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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 207 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 08, 2012
Submitted by: rosacmchenry@sb...
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 05, 2013
Observation date: Aug 13, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 19, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 16, 2012
Submitted by: Tonia Graves
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 14, 2012
Observation date: Sep 08, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 18, 2012
Observation date: Sep 07, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 17, 2012
Observation date: Jun 13, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 14, 2012
Observation date: Sep 05, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Brock, J. Mori & M Smith)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 11, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. Plagens)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Nov 28, 2006
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 10, 2011
Observation date: Nov 04, 2010
Submitted by: naomiblinick
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: Nov 20, 2010
Submitted by: Kari
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 26, 2010
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Texas, McMullen County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jan 26, 2011
Observation date: Sep 11, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. L. Scharf)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 09, 1994
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 08, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. J. Smith)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 03, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Nov 11, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Bailowitz)
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 14, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 06, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. L. Scharf)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 07, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 03, 1950
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John R. Heitzman)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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