the forewing. Dark row on underside of hindwing is a complete band.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 5/16 inches (4.5 - 6 cm).
Life History: Adults roost upside down under leaves and limbs. To seek females, males perch 3-6 feet above the ground in sunlit openings. Females lay eggs under leaves in clusters of up to 20. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled leaves.
Flight: Two to three broods throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vine legumes including various beans (Phaseolus), hog peanuts (Amphicarpa bracteata), beggar's ticks (Desmodium), blue peas (Clitoria), and wisteria (Wisteria).
Adult Food: Flower nectar from a variety of plants including bougainvillea, lantana, and shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Brushy fields, edges of woods, gardens, and other disturbed open habitats.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico to peninsular Florida and South Texas. Occasionally strays and colonizes north to Connecticut, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, southern Arizona, and southern California.
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: Urbanus proteus caterpillars are sometimes pests on snap beans.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 1974 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 05, 2017
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2022
Submitted by: Lisa2045
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 03, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: Gary L. Spicer
Region: Bowie County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 03, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 19, 2022
Submitted by: Lyceum-gardens
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Feb 15, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 15, 2016
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: louisianashorty
Region: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2015
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: Ashwnota
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Phtm35
Region: Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Nov 07, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Sep 27, 2021
Submitted by: hfna16
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: David Lee
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: Meowkiss
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: JimBarnhart
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
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