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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 165 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Jan 29, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Morelos, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jan 12, 2016
Submitted by: Nick Moore
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 22, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Tabasco, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 22, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Tabasco, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz@comcast.net
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 05, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 13, 2022
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Oct 30, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 18, 2022
Observation date: Nov 26, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 05, 2021
Observation date: Nov 08, 2021
Submitted by: wolfoest
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
Observation date: Nov 11, 2021
Submitted by: Emily Geest
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Nov 11, 2021
Submitted by: nealinaz
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 28, 2021
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Oct 16, 2021
Submitted by: campbell8300
Region: Texas, Randall County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
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