Tailed Orange
Pyrisitia proterpia (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Two sexual and two seasonal forms. Upperside orange; tip of forewing squared off. Male with black forewing costa; females with black forewing costa, apex, and outer margin. Winter (dry-season) form with tail-like projections on hindwing; summer (wet-season) form without tails.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females on flats and in gullies. The dry-season form is non-reproductive until the onset of the rainy season.
Flight: August-November in Texas; throughout the year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: In Texas, mesquite (Prosopis) and senna (Cassia) species; Desmodium in the tropics (all in the pea family [Fabaceae]).
Adult Food: Nectar from many species of flowers.
Habitat: Desert and subtropical open and disturbed areas including scrub, pastures, forest edges.
Range: Peru north to Mexico; Greater Antilles; strays to southern Texas, southwest New Mexico, and southeast Arizona; rarely to Nebraska and Kansas.
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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 121 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 19, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Adair County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 19, 2017
Observation date: Jan 21, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 24, 2017
Observation date: Nov 01, 2016
Submitted by: vorticity
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 28, 2016
Observation date: Nov 15, 2016
Submitted by: taogirl
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 24, 2016
Observation date: Oct 28, 2016
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Nov 18, 2016
Observation date: Nov 13, 2016
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2016
Observation date: Nov 11, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 12, 2016
Observation date: Nov 10, 2016
Submitted by: Laurie Sheppard
Region: Grayson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 10, 2016
Observation date: Oct 29, 2016
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 09, 2016
Observation date: Nov 06, 2016
Submitted by: marycurry
Region: Texas, United States, Wise County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 07, 2016
Observation date: Oct 28, 2016
Submitted by: gregsnyder
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 06, 2016
Observation date: Nov 01, 2016
Submitted by: kawith
Region: Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2016
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 02, 2016
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 02, 2016
Observation date: Oct 16, 2016
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 31, 2016
Submitted by: rchensley
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 25, 2016
Submitted by: mprocter
Region: Texas, Navarro County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2016
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: AmyNinRoundRock
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2016
Observation date: Oct 18, 2016
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 20, 2016
Observation date: Oct 15, 2016
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2016
Observation date: Nov 09, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 04, 2016
Observation date: Oct 28, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 07, 2016
Observation date: Dec 08, 2015
Submitted by: pumblebumble
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 15, 2015
Observation date: Mar 06, 2015
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Dec 14, 2015
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