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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 241 - 264 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 22, 2018
Submitted by: amsbutterflyqueen
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 03, 2018
Submitted by: Kweberva
Region: Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 05, 2018
Submitted by: krobra
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Jan 01, 2021
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 02, 2021
Observation date: Oct 11, 2019
Submitted by: WirelessMike
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 13, 2019
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2019
Submitted by: Halloween62
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Sep 28, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Dec 21, 2020
Submitted by: SeeShell
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 21, 2020
Observation date: Nov 12, 2020
Submitted by: annetteangela
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
Observation date: Oct 11, 2014
Submitted by: Kathleen O'Sullivan
Region: New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
Observation date: Oct 09, 2015
Submitted by: rosemarypeek
Region: Jackson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
Observation date: Sep 29, 2017
Submitted by: revpaulvet
Region: Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 17, 2016
Submitted by: PeePickett
Region: Union County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Nov 04, 2016
Submitted by: Little River Park
Region: Orange County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Nov 08, 2020
Submitted by: AnitaSauer
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Nov 26, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Nov 06, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Dec 06, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2019
Submitted by: dsignal
Region: Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 05, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: Lonnie.Hoskins
Region: Johnston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 05, 2020
- ‹ previous
- 11 of 85
- next ›