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 1 - 24 of 1973 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: dondubois
Region: Hardin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 30, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2014
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
Observation date: Feb 17, 2024
Submitted by: Mohr824
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Nov 17, 2023
Submitted by: Mckate
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Jan 31, 2024
Submitted by: flutterbly
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2024
Observation date: Jan 02, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 02, 2024
Observation date: Nov 18, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: Byron Lambert
Region: Cherokee County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Starfire_
Region: Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: Dragonfly77
Region: Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2023
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Oct 09, 2023
Submitted by: scream of the b...
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 10, 2023
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: CarBag
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 08, 2023
Observation date: Sep 19, 2023
Submitted by: Grismo
Region: Carroll County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 25, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Ann Daisey
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 17, 2023
Observation date: Sep 13, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: Lyceum-gardens
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: MelloK
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: mjd118
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: jfkoza
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: itakepicturesof...
Region: Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: kye
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
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