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Dorantes Longtail
Urbanus dorantes (Stoll, 1790)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Tails are long; fringes checkered. Body and wings are brown with no green iridescence. Forewing has prominent clear spots. Underside of hindwing has 2 bands of pale spots.
Wing Span: 1 7/16 - 2 inches (3.7 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: The Dorantes Longtail Skipper feeds at flowers in the winter, but spends most of the time perching upside down under leaves.
Flight: Three to four broods throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various legumes including wild and cultivated beans (Phaseolus), beggar's ticks (Desmodium), and blue peas (Clitoria).
Adult Food: Flower nectar from shepherd\'s needle, lantana, trilisa, ironweed, bougainvillea, and others.
Habitat: Roadsides, overgrown fields, edges of woods, clearings and along trails in hardwood hammocks.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to South Texas and peninsular Florida. Strays north to northern California, southern Arizona, southern Missouri, and southern Georgia.
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
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 328 verified sightings

Observation date: Oct 26, 2020
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 27, 2020

Observation date: Oct 14, 2020
Submitted by: JoyceSw
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2020

Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: John Demko
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020

Observation date: Oct 15, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 15, 2020

Observation date: Oct 13, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2020

Observation date: Oct 03, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020

Observation date: Sep 23, 2020
Submitted by: 4wildlife
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020

Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020

Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: Mike_56
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020

Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020

Observation date: Aug 26, 2015
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 29, 2020

Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020

Observation date: Jul 07, 2020
Submitted by: wtjones
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020

Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: wtjones
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020

Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020

Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020

Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020

Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020

Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020

Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020

Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 29, 2020

Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: pegreinhart
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 23, 2020

Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: 4wildlife
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2020

Observation date: Feb 20, 2020
Submitted by: cskipper
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 26, 2020
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